Hey everyone! I'm in a bit of a panic and could really use some advice. I hired a contractor to help soundproof my bedroom, aiming to keep noise from leaking into the rest of the house. The plan was to use solid core doors, half-inch drywall, plus adding some Sonopan to the interior walls and a layer of 5/8-inch drywall on top, with acoustic sealant to fill in the seams. However, things got messy when the Sonopan ripped while he was cutting holes for outlets, and although I asked for it to be replaced, he patched it up instead. When he started using the acoustic sealant, he got frustrated with the mess and decided to skip it, insisting that the mud would do the job instead. I'm worried this might be the reason why the treated room sounds louder than the untreated one. Is it possible that the emptiness of the treated room plays a role, or is the lack of sealant truly to blame? I'm not sure if I should address this with him now or wait until the room is fully furnished, and I'm wondering if I can just add sealant later. Any insights would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
3 Answers
Honestly, sounds to me like the problem isn't just the sealant missing. Your soundproofing strategy seems a bit off. Simply adding layers won't necessarily solve the problem if the walls and airways aren't designed to manage sound properly. I suggest you fill the room with furniture and, if possible, add some thick carpets to help absorb the sound. If things don't improve, reconsider your approach to soundproofing entirely.
It's kind of a mess right now, huh? Honestly, if your contractor is not listening to your concerns, it might be a red flag. You definitely need to address this; otherwise, you'll just end up frustrated later. Once you've furnished the room, and if it still doesn't sound good, I would suggest looking for someone else to make the changes you need. Sounds like he doesn’t have a solid plan for this job.
Totally agree! Get someone who knows what they’re doing next time.
You should have fired him the moment he refused to use the acoustic sealant. That stuff is important for soundproofing! I get it; sometimes you want to trust the person you hired, but in this case, sticking to your guns is key. If the room is still performing poorly, it might be worth considering tearing out the mud and tape to add that sealant in. Before doing that, though, try filling the room with furniture first. It's incredible how much sound it can absorb!
True! Furniture can make a big difference. Hope it works out before you go through the hassle of redoing everything.
Good point! I think the furniture and carpets could help absorb sound better than just walls.