I've searched and read through several threads but I'm looking for a soundproofing (e.g. isolation, dampening) tutorial that I can print and use to discuss options with the general contractor that's building my house. Any idea where I can find one?

Thanks

I've searched and read through several threads but I'm looking for a soundproofing (e.g. isolation, dampening) tutorial that I can print and use to discuss options with the general contractor that's building my house. Any idea where I can find one?

Thanks

I am interested in this too!

here are a few things I've put in some threads:

HVAC - sound control

If your house is like most of ours, you have large metal ducts called "trunks" that supply heated and cooled air and bring it back via returns. Off of these trunks you will have individual take off ducts that each supply an individual register somewhere in the house.

The worst cast scenario is you have metal take off ducts,

So you build a theater and it should have both supplies and returns. The most common technique is to just cut in a couple of supplies and returns and use metal ducts to connect up the theater.

If you or your contractor does this, it is nearly identical to cutting a hole in the ceiling to the room above from a sound containment perspective.

There are are number of solutions and generally the amount of sound isolation is dependent on how much you are willing to spend.

The cheapest solution is to not connect the theater with metal ducts. Instead use flexible Acoustical Ducts. or duct board. Include a few 90 degree bends so that the sound carrying capacity of the duct is reduced.

see the two products on the right of this chart with the 6B the best choice.

http://www.flexmasterusa.com/pg/fdpp.php

There are other solutions including zoning the theater, installing totally separate HVAC for the basement or theater, and building serpentine baffle boxes for the supply and return vents:

While I'm not wild about the final product of the attached write up it shows you the concept of building a serpentine pathway lined with acoustically absorbent material. I think you can do it with 3/4 plywood or MDF and linacoustic versus the authors choice of materials. You could build a baffle box inside a joist space.

http://paulmadison.com/baffle.html


Sound proofing - swiss cheese

BUILD an Aquarium first, keep holes to a minimum.

For the most sound contained space (if that is critical) you basically build an aquarium first then build everything else inside.

Use isolating techniques for framing, isolation clips, then do your DDW +GG.

Inside this "air tight room" build stage and risers. Build soffits around the perimeter and add cove molding mounted below ceiling height. build columns on the sides and rear to house speakers and balance the room aesthetically.

Think twice about Recessed lights. Instead put up a rope light in cove molding, sconces on the columns, down lights in the soffits. All mounted inside the drywall shell. Put the outlets required by code in the base of the columns

Run electrical wiring inside the soffits, columns, riser and stage penetrating the room only once where the power enters the room. Seal any gaps in the hole around the wires.

If you must put a hole in the drywall aquarium for something (wall switch) build a beefy back box equal to the quality of the walls or use putty pads.

Obviously you need HVAC but seal the gaps around the penetrations well and use the acoustical ducts.

Others here have built back boxes for recessed lights with MDF/DW and GG. But if you have ceiling RSIC clips it will defeat them unless you can float the back boxes on the ceiling drywall.

Invest in a good beefy door and make sure it seals tight.

Lastly to learn more you can read and print out some of the background material on soundproofing on the Green Glue web site. While they have a product to promote they have some excellent articles. Read the two parter on the 5 principles of sound isolation here:

http://www.greengluecompany.com/a-SoundproofingTopic.php

Definitely read the green glue website, even if you don't buy their product.

You will have better luck doing this later with a remodeling contractor - showing printouts of this forum to a GC who is building your house - goes against the nature of their biz - which is to finish the house as soon as possible and get it off his books and on to yours. If you like the guy and he does remodeling - suggest he just leave a shell so you can take the time to have it done right later - when he is not worried about unloading the house because the market is killing him. Unlike a kitchen or bathroom - the HT does not need to be finished to sell the house.

Thanks guys.

Kras, the GC is a custom builder that also does remodeling projects. I have confidence he'll get my HT done right if I spec it out right.