Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice before I tackle a project at home. I'm thinking about tearing out the drywall on the two exterior bedroom walls to reduce outside noise. My house is from the 1950s, meaning it lacks any insulation in the walls, and with my neighbor often working on his cars and revving his Harley, it's a bit too noisy for my liking. I've already installed hurricane-rated security glass windows which helped a lot, but I'm curious if adding Rockwool insulation and new drywall will significantly help with the noise reduction. Has anyone done this before? Was it worth the effort? I'd really appreciate any insights. Thanks!
4 Answers
Definitely worth doing! To really cut down the noise, you might want to consider isolating the studs from your new drywall installation. If you just use regular drywall, the studs can transmit sound right through. One method is to use 5/8" drywall, apply "green glue" between two layers—this creates an air gap that blocks sound effectively. Alternatively, you could get resilient channels, so your drywall isn't directly attached to the studs. This helps a lot too! And seriously, think about using 5/8" drywall over 1/2" for better results!
Are you sure it's drywall and not lath and plaster? That could make a difference in your approach!
Definitely drywall!
Just double check for insulation—especially in a house from the 50s, it might have had some renovations. If it is just drywall, using extra layers, especially with resilient channels or even QuietRock, can really make a difference. And don’t forget to use electrical box extenders and acoustic putty on outlets—they help a ton with soundproofing!
When you’re putting up drywall, make sure to leave a little gap from the ceiling—about 4 to 6 inches. This way, it’ll be easier to repair the seam. You can tuck your insulation in that space. Also, using an oscillating tool for cutting drywall makes it a lot easier! If you're using resilient channels, you might need to go all the way up to the ceiling though.
Appreciate the help!
Thanks for the tips!