Topic: Room/Sound Concerns for New Home Construction

[Steve Isham]

Soon I will be purchasing a to be constructed home, so I will be able to customize the construction where needed. What sound minimizing suggestions you can provide for my drum room? Any suggestions welcome, especially from those who have done this type work or are familiar with home construction focused on minimizing sound

Depending on the floor plan I decide on, it may be upstairs or downstairs. I would prefer downstairs, but there are several factors involved, like relation to other rooms, likely the smallest bedroom in the house, etc.

I have read about room in a room, but that is done after construction. I am looking more at while the house is being built. What kind of insulation?  Rock wool, cellulose etc.  What about drywall? I've read that 5/8" and Quietrock work.  Should HVAC lines go from the room straight to main unit and not to other rooms? Putty pads around outlets?  Windows? Flooring? Ceiling?  What is cost-effective, what is a must have?  What is just hype?

Thanks,
Steve

[Chip Donaho]

I had a construction company for several years. In my own drum room I used sheet rock on the walls and acoustic tiles on the ceiling. That was good enough for my drumming and jam needs. If you use sound tiles on the entire room it will get rather expensive. 

[David Crigger]

  What is cost-effective, what is a must have?  What is just hype?

I really haven't run into much pure "hype" with this - except where folks will skew their marketing to confuse the issue between "sound treatment" and "sound proofing". I'm reading your post to be all about "sound proofing".

So staying focused on that - "What is cost-effective, what is a must have?" - without at all trying to sound flip, it all depends on what you are - specifically - trying to accomplish.

There is no getting around - compared to normal residential construction - increased sound-proofing is expensive... in materials, labor and space required.

And the lower pitched and louder the noise you are trying to contain is - the more expensive it gets. And if containing it somewhat costs "x", then containing a bit more can cost "x" times 2, and a bit more... "x" times 10.

Sad to say - it don't get much louder and lower than bass drums - so drums start from square one as being pretty demanding.  With the big variable being, how much minimizing of sound do you desire? Need? And then of course, are willing to pay for.

I guess what I'm getting at is - try and answer that question first - even if it just in the realm of do I want a) someone in the adjacent to not even know I'm playing the drums, b) know I'm playing, but make it seem like a soft stereo being played in the next room, c) or seem like a loud stereo, d) a loud stereo at the other end of the house, e) a loud stereo being played next door from my neighbors point of views

Each of these a-e get easier and less expensive to accomplish - so knowing what you're shooting for will then set-up which questions about materials and techniques to get answers for.

From a new construction stand point, I would say your most pressing need if even considering going double-wall - would be obviously starting with a larger room than you want to end up with - and big time... a higher ceiling. (and there is no doubt that your best results can be achieved with double-wall construction.

But if you were to not opt for that, then a great compromise (and one that very much effects you initial construction) would be to build your walls with staggered studs on 2x6 top and sole plates. And big chunk of double walls capabilities - for a lot less labor, materials and space. You'll still want/need that higher ceiling either way.

Hope that helps,

David

[Scot Holder]

It may be too expensive, but why not go underground?

Our nest begins emptying in a year.  So in the closer-than-we-think future, my wife and I will be changing addresses to fit our changing needs.  I've been thinking that a great way not disturb my neighbors (and play at all hours of the night!) would to buy a house with a full basement and convert that space to a studio.  I'd still have to contend with keeping the sound from escaping through the basement ceiling, but the other 5 sides of the underground room would keep sound in, and I could treat the room to control unwanted artifacts.

It seems like a good approach, but I'm not an expert, so I don't know if it's a sound plan!