SERVICES

AND

INFORMATION

What We Do

We install residential sound control systems. Some say it's a fancy term for "sound proofing". So why don't we call it sound proofing? Well, because really that's not what it is. The concept is likely the same as what folks are after when they ask for it, but sound control and noise proofing are much more realistic descriptions. We live in a city in real world houses. It's not realistic to sound PROOF anything. But what we can do is control and attenuate unwanted noises that may be disrupting our lives.

What is a sound control system? It's a combination of common and specialized building materials that add mass, decouple, dampen and absorb sound between living spaces. The surfaces we treat will depend on the noise you're wishing to attenuate, but typically we will open up and reinstall floors, ceilings and walls using the four principles mentioned above. We also look for ways that sound may be "flanking" around or short circuiting and cutting through structures to reach our ears and treat those as well.

How it Works

1. Initial Consult

Give us a ring or send us a message. We'll chat about your project, needs, expectations and general budget. Based on our conversation and anticipated square footages and surfaces to treat, we'll provide a rough estimate for the project. If you'd like to proceed, we'll schedule either a site visit or a meeting to go over plans the space. There is a $75 fee for site visits, applicable towards the overall cost of the project.

2. Estimate and Plan

After our meeting, we will come up with a more detailed and accurate estimate based on the sound systems we intend to install. You will be presented with a design agreement, a deposit will be collected, and we will get to work coordinating with other areas of your larger project if such areas exits. Please note, that if the project involves existing ceilings, walls and floors, we may not have an accurate view of the scope until demolition is completed.

3. Coordination

If your noise control systems are part of a larger project, we will meet with the project's general contractor and the trades to discuss all of the system plans for the space. HVAC, electric and plumbing can all play a roll in sound transfer, so it's important for us to get involved and start the coordination early. Sound system installations will also likely impact dimensions and clearances in your space and these need to be taken into account. We will coordinate with all parties involved to integrate into the construction calendar.

4. Installation

We get to work! We will arrange for purchase and delivery of all specialized components of the sound systems. When your project is ready, our experienced, licensed contractors will install the systems. Our workers are experienced in all facets of home building. We can come to your job for just the system installation, or we can contract to work from start to finish.

5. Documentation and Certification

We provide documentation for every system we install detailing the type of system employed, photos of your installation and the ratings associated with each system. This documentation can be used to attract future tenants and buyers and provide a map for any future renovations down the road should the ceilings or walls ever need to be opened.

Consultation Services

Our main mission is to install proven and effective sound control systems in your home. We want to make sure it's done correctly. This typically means that we wish to have our experienced installers perform the work as there are many opportunities during installation to short circuit the systems. Under certain conditions, however, we may be able to provide consultation and supervised on-site installation instruction to builders. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs

We use only proven, lab-tested methods and materials for designing and installing our sound control systems. Our methods follow four basic principles.

The Four Methods of Sound Control

1. Add mass

(add layers of drywall in the ceiling and walls and install additional layers of subflooring)

2. Decouple

(remove the physical connection between surfaces, commonly through hanging drywall and framing methods.)

3. Dampen

(decrease resonance by applying elastic compounds between hard surfaces like drywall and subflooring

4. Absorption

(decrease resonance within air cavities, most commonly achieved with insulation)

Controlling Flanking Paths and Short Circuits

In addition to building a system to block or contain sound, we also look at other areas where noise may circumvent the installation. It is our experience that not only must all four methods must be employed to achieve good results, but multiple surfaces as well. DC living often means narrow row houses and multi unit buildings. With such small spaces all interconnected and conducting sound, this also means we need to go above and beyond when treating noise issues to not only use all four methods, but treat multiple surfaces. We also look at your HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems to determine if they are contributing to any sound conduction between spaces and we may recommend improvements.

Understanding Sound Ratings

How We Do It

Ratings of typical assemblies

STC IIC

Flooring:

Hardwood Flooring nailed to

3/4” plywood or OSB 37 43

Ceilings:

Wood Joists

1/2” Drywall

Insulation 35 27

Walls:

2x4 studs

1/2” drywall 33

Sound Transmission Class (or STC)

is an integer-number rating of how well a building partition attenuates airborne sound.

STC 30

Loud speech can be understood fairly well, normal speech heard but

not understood

STC 35

Loud speech audible but not intelligible

STC 40

Onset of “privacy”

STC 45

Loud speech not audible; 90% of statistical population not annoyed

STC 50

Very loud sounds such as musical instruments or a stereo can be faintly heard; 99% of population not annoyed

STC 60+

Superior soundproofing; most sounds inaudible

The Most Common Noise Issues

Footfall

Footfall is an impact noise and is the cause for most noise complaints. It's also the most difficult to treat. Sadly, future footfall sound receives little or no attention from most builders renovating single family homes and row home condo conversions and this is the easiest and cheapest time to address it. To the left, you see a typical floor assembly, hardwood nailed onto a 3/4" subfloor, which yields an IIC of 43. Below, you will see that an IIC of 43 indicates footfall is clearly audible. There is no regulation for sound control in buildings, though many HOAs will require a minimum of 50, which is also currently suggested buy DCRA. Again below, you can see that is a minimum improvement, and we don't start see a level of comfort achieved until 65.

Ambient Noise/ Voices / TVs / Stereos

Airborne noise from roommates and neighbors is the next largest complaint. It is much easier to treat, but it's not as simple as slapping insulation between the studs. A typical wood stud wall with drywall yields an STC rating of 33, which leaves loud speech audible and nearly intelligible. If others on the other side of the wall are listening to music, we need to look to attaining a rating of 45+.

Impact Insulation Class (or IIC)

is an integer-number rating of how well a building partition attenuates impact sound (footfall).

IIC 43

Footfall clearly audible

IIC 50

The least amount of impact sound transmission reduction considered effective

IIC 60

Considered a medium level of impact sound transmission reduction

IIC 65

Considered a high level of impact sound transmission reduction that would satisfy most occupants

Building a Better Box

Using our four methods of sound control, there are multiple systems we can build to isolate your spaces, and the systems we use will depend on the types of noises to be blocked, space available and budget. To achieve the comfort ratings above however, it is typically necessary to install systems on multiple surfaces. Also keep in mind the ratings above are lab tested results, not tests done in the real world which would not be possible to replicate where there are any number of different variables. For this reason we generally build the systems up as much as possible to account for real-world scenario limitations.