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Tweakers' Asylum Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ. |
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Hi, my listening room is a semi-finished basement with an open ceiling. The ceiling has no material between the joists, except for a few ducts.The ceiling is open, with about 12 inches (0.3 meters) between the joists. The joists are also about 8 inches (0.2 meters) tall, leaving a "tunnel" between the joists about 8 inches deep by 12 inches wide.
What I want to do is sound-proof the basement. When I'm playing my stereo in the basement, the sound travels right up to the ground floor, annoying the other occupant of the house (my wife). Also, when I'm playing the piano on the ground floor, my wife hears the piano down in the basement if she is down there watching TV.
What is the best and cheapest way to sound proof the basement, without creating sound problems when listening to the stereo?
Should I put ordinary insulation between the joists? Or is there some non-flammable foam I can stuff between the joists? I'm not looking for expensive audiophile room-treatment foam, just something DIY to keep sound from traveling into and out of the basement. Aesthetics are not very important as the basement is not very fancy anyway.
I also want to make sure that whatever I do does not mess up the room dynamics in the basement now, as I have read that open joists can actually provide for good sound diffusion.
Some day I may finish the basement by hanging drywall/sheetrock on the basement ceiling, but that will wait for another day. Whatever solution (if any) I do now, however, I would like for it to stay there if/when I hang drywall on the basement ceiling.
Thanks for any tips,
Darryl
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Topic - Best material for sound proofing open ceiling basement? - Darryl 14:33:50 02/07/04 (5)
- use standard 3.5 inch rolls and don't forget the ductwork - Triodeuser 17:09:05 02/07/04 (1)
- Thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate it! <nt> - Darryl 06:05:08 02/08/04 (0)
- Darryl: Also check the local tax codes. Where my... - DeKay 16:20:36 02/07/04 (2)
- Wow, never thought of that, thanks for the warning/tip!! <nt> - Darryl 06:04:14 02/08/04 (1)
- Darryl: Well, I hope this is not the case in your area... - DeKay 09:36:40 02/08/04 (0)