How to Soundproof a Ceiling
Noise from neighbours can be a big inconvenience if you have not installed adequate soundproofing. Noise can travel through the walls, the doors, windows and the ceiling. This article discusses some ways through which you can soundproof your ceiling so that minimal noise gets through to your room.
Apply Drywall Strips and Green Glue
Sound can enter your room through the ceiling joists (timber or metal supporting the ceiling). You can reduce the amount of sound getting through the joists by getting strips of drywall and then placing them on the joists using green glue. Green glue has sound attenuation properties, so it will help to keep sound from being transmitted through the joists.
Apply Insulation on Recessed Lights
Recessed lights reduce the thickness of your ceiling. Thin materials vibrate more than thick materials, so it is easier for sound to travel through that thin part of the ceiling. You can make it harder for sound to get through the recessed lights by applying insulation around them. For instance, you can install fibreglass batts (specially made fibreglass insulation material). That material will counter the negative effect of the thin ceiling since it will act as a sound barrier.
Caulk the Perimeter
Your ceiling may have been made with only one layer of drywall. A single layer of drywall may not be adequate to limit the amount of sound coming through to your room. You can increase the insulation capacity of that drywall by using acoustic caulk on the perimeter of the drywall. Why the perimeter? The perimeter forms the weakest point (sound-wise) since two materials (the ceiling and wall) meet, and gaps may exist between them. The caulk will prevent sound from travelling through those gaps.
Add More Drywall
The measure above (caulking the perimeter) may not achieve the soundproofing results you want simply because sound may still be getting in through the thin layer of drywall. In this case, the best way to keep unwanted sound out of your room is to add a second layer of drywall onto the ceiling. Use green glue to attach the additional layer of drywall onto the existing one. This will increase the thickness of the ceiling and make it harder for sound waves to travel through that ceiling.
Contact acoustical consultants to discuss the most effective way to soundproof your ceiling and other components of your room (such as the floor). This expert help will produce better results in a cost effective way.