Need to convert 4 floor house into 'quiet' rehearsal space - HELP!!!

[pitchfork]

The floor would be mounted on 18"x 2" concrete slabs placed at load bearing points and on neoprene 'mats'.

Do you mean on ALL 4 floors? I wouldn't even bother "guessing". Pass go and head directly to STRUCTURAL/ACOUSTICAL ENGINEER. Rod Gervais comes to mind, although there are others.

[WarriorofLight]

Thanks Pitchfork, sorry for the idiot question but I take it I can contact him on here?

Thanks - David.

[OpusOfTrolls]

Yeah, you should get an engineer to come take a look, because of the weight requirements. You can't just add things willy nilly or the building could collapse. There might be a need to build new supports going all the way up to the roofing.

[WarriorofLight]

Okay thanks.

David.

[Rod Gervais]

Not only do you need to get a structural engineer to determine weight limits for the floor (for both the total loads and the point loads involved) but I would suggest that your floor design is never going to accomplish what it is you're trying to do.......

Lightweight floors (and that is a lightweight floor) are great for the isolation of higher frequencies and impact sounds - but not good for low frequency isolation.

Add to this that what you are essentially constructing is a huge drum head.

I did a consultation for a client who build a series of practice spaces - all of which were located on the ground floor - all of which had elevated decks which were constructed in a manner similar to what you have described (installed before the owner contacted me) and all of which created problems and had to be removed.

This is not to say you cannot achieve the level of isolation you might need - but certainly not by heading in the direction you are currently headed...

Rod

[WarriorofLight]

Okay thanks Rod. Can I get the answer to this in your book before I go spend the cash? I've got a couple weeks R&D before the guy needs an answer.

Cheers David.

[Rod Gervais]

David,

The very first question you need answered is "what the existing structure is capable of handling?"

And (as much as I might like to sell a book) no you are not going to find the definitive answer there - or in any other book....... there are just too many variables that come into play with this, especially when you want to achieve what you're talking about here......

My book would help if you were sitting slab on grade - not once you begin climbing up in a building..... that takes a lot more than what's in the book.

And even if you buy some books that explain how to perform an analysis on the building and develop a design (not that any technical books are going to provide specific answers to this specific challenge) - they are going to be deep enough that you'll most probably have to take some courses in acoustics just to develop enough knowledge to even begin to understand them.

In cases like these your best bet is to bring a local acoustician on board to determine what you have (to begin with) and what is required to reach your goal.

This assumes there really is a solution - sometimes the real answer is that you cannot make it from A to B with a particular building - I know - I have had to inform more than a few clients where that was the case.

Rod

[WarriorofLight]

Okay cool, thanks Rod. I'll buy the book anyway. The guy is pretty determined and we have had the green for extra structural support if required. However a concrete slab is still out of the question. I might have access to an acoustical engineer but I'm still hoping for an 'out of the box' solution to this. Sometimes you get lucky!!!

Out of curiosity would it be a better idea to line the floor with soundblock board and sheet? I can see what you mean by the previous idea making a giant drum skin.

Thanks for your time it is much appreciated.

David.

[pitchfork]

Out of curiosity would it be a better idea to line the floor with soundblock board and sheet? I can see what you mean by the previous idea making a giant drum skin.

A week late..but Rod never replied, so
, at the risk of giving bad advice...I'd submit the floors are ALREADY a drumhead. Simply adding a small amount of mass..ie..soundblock board(what ever that is?) won't do anything appreciable.
The thing is, you need a MASSIVE slab..decoupled from the rest of the structure by virtue of calculations. And this is the reason the existing building MAY not be able to support it. My less than scientific observation..ie... $.02

[avare]

Originally Posted by pitchfork

A week late..but Rod never replied, so
, at the risk of giving bad advice...I'd submit the floors are ALREADY a drumhead. Simply adding a small amount of mass..ie..soundblock board(what ever that is?) won't do anything appreciable.
The thing is, you need a MASSIVE slab..decoupled from the rest of the structure by virtue of calculations. And this is the reason the existing building MAY not be able to support it. My less than scientific observation..ie... $.02

+1.

Andre