Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice on soundproofing the wall between my townhouse and my neighbor's place, which is unfortunately a bit noisy. I believe the insulation and drywall are pretty outdated—likely from the 80s. I've come across some options like acoustic channels, air gaps, Mass-loaded vinyl, and green glue. The main reason I'm tackling this is that my neighbor has a TV mounted on the other side, and I can hear every word, especially the bass, which is super annoying. I'm about to demo the wall, so I'll have a clean slate to work with. By the way, there is a 12-inch concrete wall separating us as well. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Definitely focus on reducing vibration by adding mass and air in the wall structure. Since there's already a concrete wall, that helps with mass. If you're opening up the stud wall, you might want to install Rockwool or spray foam—just remember to remove the drywall first as trying to spray foam through small holes won't give you good coverage. Adding a second layer of drywall with green glue in between can really help too, especially if they've got a subwoofer causing all that bass.
Don't overlook the impact of underfloor and ceiling coupling as well! If you're truly diving into this, make sure you're checking all angles since sound can travel in ways you wouldn't expect.
To get the best soundproofing, consider using a 2x6 base with staggered 2x4 studs so no stud touches both walls. This way, you can effectively reduce vibrations. Also, spraying deadening foam inside can help, but be mindful of how you apply it!
Exactly! Just be ready for a bit of a messy job if you go the foam route without removing drywall. It’s worth it to ensure there are no gaps afterwards.