Is there much benefit to installing double drywall / GG on an exterior basement wall? My theater is in the corner of my basement, so two of my theater walls are built against concrete. Will there be much impact if I only do DD/GG on the other walls and ceiling? Well I'm still debating if I can work GG into my limited budget, but I'll do double drywall for sure. Im also doing staggered studs on the interior walls. and will probably do some form of decoupling on the ceiling.
Double drywall on exterior wall
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In my basement build i applied DD/GG on all the walls and ceilings. 2 of the walls are agianst cement block walls. That was what was specified by Dennis Erskines former company Design Cimema Privee who designed my room.
Though I am not an accoustical enigineer/expert I think having a consistent surface desnity will improve the overall sound quality of the room. Sound is energy. As it bounces off the walls with just a single layer of drywall; that wall willl absorb more of the sound thus returning less back into the room. The would throw the off balance of the room.
At least that is what my layman's brain thinks....
Though I am not an accoustical enigineer/expert I think having a consistent surface desnity will improve the overall sound quality of the room. Sound is energy. As it bounces off the walls with just a single layer of drywall; that wall willl absorb more of the sound thus returning less back into the room. The would throw the off balance of the room.
At least that is what my layman's brain thinks....
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Yes, it will help. It will decrease flanking.
Yes, those corners walls are part of the house so any sound that doesn't get to those walls won't get to the rest of the house.
You really need to look at the entire room including the ceiling and do what you can afford to keep all of the sound in the room.
This is a common mistake that is expensive to fix - you have to think through all of the possible ways sound could get out of the room and design and build accordingly.
You really need to look at the entire room including the ceiling and do what you can afford to keep all of the sound in the room.
This is a common mistake that is expensive to fix - you have to think through all of the possible ways sound could get out of the room and design and build accordingly.
The reason I asked is that I am on a fairly limited budget. Im trying to determine which corners I can cut. If I don't do DD on two of the walls, that will save me money that i can spend elsewhere. I should probably mention the the exterior wall framing is decoupled from the ceiling joists too.
I'm not overly concerned about sound control, but i figured i should do something. I'm not looking for an ideal solution, I cant afford that. I'll probably have to skip the GG as well. I notionally set aside 7k for the build including equipment and I want to stretch it as far as possible. I'm just trying to figure out how much of an impact it will make to only do DD on the interior walls. Big mistake, or a fairly minor one? I also have the main HVAC trunk running through the room and that presents its own issues in sound control. I dont want to put a lot of $$ and effort into soundproofing if the sound will escape anyway.
I'm not overly concerned about sound control, but i figured i should do something. I'm not looking for an ideal solution, I cant afford that. I'll probably have to skip the GG as well. I notionally set aside 7k for the build including equipment and I want to stretch it as far as possible. I'm just trying to figure out how much of an impact it will make to only do DD on the interior walls. Big mistake, or a fairly minor one? I also have the main HVAC trunk running through the room and that presents its own issues in sound control. I dont want to put a lot of $$ and effort into soundproofing if the sound will escape anyway.
When I read this there is one thing that comes to mind. Your plan is to skimp on the building of the room which is the one thing that is the HARDEST to upgrade! Think about it, you get the room built, you throw in your new equipment (7.1, 1080p PJ, huge screen, and chairs), you sit down to watch a movie, it gets going and your wife comes down to tell you that you just woke up the baby! How are you going to fix that? The answer, turn it down!
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But if you do things right with the room you won't have to worry about that. I've seen multiple threads from you regarding sound proofing so it is important to you. Do it right the first time. You can skimp on equipment for now. Only do 5.1 (or hell 4.1 and run a phantom center channel). Buy a 720p used PJ. Buy used chairs or find something you can use in the house already. Each of these items are EASY upgrades down the road when more money is available.
When I read this there is one thing that comes to mind. Your plan is to skimp on the building of the room which is the one thing that is the HARDEST to upgrade! Think about it, you get the room built, you throw in your new equipment (7.1, 1080p PJ, huge screen, and chairs), you sit down to watch a movie, it gets going and your wife comes down to tell you that you just woke up the baby! How are you going to fix that? The answer, turn it down!
But if you do things right with the room you won't have to worry about that. I've seen multiple threads from you regarding sound proofing so it is important to you. Do it right the first time. You can skimp on equipment for now. Only do 5.1 (or hell 4.1 and run a phantom center channel). Buy a 720p used PJ. Buy used chairs or find something you can use in the house already. Each of these items are EASY upgrades down the road when more money is available.
Thanks for all the input guys. I think I'll get the ceiling and interior walls done in DD, and plan on a 1/2 application of GG for those. Then before doing any finish work, set up some speakers and see how much sound really escapes the room. At that point it will still be easy enough to go buy more drywall and GG.
Most of the time movie watching is a family (just me and the kids) event in my house anyway. So disturbing a wife or baby isn't much of an issue, but I get your point on it being difficult to fix down the road.
Most of the time movie watching is a family (just me and the kids) event in my house anyway. So disturbing a wife or baby isn't much of an issue, but I get your point on it being difficult to fix down the road.
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Take care to plan the ventilation. You'll see some great build threads here with several generous people displaying the methods used to isolate the ventilation. Easier to do this now than later.
If you'd like a couple of guides, send me a PM with your email
If you'd like a couple of guides, send me a PM with your email
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