Monday, August 29, 2011

Soundproofing a Restaurant

As a general rule most restaurants consist of  hard surface walls ceilings and floors. This is both for the evince of the establishment as well as for ease of cleaning of these areas. Restaurants are more concerned with reducing the echo and reverberation in their venue as opposed to actually stopping the noise from going out of the restaurant. The lack of absorbency in restaurants oft times makes it impossible to carry on a normal conversation with the people at your own table. The hard surfaces bounce the sound in every direction possible which can make life very annoying for your restaurant clientele.
 So what can you do to stop or at least reduce this reverberation and noise reflection. One thing would be to add absorbent panels to the walls and ceiling of the dining area. This would help to alleviate the reflected noise from the walls ceiling and floor, however this can also dramatically change the look and the theme of the restaurant.
 Here at Soundproofing America, Inc. we have a better idea. We carry a product called Echoless Roll material. This is a bonded cotton roll that has an acoustical neutral black facing on it. It is one of the most absorbent materials on the market today. Here is what I am suggesting. You would cut this material to fit onto the bottoms of your chairs tables, booth table and under any surface that is not visibly seen by the restaurant patrons, but will absorb the unwanted reverberation and noise reflection in your eating establishment. This product will meet any building code and has a class A fire rating. You would be able to dramatically reduce the reverberation in your restaurant and yet your customers would never ever see this material.
 If this sounds like the answer to your reverberation noise issues, then please call the professionals at Soundproofing America, Inc. or go to www.soundproofingamerica.com and look for the Echoless roll material. For the staff at Soundproofing America, Inc, this is Bob O. Thanks for reading.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Soundproofing an outdoor air conditioner

 A common question I get from my customers is, "How do I soundproof my outdoor AC compressor?" There is a simple method whereby you can reduce the noise of an outdoor air conditioning compressor. The first step would be to construct an enclosure around the unit. Something like a small redwood or cedar fence. You will want the enclosure to be about 2-3ft away from the compressor itself so as to provide adequate ventilation to the compressor. You will need to construct a gate so you are able to service the unit when needed. For the best soundproofing, you will want to build the enclosure to at least the 8 ft level, this will insure that you get as much outdoor soundproofing as possible. Sound likes to travel linerally so if it has to climb up 8ft of soundproofed fencing, you will be able to reduce the noise if the compressor greatly.
 Once the posts and cross members are installed it is recommended that you apply a layer of the 1# mass loaded vinyl to the fence structure itself. mass loaded vinyl or (MLV for short) is a barrier material that is made from a high grade vinyl that it impregnated with barium salts and silica to give it mass. It was designed to emulate lead sheeting, but it contains No Lead. You would staple the MLV directly to the fence structure using either a plastic cap stapler of a nail gun that shoots the roofing nails with the large plastic heads. We also recommend that you over lap the MLV where ever possible. A 1" over lap is fine. Now that the MLV membrane is installed, you will want to caulk the seams as well as around the perimeter using an acoustical caulk. it is also a good idea to tape all of the seams with an MLV seam sealer tape. This will insure that the vinyl barrier is sealed properly. I forgot to mention, it is a good idea to install the MLV on the outside of the fence structure, that way it will be partially protected from the elements. The last step is to nail up or screw the vertical dog eared slats directly over top of the MLV barrier. If this enclosure is at least 8' high then you should experience a marked sound reduction for the air conditioning compressor.
 I hope this has been helpful. This method also works if you are building a complete fence between you and your neighbor. If you have further questions please feel free to call us toll free or to e-mail me at tech@soundproofingamerica.com. This is Bob O. for Soundproofing America, Inc
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Thursday, August 25, 2011

DIY Soundproofing

 The majority of soundproofing projects can be performed by most home owners. Soundproofing isn't "Rocket Science" it just takes patience and some attention to detail. Today we are going to talk about soundproofing a common wall between neighbors in a Condo or apartment setting. Generally it is best to remove the existing drywall from a common wall so you are able to add soundproofing insulation batts as well as other soundproofing agents such as mass loaded vinyl or Green Glue.
 Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV for short) is a high grade vinyl material that is impregnated with barium salts and silica to give it mass. MLV is basically a lead substitute that actually contains no lead whatsoever. It is a heavy limpid product that would be either nailed or stapled directly to the open stud structure of your common wall.
 Once the original drywall is removed, it is advisable to apply a good sound batt insulation into the wall cavities. Something like Ultra Touch cotton batts or Roxul AFB which is a high grade mineral wool. Once the wall cavities are filled with the insulation, your next step is to install the MLV directly to the stud facing. In other words the MLV would be stretched horizontally across the studs and either stapled or nailed to the studs. If you use nails, make sure they are the roofing type nails with the large plastic heads. If you play on stapling up the vinyl, it is recommended that you use a Plastic cap stapler (air drive) or a commercial air drive stapler. Keep in mind that the MLV is not a reinforced product so you are simply attaching it to the studs long enough to be able to caulk and tape the seams as well as the perimeter of the MLV membrane.
 It is always a good idea to over lap the seams of MLV wherever possible and then caulk the over lapped area with an acoustical caulk.
 Once the MLV membrane is completely sealed you would simply drywall over top of the membrane with a layer of 5/8" drywall. You would still use drywall screws to attach the drywall to the studs. It is a good idea to caulk the seams of the drywall with the acoustical caulk before taping or mudding the drywall.
 Once the new drywall is textured and painted, your soundproofing job is complete.  This system should reduce the amount of sound being transmitted through that wall by at least 35- 38 dB.
 This system will work for any standard wall and is an excellent way to soundproof a recording studio or rehearsal space.
 To learn more about soundproofing your walls for to www.soundproofingamerica.com and familiarize your self with the wonderful world of Soundproofing. This is Bob O. for Soundproofing America, Inc, thank you.

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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Soundproofing Questions and Answers

 I would like cordually invide anyone who follows this blog the please ask your questions or leave your comments here. There are NO dumb questions so please ask away and I will be more than happy to provide you with a complete and comprehensive answer within 48 hours. I welcome your comments as well. Thank you. Bob O. for Soundproofing America, Inc http://www.soundproofingamerica.com/

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Soundproofing a cedar or redwood fence

 I get a lot of questions regarding how to soundproof my cedar or redwood fence. This process is actually pretty simple. As a general rule, it is best to have a wooden fence that is at least 8' in height in order to get the most soundproofing possible. Some city ordinances however will only allow you to build a 6' high fence. If that is the case, then a great idea is to build up a dirt berm at least 2' high, and then construct your fence atop of the berm. This will give you the 8' height you are looking for in order to obtain the best soundproofing possible.
  Once your fence is constructed to the proper height, I recommend that you attach a product called mass loaded vinyl (MLV for short) to the the fence structural members, in other words to the posts and crossmenbers of the  fence structure. The MLV is a reflective barrier material that will basically reflect the noise back to it's source.
 If you already have an 8' fence that is already in place, then the MLV would be stapled or nailed to the side of the fence that does not have the vertical dogeared slats already installed. You would simply staple (air drive stapler) or nail the mass loaded vinyl to the fence structure itself, much like a membrane to cover the entire backside of the fence.
  On an 8' high fence you will have 2 ribbons of the MLV that are 4' wide each that will be applied to the fence fence vertically. This is recommended in order to minimize the seams in the vinyl membrane. It is essential that you caulk (acoustical caulk) any over lapped seams as well as around the perimeter of the MLV membrane to seal it and prevent the noise from migrating through seams of the MLV. The MLV is a weatherproof product, but it is advisable that you nail up a new set of vertical slats directly over top of the MLV membrane. This will give your fence a finished look and will protect the mass loaded vinyl from the elements for years to come.
 To get more in depth information on how to soundproof your fence, go to http://www.soundproofingamerica.com/  or simply call us toll free at (877) 530-0139. Thanks for reading, Bob O.

Sound Blankets for soundproofing

 Many people are looking for temporary soundproofing solutions to their sound issues. They want to soundproof an area but don't want to make permanent changes to that space. That's where the American Sound Blankets can help to temporarily soundproof these areas. The sound blankets consist of a mass loaded vinyl core with sound absorbing batts on both sides and then a vinyl covering. This product has grommets gernerally installed at the top for easy hanging from common "J" hooks. They can also be made to have grommets on the sides and the bottom for a fence or barricade application.
  The sound blankets can also be used as temporary wall units that can separate a living room from a bedroom in a studio apartment. The sound blankets attach together using heavy duty Velcro flaps that are sewn into the sides of the blanket. These blankets have an STC rating of 32 which equates to a 32 dB reduction in sound.
 The uses for the sound blankets is virtually endless. I have actually had one of my customers build an entire recording space using only the sound blankets. It's a pretty amazing product.
 The sound blankets can also be used to cover windows where loud outdoor noises are a problem. There is also a sound blanket specifically designed for doors soundproofing as well.
 Sound blankets are also very useful for any and all industrial application, for example if you are wanting to quell the noise of all loud industrial machinery. lathes, grinders, CNC machines and any other industrial equipment that emits too much noise.
 There are also sound blankets that are designed for outdoor use that can be hung from a patio covering or even be attached to a wooden or chain link fence.
 To learn more about this versitile product, please go to our website http://www.soundproofingamerica.com/ and under soundproofing products you will find information about our American Sound Blankets. If you prefer to call, please do so toll free (877) 530-0139. Thanks you, Bob O.

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PH (877) 530-0139

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Soundproofing the floor in a Condo or Apartment

 There really isn't a whole lot of information out there regarding soundproofing the floor in an upper unit condo or apartment, I'd like to rectify that now. There are many floor underlayments that can be effectively utilized to soundproof an upper floor from both impact noise (walking etc) as well as airborne sounds from above and below. One of the best soundproofing agents are the various recycled rubber floor underlays. These recycled rubber products are quite effective at reducing impact and airborne noises that would normally be transmitted through an upper condo or apartment floor ceiling assembly. One of the best floor recycled floor underlayments is a product called American Impact Standard from the good folks at Soundproofing America, Inc. This underlay is 3/8" thick and comes in rolls that are 4' wide X 25' long.
 This material is rolled out over top of your sub floor. It is recommended that the underlayment be glued to the floor using the DA-5 floor underlayment adhesive. This will insure that your soundproof membrane will remain in place for whatever flooring you put down in your unit. That being said, it is not essential to glue this material down, it is just recommended so as to provide a stable platform for your new floor. Once the floor underlayment is rolled out and the seams are butted together, it is essential that all of the seams as well as the perimeter are caulked with an acoustical caulking compound. This seals the membrane and prevents airborne noise from being transmitted from above as well as below.
 Once the soundproof floor underlay is installed, you are ready to install your finished floor. If your new finished floor is to be a nail down wood floor then you will need to palce a backer board a top of the soundproof membrane so that you are able to nail down your wood flooring. A backer board of duroc or wonderboard is recommeded for a ceramic or marble installation. All other flooring such as snap together engineered wood as well as carpet and pad can be installed directly over top of the American Impact Standard. This product meets the requirements of most condominium associations. For more information on this and other soundproofing products, please call the experts at Soundproofing America, Inc http://www.soundproofingamerica.com/ or simply call them toll free at (877) 530-0139. Thank you, Bob O.

www.soundproofingamerica.com
www.soundproofingamerica.us
e-mail bob@soundproofingamerica.com
PH (877) 530-0139

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