General Asylum

General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

Return to General Asylum


Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

sound proofing 150 year old home

166.137.101.171

Posted on September 17, 2014 at 21:27:55
stator_99@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 527
Location: ohio
Joined: August 24, 2003
I am getting ready to move to a home that will be very close to the neighboring home and I will have to do some sound proofing for my audio room, what would be the best product to use on 150 year old single pane windows to prevent sound transmission? Also it has plaster walls, can quiet rock dry wall be installed directly over plaster? What would be the best thing to use on the ceiling? Rooms will have 11 foot tall ceilings It has original hard wood flooring, I am assuming carpet with a premium carpet pad will be called floor. Also not too certain what " green glue " is that folks put between layers of dry wall.

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
In my experience, posted on September 17, 2014 at 22:58:29
kavakidd
Audiophile

Posts: 20316
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: April 15, 2004
Plaster sems to be quieter that dry wall. The windows are likely the biggest concern
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain

 

RE: sound proofing 150 year old home, posted on September 18, 2014 at 03:16:12
rlindsa
Audiophile

Posts: 7265
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Joined: October 5, 2004
I had a 100 year old house with old single pane (and ill fitting) windows. I installed Soundproof Windows, and they worked very well. I installed them myself with no problem. A few years later we replaced all of the windows in the house, but I still kept the Soundproof Windows in place in addition to the new windows. They have several mounting options and have versions that open, too (casement or single-hung).

I also installed regular drywall on top of the plaster walls and had no problems.



rlindsa

 

RE: sound proofing 150 year old home, posted on September 18, 2014 at 05:59:13
Consider foam injection for wall insulation a new double pane or better . Carpet but also insulate floor maybe upgrade door to exterior grade. Plaster doesn't need doubled drywall and green glue

 

RE: sound proofing 150 year old home, posted on September 18, 2014 at 06:06:54
Dman
Audiophile

Posts: 7211
Location: Kansas
Joined: January 28, 2001
You should be fine with the walls, with exception to what Kloss said; if the house has no insulation (you should find out if you don't know) then you probably should get that remedied.

My first house was a 110 year old farm house with a (mostly) dirt floor basement. The windows look like the weakest link. Single pane glass is a pain in the ass. Double pane or as suggested, Soundproof Windows are your best bet. I'd also consider insulation under the floor. I had spray foam insulation installed under my living room/listening area (basement ceiling) to not only provide some sound insulation, but to keep the floors warm!

Dman
Analog Junkie

 

I would, posted on September 18, 2014 at 06:15:29
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
not do anything at first and test drive if you will the house. If issues come up with the neighbor(s) act and they'll consider you a good Joe for doing so.

I did some 200 year old row houses a couple of months ago and there was no transmission of sound between houses.



ET
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: I would, posted on September 18, 2014 at 07:33:07
Great advice.

 

Ditto that, posted on September 18, 2014 at 09:00:53
caffeinator
Audiophile

Posts: 1729
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 22, 2003
In the couple of old (~100 years) houses I've resided in, the plaster was more akin to cement than the gypsum material in drywall. The single pane windows are much more likely sources for noise transmission.

Also, consider what the exterior siding is when assessing what to treat. I lived in an old place with plaster inside and stucco outside - very dead, noise-wise, while street noise came through the single pane windows like they were tissue paper. The couple of spaces that had newer double pane windows were comparatively tomb-like.

 

Agreed., posted on September 18, 2014 at 09:12:55
R Browne
Audiophile

Posts: 1710
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: January 14, 2002
I lived in a 1930's built apartment building in NYC with plaster walls that had very good sound isolation between adjoining units. My next door neighbor had a baby grand piano that she would play on a regular basis. I never heard it through the walls, nor would she hear my stereo. The only sound leakage came through the doors which happened to be metal, but not particularly well sealed. Double pane windows are also more effective in isolating sound than single pane. In the OP's situation, the windows are likely to be area of greatest concern in isolating sound.

 

RE: sound proofing 150 year old home, posted on September 18, 2014 at 10:29:18
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15486
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
Test-drive the house prior to making any changes.

 

RE: Ditto that, posted on September 18, 2014 at 10:34:14
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3350
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since:
September 4, 2000
Ditto again. Lath and plaster is far better than dry wall in my experience.

 

RE: sound proofing 150 year old home, posted on September 18, 2014 at 10:37:57
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3350
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since:
September 4, 2000
Great suggestions from my experience and yes, leave those plaster walls alone.

 

Getting rid of those old single pane windows..., posted on September 18, 2014 at 12:55:38
... will more than pay for itself in energy savings alone.

 

Yell profanities at the neighbors., posted on September 19, 2014 at 07:14:53
If they come running, you'll know you need sound treatment.

 

Page processed in 0.033 seconds.