Stud partition and noise nsulation

[colinob123]

Hi all,

What is the best material for noise-insulating a stud partition wall? Simply stuff in some loft insulation or is there a better way?

Thanks!

Colin

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Build a second one spaced away from it.

Will make little difference - you need mass for sound insulation. Perhaps the cheapest option is to add an extra layer of plasterboard.

[colinob123]

Hi all,

What is the best material for noise-insulation in a stud partition wall? Simply fill with loft insulation or if there something better?

Thanks!

Colin

[The Natural Philosopher]

Yup. Air gaps is the first thing to get rid of, then add mass.

fluffy insulation reduce HF passthrough by damping, but not MF or LF.

You need stiffness or mass to reduce that.

Consider removing plasterboard, screwing/nailing MDF or ply and replacing plasterboard on top.

Foam filling would stiffen it even more.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Waste of time and money. Plasterboard is better at stopping sound transmission than either MDF or ply of the same thickness. Because it's denser. So just add plasterboard on top of the original. Cheaper too.

[The Natural Philosopher]

The MDF is a little stiffer though.

Not sure but suspect that would reduce low frequencies.

[sm_jamieson]

Although it makes the wall seem a lot more "dead", i.e. it does not sound or feel hollow when you knock it or lean on it etc. This does make it seem a lot more "solid". Simon.

[meow2222]

All the following can help: Double layers of plasterboard Foam or rockwool fill Add weight with concrete blocks sat on noggings Stiffen the timber framing, either with large-ish timber or metal bars Apply damping sheet material to the PB Create 2 sets of uprights staggered so there's no transmission of vibration through the framing

NT

[RobertL]

You need decoupling of the two surfaces: thad means separate sets of uprights for the two sides. They can be 'interleaved' but should not be coupled. this stops sound transmission through the wood. i.e one side's platerboard is fixed to one set of uprigths, the other side to the other set. This is very importnat if yo uwant maximum isolation.

You need mass: each side should have a double thickmness of plasterboard.

You need good caulking: fill around the edges to stop flanking paths.

You need 'loft insulation' inside to stop transmission through the air.

Robert