Sound insulation of the ceiling in the apartment under a suspended ceiling: cost

One of the main conditions for achieving comfort and coziness in an apartment is the absence of extraneous sounds. This includes the sounds of cars and screaming from the street, repairing neighbors and other unpleasant noises. And if street noise can be minimized by installing high-quality doors and windows, then solving the problem with neighbors is a bit more difficult. In this matter, a significant role can play sound insulation of the ceiling in the apartment under a suspended ceiling.

The advantages of a stretch ceiling as a soundproofing

Modern construction companies have a wide variety of stretch ceilings to choose from. One of the options is a soundproof suspended ceiling.

In general, any suspended ceiling can serve as an insulator due to its design. The air gap between the ceiling and the material being installed serves as an obstacle to the propagation of external noise. And the absence of a metal frame that would be attached to the main ceiling means the absence of sound propagation bridges.

In addition, the stretch fabric is a soft fabric or film structure, which is an additional sound absorber. For modern acoustic stretch ceilings, a specially perforated canvas is used. The energy of a sound wave is extinguished due to the smallest openings. In addition to several layers of such material, the construction of these ceilings has a foamed polymer, which has attractive characteristics: repels moisture, weaves tightly and does not sagging. Reviews from the owners of acoustic ceilings speak for themselves. The only drawback of such a stretch ceiling is its cost.

Sound insulation can be done under a conventional stretch ceiling. For this, it is necessary to place additional soundproofing material in the available space between the ceiling and the tension web.

The choice of material for sound insulation of a stretch ceiling

Sound insulation material, which is planned to be mounted under a stretch ceiling, must have the following properties:

• high sound absorption coefficient;
• least flammability;
• light weight;
• its thickness should equal the amount of free space.

In addition, it must comply with sanitary and hygiene standards and be easy to install.

Among the wide range of soundproofing materials, you can choose the one that suits you for the price, methods of fastening and efficiency. Consider the most popular options.

Mineral wool

This material is made from non-combustible raw materials, which is a big plus, does not shrink, effectively copes with the problem of extraneous noise. However, when choosing, you need to take into account its important features:

• Some types of mineral wool are hazardous to human health, therefore it is necessary to work with it in compliance with all safety measures, and isolation should be done 100% qualitatively.
• The material is hygroscopic, so it is necessary to protect it from moisture on them using vapor barrier membranes.

Important! Since mineral wool is a highly efficient insulation, it cannot be combined with built-in ceiling lights that will overheat.

Mineral wool is available in the form of rolls and slabs. The second option is more convenient during the installation process and has a denser structure that improves its soundproof properties. Popular brands are the special Schumanet BM acoustic boards, as well as the Rockwool Acoustic Butts.

Such plates have one drawback: their thickness varies in the range of 15–20 centimeters, so their use will significantly reduce the height of the ceiling.

Acoustic membranes

Special membranes are a very dense material made from aragonite - a natural mineral. A significant plus of this material is its small thickness, usually not exceeding 4 millimeters. At the same time, the sound insulation coefficient of acoustic membranes reaches 28 dB.

The disadvantage of this material is its large weight, because of which it will not be possible to install the membranes on the ceiling alone because of this. For its installation, a metal or wooden frame is required.

Various natural materials also cope well with sound absorption: reed tiles, coconut fiber, linen tow, coniferous fiber. Their advantage is environmental friendliness and safety, you can use such materials even in a nursery.

Installation of sound insulation under a stretch ceiling

Before starting work on installing sound insulation and suspended ceilings, you need to bring the base ceiling in proper condition, namely:

• Check the condition of the ceiling surface. If damaged, seal them with sealant.
• The base of the ceiling is primed to prevent mold from developing on it.
• Mark the walls under the ceiling profile.
• Stick a soundproof tape to each element of the profile.
• The electrical wires that will be hidden behind the tension web are best made insulated. For this, a corrugated sleeve that is securely fixed to the ceiling is suitable.

Now you can proceed with the installation of sound insulation and ceiling construction. Depending on the selected material, there are two methods for its installation.

Sound insulator frame mounting method

From the name it is clear that this method involves the use of a framework. It can be a metal profile or a wooden beam.

To conduct sound insulation, markup is first made around the perimeter of the ceiling.

Parallel profiles should be placed at a distance of about 60 centimeters from each other, and the distance between the extreme profile and the wall should be no more than 10 centimeters.

Then, holes are drilled in the profiles, a crate is installed and soundproofing material is laid.

Frameless ceiling soundproofing method

This method is simpler and faster, since when using it you do not need to install any complex structures. All parts are attached to special adhesive mixtures.

Some of the latest soundproofing materials on one side have a self-adhesive tape, which greatly simplifies their installation in the design of a stretch ceiling. The main thing is to correctly and as evenly as possible attach the material to the base ceiling. Despite the fact that the price of such materials is higher, you can save on the purchase of various additional materials, as well as your time.

Also to the frameless method include attaching sound insulation with dowels, the so-called "fungi". Before using them, ceiling markings should be made, and then the plates should be fixed on it. Fastening "fungi" is best done at the corners and edges of the plates. Strengthen the strength of the structure can pre-sizing the material.

Both methods of installation of sound insulation - frame and frameless - combines the need for a dense laying of material and sealing joints.

Improving the soundproofing properties of the structure

In order for sound insulation to be more effective, after installing the material, it is necessary to additionally close it with plasterboard sheets. In this case, the dimensions of the sheets must be taken into account in advance, they must close the entire structure without large gaps.

The joints of the sheets must be additionally covered with a sound reinforcing strip, and the seams should be sealed with special mastic.

The final step will be installation of a stretch ceiling and decorative finishes.

Soundproofing, organized before installing the stretch ceiling, will significantly reduce the noise level in your apartment. But for maximum efficiency it is recommended to soundproof the windows, the front door and, if possible, the walls.

Soundproofing Cost

The price of soundproofing a ceiling under a stretch ceiling in Moscow and St. Petersburg varies between 700–3000 rubles / 1 m2. A large variance in cost is explained by the use of different materials (their price is included in this amount) and a different number of layers. The most effective is a 3-layer sound insulation, but it will cost more.