Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Nov 10, 2013 1:43 pm In between everything else we have going on around here, we are in the middle of renovating (or should we say 'fixing' our leaking) ensuite. In the process, we decided to take the opportunity to remove all the plasterboard as we would like to insulate the internal walls as best as possible against noise travelling between our ensuite and our son's bedroom - and vice versa. Have been reading previous threads on here - and it seems the best way to go is the Soundscreen batts (possibly 2.5??). I have just done a quick google and can't seem to find anywhere we can buy them other than online. Anyone know where we can get these from directly - in Melbourne? (want to chat to someone to make sure we are buying the right product/size etc rather than purchase online when we are not quite sure of ourselves). Also, there are three internal walls and one external wall - is it OK to use these soundcheck batts on the external wall, or are we better of getting something more related to thermal than accoustic for this one wall?? (Just trying to avoid wastage by having to buy two different products - but also want to do what will give us best end result). And.... having just pulled off the plasterboard from the external wall (which is an external wall from the original house pre-extension/renovations) and we notice it does not have any of that ... now I can't think of the name of it... but that blue or silver sheeting/foil that usually goes under cladding? We can't put it on the outside (under the weatherboards - unless we pull the boards off which we are not doing at this point in time), and I assume it is pointless putting it on the inside (under the plasterboard??). Or should we look at this while we have the chance. Sorry for my lack of technological terms but hope you get what I mean. And finally, over all - should we ask our bathroom guy to use Soundstop plasterboard? Will this make a difference? We will also be tiling on each wall to ceiling so this will add an extra layer to reduce some sound. But anything we can do to reduce sound while we have the opportunity (without paying for anything that isn't really going to make much/any difference) will be a bonus as the sound carrying through these rooms was shocking before. So normal plaster or soundcheck plasterboard? In summary, questions are : 1. Are soundscreen batts the way to go?2 2. Anyone know where we can get them from in Melbourne? 3. Should we use something different in the one/small external wall? 4. Should we put up that "sheeting" (foil) on the external wall - but will be 'inside' 5. Will we get a benefit from using Souncheck plasterboard??' We are hoping to purchase batts tomorrow so any quick response would be appreciated. Cheers... HHCIB Re: Soundproofing our bathroom 2Nov 10, 2013 2:27 pm Soundscreen is just the name of a particular product of Bradford Insulation. Bunning's stock other types of acoustic insulation such as Earthwool which can be used as heat insulation in external walls. The sheet material is known as building wrap or sarking. Using it to keep the moisture from penetrating through the weatherboards into the insulation may be a good idea (You could staple it to the studs vertically before adding the insulation) Sound Check plasterboard will help to further reduce the noise but its hard to say whether its worth the money for your application. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Soundproofing our bathroom 3Nov 11, 2013 9:21 am As per what bashworth has already mentioned. Start with the acoustic batts in the wall separating the ensuite from your sons bedroom then look at how much the soundcheck plasterboard will cost you. Two layers is better than one with staggered joints as well but you will notice a big difference. For the size of the wall which I imagine wouldn't be big seeing as it's an ensuite, how much extra this will cost you vs deadening the sound will be a big improvement. What is on that wall - shower, toilet, vanity ? Stewie Re: Soundproofing our bathroom 4Nov 11, 2013 12:19 pm Stewie's 2 sheet is best idea. Rather than Soundcheck, you'll get better performance for the $$ by using Fire Rated Plaster, 1 sheet 13mm 1 sheet 16mm. This actually works better than 2 x 16mm. Use the savings to get a good Acoustical Sealant. Not just at the wall junctions, but at every joint line. If wet area compliance comes into it, maybe ModakBoard. tezz Re: Soundproofing our bathroom 5Nov 11, 2013 4:22 pm Thanks guys. Wall that butts up against bedroom has vanity (right on the other side of son's bed). In the closest corner of the adjacent wall to son's bedroom is the toilet. Bathroom guy has already quoted to plaster.... will see if he can upgrade to firecheck or soundcheck - and ask him to use soundproof sealant. (PS - didn't purchase batts today - hopefully tomorrow!!) Cheers HHCIB Re: Soundproofing our bathroom 6Nov 13, 2013 4:11 pm Ok... so never send a man to do a woman's job ...
So I've been doing all the research regarding this insulation batt job - and passed on to DH that he can get the equal product to 'soundcheck' at B*nnings.... so he goes along and DOES NOT get the accoustic insulation, but ends up with the standard earthwool thermal insulation 2.0 batts. By the time I get home to discover he has bought the wrong ones - he has almost finished the job!! I want to make sure we do it properly as this is our opportunity to do so. Question is - will getting the accousting batts make much of a difference in this application - in comparison to standard batts? I would be prepared to rebuy them and re do it all (entire bathroom ended up needing just over one bag of batts - so would only need to purchase one bag as we would keep the external wall with the thermal batts - so it's not a huge cost - just our time (which I will admit, is limited at the moment!!). As mentioned, it is for an ensuite bathroom that butts up against son's bedroom. Wall now at least has batts in it (didn't have anything in cavities before), entire bathroom will have tiles to the ceiling (only had tiling to 3/4 of the wall before) and will have a proper full layer of tile cement holding the tiles on (as opposed to random blobs of cement which created gaps/pockets behind the tiles previously ). At some point we will also get into ceiling to make sure batts are properly placed up there. Am hoping these things combined will show a marked improvement.... Question is.... will accoustic batts make a noticable difference as opposed to the standard batts??????? Should we bother redoing?? It's not to block out theatre sounds or anything like that - but we do want to reduce him hearing us doing our ablutions and talking, as well as limiting what we hear coming from his room (playing music when he is older or whatever). Guy at B*nnings told my DH that accoustic would only make a tiny bit of difference..... but to be honest, I don't hold much faith in their expertise (sorry to say). And the accoustic ones would need to be a special order apparently so he probably just wanted to sell what he had??. So just wanted to double check here for opinions. HHCIB (grrrrr!!) Re: Soundproofing our bathroom 7Nov 13, 2013 4:55 pm Thermal bats will offer some acoustic improvement but its density that makes a difference with noise. Acoustic Batts are much denser so their thermal performance is not as good. If I was concerned about noise I would be looking at the proper batt's for the internal walls. I am sure I have seen the acoustic batts in some Bunnings, perhaps only the bigger stores stock them so it might be worth ringing round. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Soundproofing our bathroom 8Nov 14, 2013 4:28 pm Thanks Bashworth According to B*nnings online, it seems that the ones we should have got aren't (or shouldn't be) special order. So hopefully DH can track a pack down from one of the nearby Bunnings - and we will re do at least that one wall - probably more depending how far the packet and our time stretches! I feel safer in the knowledge that we have then done all we could - with basic means. If we patch it up and it isn't very good at reducing sound, I would be forever wondering how much difference the accoustic batts would have made. So.... try again . Cheers HHCIB Re: Soundproofing our bathroom 9Nov 16, 2013 1:41 pm Re done! Only did one wall though. Last attempt, one packet of the thermal insulation almost completed the whole bathroom (had to open the 2nd packet just to do a small section). But with this accoustic insulation, one packet only did just over one wall. But we got the main wall done and happy we did. We have kept the unused (and removed) thermal insulation and hopefully will get a chance to use it when we do some other plastering work around the place. We have in mind to remove our unused fireplace from our front living room - which is part of the original/uninsulated section of the house. So hopefully we can use some of it up when/if we get around to that. Now.... what's next?? Probably back to our external painting. (another forum I am on has a 'feinting' smiley icon and I am forever looking for it on this forum.... so insert feinting icon here ). Cheers HHCIB If you don't want to annoy the neighbours then simply get yourself some good head phones. For me the sound is much better using headphones. The NCC (National Construction… 1 26171 Upgrading your windows to soundproof ones, like triple-glazed, can make a significant difference. While changing window… 4 11665 Old Home Restoration / Renovation To reduce noise transfer without compromising the aesthetic of your exposed I beams, consider filling the 100mm gap between the I beams and the floor above with dense,… 6 9156 |