Condo Sound Insulation

[Bob]

I'm tired of listening to neighbor noise and have considered for the living room putting up a new layer of wall board, over the old, with a small air gap in between. Any ideas on what may be a more effective way?

Thanks

[tbasc]

Flanking paths are often a problem. Sealing around any outlet boxes ( box to wall board behind the wall plate ) in the common wall should help. Sealing along the bottom plate of the wall can help.

Adding an additional layer of wall board directly to the surface of the wall would add mass which helps damp sympathetic vibration and should make the two 'membranes' resonate at different wave lengths which should help. T

[hallerb]

remove all wall board, remove existing insulation, replace with closed cell foam in place insulation, it expands and seals all the little air eaks that often carry noise.

replace wallboard with the special sound deadening type.

look at cieling paths, best to strip along cielings and foam too.

you will be rewared with a quiet energy efficent home.

carpeting your home with good padding will also help.

might be cheaper and easier to add a white noise generator to cover your neighbors noise

[hallerb]

theres a special sound deadening mount for wall board, to isolate the satud wall so it cant transfer the noise to your space