I'm dealing with noisy neighbors in my condo, and I've done a lot of research on soundproofing options. I'm looking to tackle this myself to save some cash. Should I go all out and tear down my ceilings to add more insulation and then install a double layer of 5/8 drywall? Or is it feasible to just add a second layer of 5/8 drywall with green glue on top of the existing ceiling for reducing the noise? Any advice would be super helpful before I get started!
3 Answers
If I were in your shoes, I'd recommend making it as effective as possible. Open up the ceiling, use an acoustic sealant in any gaps, and fill it up with something like Rockwool insulation. Then, you could put down a layer of mass-loaded vinyl (MLV), followed by another layer of MLV. Finally, close it all up with 5/8 soundboard drywall on clips rather than screws, and definitely seal those gaps with acoustic sealant. It might seem like a lot, but it’ll save you from having to redo things later on and will provide the best soundproofing.
The effectiveness really depends on how your condo is built. If it's not constructed with wood frames, soundproofing might be trickier. But generally, just adding a double layer of drywall without an air gap won't do much for sound reduction; you might want to consider more extensive measures.
Honestly, if you're doing it yourself, you may as well shoot for the best result. Add a second layer of 5/8 drywall with green glue to start, and then consider putting in a resilient channel before adding a third layer of drywall. It'll require more work, but you’ll be way happier with the result in the long run!
Thanks for the insight! So just to clarify, should I skip the demo of the existing drywall and go straight for adding that second layer and resilient channel?
Totally! If demoing is too much work, layering up is the way to go. You'll save time and still see improvement.