Hey, I thought you guys would want to know this. I certainly am kinda peeved about it, after doing like 10 hours of research on acoustic products like Owens Corning's QuietZone. Here's the story:
I decided to acoustically insulate our bedroom ceiling, because our children's rooms are right above us, and we get some noise. After a lot of research, I decided to order Owens Corning's QuietZone acoustic batts. I am also going to double sheetrock or put in a drop ceiling with acoustic panels, but the QuietZone product seemed a perfect start, and not too much money.
So my Home Depot sales guy seemed to know a lot about the product. Like it is more dense than regular insulation, and has no "thermal" value, ie, no R-value, it will allow heat to pass through. The only problem, Home Depot has to special order it, they do not stock.
While this was going on, I was walking through Home Depot one day and came across a new product called R-13 "Thermal and Acoustical" insulation. So I ask the same guy...what gives? He says, "that's just regular insulation, and they market it as an acoustical product now". OK, so what about the QuietZone product? "Oh, that's still the best stuff, don't get that insulation, you want the QuietZone."
Then I call Owens Corning this morning to find out where I can buy the stuff off the shelf. No clue, they say. They can not tell me where I can buy the stuff stocked. I got to special order. Then the fun begins. The OC customer service rep says... just buy the regular insulation, its the same stuff. I was like, what are you talking about? And she says hold, then comes back and says, yeah, I checked, just get regular insulation, its the same exact stuff, just a different facing on it, different packaging. I'm like...yeah, OK. Whatever, have a nice day
Then I go down to Home Depot to order the QuietZone product, because the Home Depot guy seemed more sure of himself. Sounded fishy to me... Then he has to call Owens Corning because the product numbers are not available to him. Then he finds out that QuietZone is not available in our area (Rochester NY). What? Yeah, they apprently only sell the stuff in the south. Huh? OK... he's going to do some more checking.
So he makes some calls while I go buy some plywood and a door. Then he comes and finds me with the "news"... Its the same stuff.
He talked to the customer service rep's manager, who then transferred him to the Home Depot account rep or something. Same story. The QuietZone product IS regular insulation, just packaged and marketed differently !!
You see, people don't buy insulation in the south. So they package it differently for a different application. A way to make more money is what I am thinking, pulling the "wool" over the consumer's eyes, so to speak (or their ears).
So the Home Depot guy says... we can special order the QuietZone, or you can buy that "Thermal and Acoustical" insulation sitting on the shelf. Its the same stuff, but you can take this home with you today, and its cheaper.
I am not a happy camper. Owens Corning stringing all of us along with a marketing ploy like this. And the Home Depot guy, what is he doing? Probably just regurgitating what he learned in a QuietZone training class. Spin city.
If only I could get Roxul to fit inbetween my joists...
Thought you might want to know...
kbmcdowell