Sound proofing a basement

[trux]

So i've been getting many complaints from my neighbors about the the music being played in my basement, specifically the drums. Naturally i'm looking to resolve this. The areas with the most leakage are one single pane window and a very thin (1") wood door. What would be the cheapest ways to deaden the sound? I can spend about $100 but would much rather spend $0. Looks are not a factor.

[warhead]

Hmm, you may be experiencing more problems with the sound going through your house via the floor above and $100 isn't much to throw anywhere. If those are your only 2 real problems you could cover the window with insulation and then cover it with a couple layers of plywood / sheetrock and caulk around it. That would be a cheap solution that would give varying results.

The cheap door solution is to use a thicker door (or add mass to that door) and to make sure the seals around it are as good as they can be.

War

[Jonboy79]

I used to use every spare blanket on the house. Ended up with a very dead room and the neighbors never complained again.

[xmostynx]

i don't know how to spell this..

but i think for 100 bucks you can get a few sheets of homasote board from home depot.

this should cut alot of the 'leakage' thats annoying your neighbors..
i'd cut it up and place a few panels around the window- stuff the window with a blanket then put these in front..

do the same with the door...maybe put them on hinges so you can still use the door..
and if they still complain....after you sink some cabbage into your basement...

complain when they mow their lawn

'damn mower is sooo loud!'

i never understood this- music is a bad noise- a lawn mower is an acceptable one..


get some of that board from home depot...and unless your playing at 2am with your buddies don't worry about it..

just thoughts..

[fcorl]

Is this window a small ground level basement window? One route would be to put in a glass block window. This may cost a couple hundred dollars if you don't do it yourself (much less if you do it yourself), but the glass blocks have a hollow "vacuum" on the inside and they are virtually soundproof.

Also, (as War said), if you are leaking a lot of sound through the ceiling and doors, you could buy a solid wood door and make sure the seal is tight with weather strip (I use a double door system in my room). As far as the ceiling goes, you could drop a thick drywall ceiling hung on resilient channel. This all starts to become a bit more work and money though and I don't even know how well the ceiling would work if it's not combined with other wall and floor resolutions. I would start with the obvious (window).

[trux]

I am a renter, so replacing the door and window is not an option. The homasote board sounds interesting though. I'm thinking of picking some up and maybe using sand bags to stuff between the two, and weather stripping for the door. My neighbors are insane and if they hear it a little they call the cops.

Would sand be the best for placing between the window and board? What else can i do to the door? I'd be willing to block it with something if it would help.

[redddog]

Where do you live? That sounds horrible.

[fcorl]

Originally Posted by trux

My neighbors are insane and if they hear it a little they call the cops.

Let them call the cops then. I'm sure there is a law on the books that states what DB is acceptable before it is labeled excessive noise pollution. The cops can send out someone with a meter and let them take readings from inside their house. If it's too loud then you will have to change something. If not, they can bitch all they want.

Talk to your landlord and ask if you can swap out a door or laminate the existing one with some "sheetblock" or some other dense material. Is your place an attached house or a detached single-family unit? The other option is living in a rented rehearsal space....

[tINY]

The big advantage of renting is that it's easy to move.....



-tINY

[trux]

So i just got back from lowes and they had some gypsum board thats supposed to be for sound reinforcement. I plan on mounting it about 6 iches out from the on studs that are already there. Should I fill the space in between with sand bags, foam, blankets or something else? What would work best? I'm also thinking about nailing some to the door to give it some more thickness as well as some weather stripping. How does this sound to you guys? Any better ideas?

[popmann]

complain when they mow their lawn

'damn mower is sooo loud!'

Amen. I use a reel mower. there is no "mandate" that one has to make noise while doing yard work...let alone only do it ALL DAY every weekend.

THAT...is a bigger source of noise pollution than ANY studio in ANYONE's house.

Want to be a lazy ass and use a gas powered leaf blower for 3 ****ing hours on Saturday afternoon? And everyone in the neighborhood staggers it so it continues all weekend? I can rip guitars at full volume for a couple in the evening. Or in the middle of the night.

BTW...the SPL level, I believe has to be measured from their property line, if you want to get legal. Doesn't matter what it is in their house. Get yourself a SPL gun...go out to the property line and do a reading when the drummer's banging away like Bonham. Look up your local noise ordinance. If your ass is covered say, "Go ahead and call the police." They won't come many times before they identify THEIR problem.

[tINY]

Sand bags are good. You don't even really need the drywall.

Fluffy pink insulation inside walls works pretty well and it's cheap.

Make sure there are no air leaks.




-tINY