I'm currently managing an Airbnb apartment and will be living there for a while as I search for a new place. I've asked the building owner to soundproof the floors, but he hasn't taken any action. I want to improve the noise situation for both myself and my dog, since you can easily hear conversations from the floor above. I enjoy having my friend living upstairs and want to maintain that good relationship. What cost-effective solutions can I implement to reduce the noise while still keeping some of the ceiling's exposed beams?
2 Answers
Honestly, finding a cheap soundproofing solution can be tricky. There are mineral wool products like Roxul that do a good job, but you'll need to open up the ceiling to get those in between the joists, which isn’t exactly a budget fix. You could consider asking your neighbor if they'd be willing to split the costs for decoupling the floors, especially since you guys get along.
One way to cut down on noise from above is to have your upstairs neighbor lay down some thick carpet with a good liner. This helps dampen impact sounds significantly.
That makes sense! But what if I don't mind losing the beams? Would standard insulation and drywall work instead?