Ceiling - one of the main "culprits" of penetration of extraneous noise in the apartment. It is possible to install thick doors, five-chamber double-glazed windows, to cover walls with plasterboard, but if not to insulate the ceiling, the apartment will not be really quiet.
Materials
To soundproof the ceiling, you need material that has good noise-suppressing properties, but it is thin enough, incombustible and does not emit toxic substances. For this role are suitable:
- mineral wool,
- polystyrene,
- polyurethane foam plates,
- coconut cloth,
- cork.
Each of them has its own merits. For example, mineral wool is not deformed and does not change dimensions and reduces the level of transmitted noise by 90%, and foam with polyurethane foam is easier to install and better protect against impact noise. If the sound insulation of the ceiling is correctly arranged, the noise level in the room can be reduced by 20-25 dB.
The use of any noise-insulating material implies the arrangement of a false ceiling. Soundproof layer can be covered with plasterboard or stretch ceiling.
Preparatory work for
Standard tools and auxiliary equipment, ladder or scaffolds are required for the work. Minimum preparation of the ceiling is required: it must be clean and relatively flat. It is possible to additionally prime the ceiling: it will not dust and adhesion will be higher when using the adhesive. If there are cracks or cracks on the ceiling, they are sealed with a vibration isolating sealant. Consider the optimal materials for noise insulation and the features of their installation.
Foam plastic
One of the simplest and fastest methods of noise insulation of the ceiling is to glue the ceiling surface with foam sheets. To do this, you only need glue, universal or for foam, and foam plastic 2-3 mm thick. The technique of gluing foam is the same as for decorative polystyrene boards( read about it here), with the only difference that fitting joints can not be carried out so carefully - they will still be hidden by plasterboard or vinyl sheet.
Jam
The plus of cork is its environmental friendliness and the ability to breathe. The microclimate in the apartment will not change, and the noise level will decrease. Due to the small thickness of the cork, the ceiling height will decrease slightly. The layer of cork noise insulation is usually covered with plasterboard or left as an unusual interior solution. The main disadvantage is the high cost of the cork and the need to use a cheap special glue, since the usual cork is deformed.
Mineral wool
When using mineral wool as a soundproofing, a profile is first attached to the ceiling. Between it and the wall around the perimeter is laid a damper tape to absorb vibrations. The distance between the guides should be 2-3 mm less than the width of the roll so that the material fills the whole space without crevices. In the future, the same profile can be used to fix drywall in the usual way. In fact, this is a standard suspended ceiling, the interior space of which is filled with mineral wool. Particular attention should be paid to ensure that all voids are filled with soundproofing material, otherwise they will serve as resonators, amplifying noise.
Acoustic suspended ceiling
Installation of an acoustic ceiling makes sense if the noise level from the top is high, for example, there is a commercial premise, or the apartment has already been repaired. The main disadvantage is that it takes 15-18 cm from the height of the room, so it is recommended with a ceiling height of at least 250 cm.
The whole design is a combination of an acoustic ceiling, for example "Ecophone", and a layer of mineral wool between it andslab plate. The maximum sound insulation can be achieved by combining several materials, for example, by sticking a cork or foam on the ceiling and placing a layer of mineral wool below.
Noise insulation of a single ceiling will be sufficient only in a brick or panel house. In panel and monolithic houses, sounds are distributed on walls, and for effective protection against noise, it is necessary to insulate walls and floor( read about it here).
