We have a 28 year old bi-level. The living room has finished oak floors and
an area rug. My son is has the area below this for a bedroom. That area had
been a rec room for the previous owners and the ceiling is already finished.
There is an air vent common to both the rooms. Any recommendations in
deadening my sounds from upstairs? Sealing of the vent, top and bottom, is
OK as the upstairs is wide open to the rest of the house and a separate
heater is used, when needed, downstairs.
TIA,
Gerry

gerry gardiner wrote:
We have a 28 year old bi-level. The living room has finished oak
floors and an area rug. My son is has the area below this for a
bedroom. That area had been a rec room for the previous owners and
the ceiling is already finished. There is an air vent common to both
the rooms. Any recommendations in deadening my sounds from upstairs?
Sealing of the vent, top and bottom, is OK as the upstairs is wide
open to the rest of the house and a separate heater is used, when
needed, downstairs. TIA,
Gerry

I assume that is a air return vent?? Unless it is not connected to any
heating, cooling or air return for heating or cooling devices you do not
want to just block it off. You can greatly reduce the function of the system
and maybe damage it.

Air to air transfer (your vent) is likely the biggest problem. There
are some ways of addressing it, but they depend on the specifics of
construction.

For a lot of good information, and a possible source for some materials,
take a look at: http://www.soundproofing.org/

In general you want to block air exchange. Air caries sound very well.
(Try opening your car's window as a train is going by.)

Next you want weight. Heavy things (drywall lead sheets etc.) block
sound well.

You also want to prevent any direct solid connections. Stagger wall
studs or use special isolation devices to keep the sound from traveling
through the wall (remember the two cans on a string (well wire actuarially
worked) you want to break the wire).

Filling in wall cavities with sound absorbing materials (accustical
fiberglass bats) will do a little.

Point source control (special absorption material) at the source of the
sound will also help.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit