Basement soundproofing sans sheetrock

[mass_burner]

I am looking "finish" my basement in the modern industrial look, polished concrete floors, exposed ceilings with large (6 x 6) suspended panels, spray foamed/painted walls. No Sheetrock anywhere.

What are my options for sound deadening the ceiling?

 

[BIGDADDY]

Insulation is used for sound proofing.

 

[moey]

I suspect the ceiling panels have favorable acoustic properties. I thought spray foam had to be covered with some type of fire barrier ( sheetrock usually ) something to think about.

 

[semipro]

In general, low frequencies go through things and higher frequency sounds go around them.
So, sealing holes between the basement and the room above for higher frequencies and installing some mass between the rooms for lower frequencies. Perhaps your 6x6 ceiling panels can help there.

 

[DougA]

My son bought acoustic panels that were a bit pricey and put them in his sound room and they worked very well. I can't see why they wouldn't work on a ceiling. A DIY is here: http://acousticsfreq.com/blog/?p=62
You need to check local codes on foam walls. I've never heard of it being allowed without either fireproof paint (super expensive) or drywall to cover the foam.

FWIW, concrete basement floors will be very cold.

 

[mass_burner]

My son bought acoustic panels that were a bit pricey and put them in his sound room and they worked very well. I can't see why they wouldn't work on a ceiling. A DIY is here: http://acousticsfreq.com/blog/?p=62
You need to check local codes on foam walls. I've never heard of it being allowed without either fireproof paint (super expensive) or drywall to cover the foam.

FWIW, concrete basement floors will be very cold.

It says these panels are not intended to prevent sound from traveling between spaces, which is what I'm trying to prevent.

Does spray foam burn? Can you put wood paneling over it? If so, that burns too.

 

[moey]

It says these panels are not intended to prevent sound from traveling between spaces, which is what I'm trying to prevent.

Does spray foam burn? Can you put wood paneling over it? If so, that burns too.

Yes very much so it also releases some nasty chemical gas. You need something rated as a fire barrier paneling is not unless you can find some 3/4 thick.

 

[DougA]

HD has the panels. http://www.homedepot.com/b/Building...ustic-Insulation-Acoustic-Panels/N-5yc1vZc64x

You will have to check code. I am pretty sure that you have to have drywall on a ceiling above a dwelling space and if so, you would need to drywall, then apply panels. The reference to sound proofing is that a few panels will not do much. You need to cover the entire area. If you just put up a few panels as it seems you want, it will lessen it a bit but not what you might expect. You would really need to insulate the joists with sound absorption insulation, then add panels but this is not the look you want.

In short, the look you want and the sound deadening you want are opposites.

 

[mass_burner]

The panels I want would be for light fixtures, cable runs, etc. They would hang lower than the joists.

They wouldn't be anyone "living" in the space. Besides, I'm not letting an inspector within 200 ft of my property again.

 

[Babaganoosh]

I looked into sound deadening once and it's a lot more complicated than I originally thought. Your talking 2 layers of sheet rock, offset studs (different for ceilings probably ), clips to isolate sheet rock from studs, sheer mass to block low frequencies. It's a science of its own.

Seriously go find some acoustic forums and check it out.

 

[Ashful]

Yes very much so it also releases some nasty chemical gas. You need something rated as a fire barrier paneling is not unless you can find some 3/4 thick.

This is interesting. I'm having my barn (work shop) spray foamed, and every last builder I consulted recommended the same wall covering: 7/16" OSB. Surely a half dozen late- and mid-career general contractors aren't all making the same mistake?

 

[moey]

This is interesting. I'm having my barn (work shop) spray foamed, and every last builder I consulted recommended the same wall covering: 7/16" OSB. Surely a half dozen late- and mid-career general contractors aren't all making the same mistake?

I dont know the answer. I mentioned 3/4 ( 19/32 ) because that is what is between floors typically. It supposed to be 15 minute fire barrier. A barn may not be considered living space so it may not need anything or OSB has a high enough rating.

 

[DougA]

They wouldn't be anyone "living" in the space. Besides, I'm not letting an inspector within 200 ft of my property again.

If it's your home and people are living there, it's a dwelling space. I have no idea what the code would be in Mass but most are very similar. The last thing you want to do is get into a fight with building code. You will not win. If an inspector wants to inspect, you have no choice.

I also suspect Ashful's barn/workshop can get away with less due to not being considered a dwelling. Maybe this is not a legal term in the US. Here, it means where someone lives.

 

[begreen]

Micore and roxul are both sound deadening insulation that is fireproof and available in board form. Lead sheets also work, but it's expensive.