Soundproofing Contractors?

James Boyd

I have a small crew and access to a major metro market. I was approached by friends of a friend some time ago to build a couple of media rooms. One develped into a full blown theater. Both rooms needed serious sound isolation. Information was mixed out there at best.

In researching this a lot more (with the help of my father in law engineer) it's clear that you can have a system to soundproof a room.

Since then, as word of this spread, I was approached by three other people to soundproof. Not general construction, just to soundproof (or at least knock the sound down a lot). This was a bedroom (don't ask), an band practice room, and a front wall near the highway.

I gotta tell ya, I'm looking at bids that are much more profitable than what I'm used to. There's no competition. I hesitated even posting this, but I'm curious... is anyone else sort of specializing in soundproofing?

James

Glasshousebltr

I used to do a lot of sound proofing.....you wouldn't believe some of the MFs I shut up in my hay days.

Unique building always proves very profitable....if there's a market...and in your case it sounds like there may be one.....go for it.

Bob

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Bob

dougchips

I attended a class on sound proofing with sheetrock this spring. There is a whole science behind this trade. Tons of prep before you even use the sheetrock or this new rubber material. Alot of the prep is weatherstripping the doors, sealing around pipes, sealing around outlets....the list goes on. There is a expanding sweep for the doors so sound can not enter in the 1/4"-1/2" gap under it. The rubber comes in rolls that are 3'x __? , and too heavy for one person to lift. The sheetrock is standard sizes and =/- 100 a sheet. You have to compare the sound rating, they vary greatly. The days of doubling up sheetrock are long gone. Check out JLC's website they did an article last winter on the process. With the material being very high and the process requiring very skilled labor, this is a top dollar project.

James Boyd

See, here's the deal. It isn't as complicated as it's made out. You don't need $100 a sheet drywall, you certainly don't need the rolled rubber (MLV), which is more $$. Once the prep is done, the drywall crew comes in and hangs.

The perception of technical difficulty is high, but after the initial prep, the labor is semi-skilled. That's the beauty.

dougchips

What sound ratings are you achieving without the drywall and rubber?

Glasshousebltr

WHAT?......SPEAK UP?

Bob

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Bob

James Boyd

That's funny Bob!

Doug:

Standard 2x4 wall = STC 33 maybe
Add (double)drywall to each side and get 43 maybe
Mass loaded vinyl gets you mid 40's also
Damp that drywall with a visco glue and get 53-56

That's lab data that's on the internet.

James

dougchips

Bob's reading so he can make a sound proof dungeon! James, I will check into the visco. From what I have seen the double sheetrock does very little to control the sound. The cost of the rubber exceeds most illegal drugs pound per pound. I would be willing to test vct (floor tile) I seems as heavy as the rubber. I have a 25x12 room in my basement that I will do as soon as I have a cost effective way to tackle it.

James Boyd

You are right. Double drywall doesn't do a lot by itself. Neither does insulation. It's the visco between the drywall (or plywood) that's doing the job in combination with the drywall.

James Boyd

Any neat way to market such a niche? I was thinking about the local HBA meeting, but would like to get to the consumers, rather than as a sub. Phone books are so rarely used it seems, and I hate to invest in a website, though that may be best.

Any thoughts?

James

Joe Wood

Hey James, what's this Visco? When I google it all I get are links to Memory Foam.

Going to be soundproofing my own home here soon.

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James Boyd

Hi Joe,

There are a few, but some apparently work better than others. The one that's most talked about on the internet is green glue. Do a google under green glue and you'll see what I mean.

I'm about to order some and try it in a job I've got.

James

Joe Wood

Ah ha, I already know about the green glue! Appreciate the info anyway, I just had never heard the word Visco.

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mdshunk

I would think that you'd need access to a major market to be a successful soundproofing contractor. You have that, so you should be successful. I wouldn't think that would fly in the cornfields of Iowa. Sometimes I wish I operated in a major market, because I have tons of those niche ideas. Good job identifying yours!

James Boyd

Thanks Shunk.

Joe, Have you used this green glue? Or did someone you know use it? I'd appreciate any feedback you have.

James

Joe Wood

No James, haven't used it myself yet, I'm just planning on soundproofing my own house someday and have been looking into the different options I'll have.

One question I have about it is, I know it's used to seal the space between the new sheetrock and the ceiling and floor, and around other gaps, like outlets, but, should it be used between layers of sheetrock or soundboard as further dampening too?

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James Boyd

Hey Joe, my understanding is that you use a standard caulk around the perimeter to seal cracks, etc. The green glue is used to cover the surface between two sheets of drywall of plywood. It's not a sealant.

James