Soundproofing a basement is not an easy thing to do on your own and you need proper information to get it done. If you are disturbed by the noise coming from the ground floor and want to get rid of it this piece is for you.
Usually, the floor upstairs is a hard surface and there is a space between the ceiling assembly the surface. Whenever people are walking or talking on the floor that can be really disturbing in the basement. Soundproofing (read our article on how to soundproof your room cheaply) is about damping the sound and decreasing its impact and we will tell you about a number of ways to get it done.
Soundproofing a Finished Basement
Normally it is thought that a finished basement is extremely difficult to deal with when you are trying to soundproof it but the reality is different. The choice is yours whether you want to do it yourself or you want professional help. All you need for it is soundproofing material and a resilient channel.
A resilient channel is a metal channel that is extremely useful for enhancing sound insulation. This channel is really good in disassociating the ceiling from the framing stud work that ultimately reduces the noise.
It is possible because there is proper space between the existing ceiling and the new one you are creating. If there is any space likes air vents you have to fill them with the sound damping material as well. Once you have installed the channels with the help of clips according to the dimensions of your structure you have to install drywall onto the channel. Make sure that the drywall is also made of special soundproofing material.
You may also check our tips on how to soundproof your balcony.
Dealing with the Stairs
The basement stairs can cause quite a lot of noise if you haven’t dealt with them properly. It can be done without any kind of professional help especially if your ceiling is still being constructed. You need to purchase soundproofing insulation for the stairs and install it under the stairs.
The base of the stairs can easily hold such insulation and you wouldn’t have to make a lot of effort in this process. You have to fix the insulation beneath each step of the staircase so make sure that you don’t leave any of the steps.
How to Soundproof an Under Construction Basement
If your basement is under construction and the ceiling has not been completed yet then it becomes even easier for you. First and foremost, you have to purchase soundproofing insulation and get it installed as quickly as possible. If you want to improve the soundproofing you can use multiple layers of insulation.
This would help you to create an air space between the actual ceiling and these layers. In this way, the sound has to travel through the air space as well which would decrease its impact in a considerable manner. Try to create air space between each layer and create as many layers as you can so you would be able to tackle the noise in a better way.
Try to read our article on how to soundproof a home office.
Use a Drywall to Block the Sound
If all the above-explained solutions do not work you may need drywall insulation and a resilient channel. It would cost you a bit but nothing is precious than your peace of mind. We will explain the complete process in a simple manner.
This works really well for the finished ceiling of the basement. The resilient channel would support the drywall to take the benefit of the extra layer of the air space. Apply special glue for dealing with the drywall that can be purchased from any market. The glue has to be applied to the edges of the drywall as well. Use at least 3 layers of drywall to get the best results.
Use screws to attach the second and third layers of the drywall with the first one beneath the ceiling. This would create enough airspace between the ceiling and the ground surface to avoid any kind of sound. You also need to seal the whole area and all the cracks or space with the help of soundproofing glue or compound that are also available in the market.
There can be unattended spaces or gaps due to the vents and you have to deal with them as well. You can utilize sound damping foam to fill the vents and the spaces in order to block the maximum amount of space in this situation. This solution would definitely reduce the chances of noise reaching the basement surface.
Use Multiple Layers of the Ceiling
If you do not want to take any risks and the structure is still being built you have another effective solution to soundproof the basement. Instead of using only one ceiling, you can install multiple layers of the ceiling. The key point is that you have a considerable gap between all the layers.
The sound can easily travel through metals or hard surfaces but the air gap weakens it. It is not an expensive solution and you can ask the professionals already helping you with the construction of the basement to do the needful. In this manner, you won’t have to hire an extra number of workers and the work will get done within a limited span of time.
Conclusion
Overall, there are many solutions to fix this problem but you have to evaluate your circumstances before choosing any one of them. You can easily calculate the expenses and also take care of the professionals required for the technique you choose. It would be considerably easier if you are still in the process of construction because the choices are limited if you cannot deal with the basement in a structural manner.
All of these are suggestions based on the experiences and research done by our experts. You have to analyze the pros. and cons. of each solution before applying it. We are hopeful that you would be able to solve your problem with one of these solutions. You might also be interested in our other article: how to soundproof garage.
