Insulation stops the flow of sound waves as well as the flow of cold air. Placing insulation in a isolates the sound moving in both directions. It helps keep the sounds of the basement from bothering the occupants of the main floor and vice versa. The process involves many of the same skills used in installing insulation for home comfort.
Instructions
1. Caulk any gaps or spaces around pipes or wires that pass between the main floor and basement. This helps block baths for sound. In addition, wrap any pipes with insulation. Sound in one area is absorbed as vibration along the pipe, which can then be heard in other parts of the house.
2. Place insulation between the ceiling joists. Use a paper-faced insulation stapled in place between the joists. Cut the insulation to the length of the room using a sharp utility knife. Press the insulation into the cavity between the joists and fold the paper flaps over the joists. Fasten in place with 1/2-inch staples.
3. Insulate all interior walls between rooms in the basement. This also helps isolate sound away from the basement living area. Pay particular attention to walls between furnace or utility rooms. Use 4-inch paper-faced insulation with the paper side toward the primary living area.
4. Hang a suspended acoustic tile ceiling below the ceiling joists. Sound also transfers along the solid materials of the ceiling joists. Hanging or suspended ceilings provide an airspace between the joists and the ceiling of the basement.
5. Fasten mass-loaded vinyl to the underside of the ceiling joists as an option if a ceiling isn't planned for the basement. MLV is a roll vinyl product designed for soundproofing and is stapled to the joists. Cut the MLV to size with a sharp utility knife. The vinyl won't be as attractive as a suspended ceiling but is effective in providing a soundproof barrier.
Tags: ceiling joists, between joists, Basement Ceiling, Basement Ceiling Sound, basement This, Ceiling Sound, Insulate Basement