Comments on: Dear PoP – Soundproofing Your House With Insulation To Block Loud Neighbors Edition

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:42:11 +0000

Anyone get in touch with Dave? I’ve got a project in my rowhouse.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:43:40 +0000

Dave, it would be great to have contact info for you, I’m currently looking to soundproof my ceiling!

By: ollie

ollie — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:28:44 +0000

You guys, I am in great need. I am moving back to my condo in DC and am thrilled w/returning but am not looking forward to the horrid relationship I have w/my upstairs neighbors. There are like 2 adults and 2 overweight kids plus dog who live in a small 2 bdrm above me. The parents work alld and night and leave the kids there who make a ton of noise. They don’t speak english, so it has been frustrating for all of us in trying to come to some understanding. I call the police, but it only stops it for that moment. The noise I hear is mostly footfall. When they walk and run, the sound is amplified and transmitted to my unit. I want to replace their floors and subflooring w/some type of material that will significantly dampen the noise. I don’t want to spend a lot if it is not going to help much though. Dave, can you email me at olliedoc@hotmail.com. If any other people have recommendations, please let me know. Help!!!!

By: bogfrog

bogfrog — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:24:34 +0000

I insulated my own walls and subfloor. Who says you need a contractor?

One wall was plaster and skimcoated by prior owner – - I can hear the nice older gentleman next door turning over in his bed through that wall, but elsewhere 1/3 of a batt of R13 under the sheetrock worked well. Exposed brick does not insulate.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:38:28 +0000

I’m a contractor and I do a lot of soundproofing on projects here in DC. Quietrock is effective but super expensive. You can accomplish the same thing by making a “sandwich” with two sheets of drywall and Green Glue (www.greenglue.com). Insulation will definitely improve the transmission of sound but not as much as you might hope. Framing in another wall is one of the more effective options, but you will lose a lot of space, which is tough in a rowhome. You can also use a product called homosote (www.homasote.com) which also provides some improvement.

Soundproof windows are extremely expensive, as well. Unfortunately, there is not a ton you can do to block sound from your windows. New windows will be an improvement over old ones, but only minimally so.

The best way to soundproof is to do it while the walls are still open during construction. There are a ton of underlayments, wall clips, pipe wraps, recessed light blocking techniques, etc that will work.

By: Jimmy D

Jimmy D — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:36:19 +0000

Not Telling: A good friend of my is a government contractor. He does sound proofing (among other drywalling projects) for the government. He told me quietrock is what they use when security clearance is an issue. I did not buy anything from him.

As for your second assumption that there are always cheaper means out there for government security, do you know nothing of the way this country spends money when it comes to security? Price is the last question asked, if ever. “No-bid contract” ring a bell?

By: matt

matt — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:42:12 +0000

i’ve talked to them plenty of times. sometimes it works. when it doesn’t they get the cops, who’ve been pretty responsive, but you have to call a couple times.

also i would just make the point that my neighbors are white gentrifiers who speak english. assholes come in all shapes sizes and colors.

By: Matt N.

Matt N. — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:30:33 +0000

For those looking for a contractor willing to take on rowhome attic insulation: I recommend giving Brent McDorman at Tri-State Homes a call. He did my attic (as well as several other unrelated projects), and at a great price. He’s definitely capable of doing blown-in insulation, but he’s also willing to use the more traditional stuff if that’s the way you’d prefer to go.

410-707-5621

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:05:18 +0000

Yeah, I’ve tried the talking to them route. I was polite and courteous in my request, and in my defense it was a Sunday night. What I got was 30 minutes worth of drunken, rascist invective about why don’t I “call the INS”, which, what? No one brought up race until they did, typical “this is my neighborhood, I’ve been here for 20 years and hence can play my shitty music as loud as I want whenever I want.”

I don’t blame you Matt, people suck. I’ve never been made to feel so small and terrible in my life, next time I’m calling the cops. Because now it’s my neighborhood TOO. Wish I had the room for the insulation you all are talking about, and that I didn’t cherish my exposed brick too much to with go the Quiet Rock.

By: WDC

WDC — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:04:47 +0000

LJ, when you’ve got the kind of neighbors who get their jollies smashing bottles, who pile 12-15 people into a three-bedroom house, who heckle the young female neighbors, and who don’t speak english (or pretend not to), talking to them isn’t so much an option. Not that I didn’t try.

And yeah, my nice new windows didn’t do squat when it came to shutting out the crazy bass and daily parties next door. Matt, I’m impressed/surprised that you’re getting a police response. I had to go around with DCRA (Graham’s office was very helpful) for six months to get rid of the people next door to me.