Is spray-in foam useless for sound reduction?

[headlands]

Hi, all.

I live in a great apartment that has a stubborn, angry woman underneath me who refuses to let the landlord put a layer of drywall/Green Glue on her ceiling. I hear everything she does, and she hears me though she doesn't mind. The landlord does not want to force her, so my only other options are to either put carpeting and MLV over the beautiful hardwood floors (no thanks) or do that spray-in foam thing. Is the spray-in foam totally useless? If not, what kind of STC can I expect? Would closed-cell not be ideal since it might simply act as a coupling device? Would open cell do anything? There is about 8" of space that the foam would fill in.

Thanks for your advice.

Cheers,
N

 

[just-some-guy]

hmmm. idk. but i would think that blow in insulation is what you need.

 

[headlands]

That's it, yeah -- blow-in insulation.

I've been told about this Icynene stuff that can be blown in, but I'm not sure that it can be blown in between an existing ceiling and floor. Some say that it has pretty decent sound reduction capabilities -- it's open cell. All I can find are STC ratings...I'm trying to find OITC ratings or sources that describe the reduction of frequencies under 125hz.

Wouldn't be as good as drywall-ing/GG-ing the idiot's -- er, the woman's -- ceiling, but it could help some.

Again -- any advice or experiences with this kind of thing would be great to hear.

 

[highfigh]

Hi, all.

I live in a great apartment that has a stubborn, angry woman underneath me who refuses to let the landlord put a layer of drywall/Green Glue on her ceiling. I hear everything she does, and she hears me though she doesn't mind. The landlord does not want to force her, so my only other options are to either put carpeting and MLV over the beautiful hardwood floors (no thanks) or do that spray-in foam thing. Is the spray-in foam totally useless? If not, what kind of STC can I expect? Would closed-cell not be ideal since it might simply act as a coupling device? Would open cell do anything? There is about 8" of space that the foam would fill in.

Thanks for your advice.

Cheers,
N

If the woman makes noise that bothers you, it's her responsibility to make less of it after you make the problem known. If the landlord is willing to put a layer of drywall on her ceiling, she really doesn't have any say in the matter because it's his building.

Do you mean that you're thinking of filling the joist spaces with foam? That's expensive if it's done professionally (at least $3.00/square foot, 1" thick) and could pop the drywall if too much is injected. The only way this could be done is from her side, too.

 

[headlands]

If the woman makes noise that bothers you, it's her responsibility to make less of it after you make the problem known. If the landlord is willing to put a layer of drywall on her ceiling, she really doesn't have any say in the matter because it's his building.

Do you mean that you're thinking of filling the joist spaces with foam? That's expensive if it's done professionally (at least $3.00/square foot, 1" thick) and could pop the drywall if too much is injected. The only way this could be done is from her side, too.

In a logical world you're completely right. Unfortunately this a woman without logic or reason, and the landlord does not want to force her to do something that she doesn't want to do, no matter how much I've tried to convince him.

Thanks for the info -- looks like I'll have to start looking for another place. Damn.

 

[highfigh]

In a logical world you're completely right. Unfortunately this a woman without logic or reason, and the landlord does not want to force her to do something that she doesn't want to do, no matter how much I've tried to convince him.

Thanks for the info -- looks like I'll have to start looking for another place. Damn.

Who's the better renter- you, or her? If it's you, he may do something after you say you're thinking about moving. If she really makes a lot of noise at all hours, noise ordinances cover this kind of thing. I understand not wanting to make waves but she has to respect your right to peace and quiet. If she doesn't, she can be cited. The owner needs to know that she has no more right to make noise than you have to want quiet. If she doesn't mind your noise, is it possible that her hearing is really bad? That doesn't excuse her but it is a good case for the owner going ahead with the additional drywall. She has no right to make you put up with noise and I have been in a similar position, but the person downstairs would come home after the bars closed and have a party, cranking the shyte out of the stereo and having people I didn't know in the house.

 

[popotoys]

Why don't you just call the cops and complain? There must be a bylaw in your area that covers noisy neighbours.

 

[gmichael]

I would just play loud music until it becomes her idea to have it insulated.

 

[headlands]

Here's the thing about it -- she is not loud. It's just that the floors are so thin that any and all sound just passes right through. She doesn't mind it, but I do. She simply does not want to be imposed on at all with this construction (which would be two days max -- I even offered that she can use my apartment with me at a friend's place while it's being done, to no avail.) So it's not that she's overly loud, it's that this is an older building and she just doesn't want to help me out here, and is not being reasonable.

Hopefully the landlord will be a little more forceful with her when I tell him I'm going to leave.

 

[headlands]

I would just play loud music until it becomes her idea to have it insulated.

I might just have to do that. I've already been playing music at a louder level than I usually do, but again, it just doesn't bother her. I might have to go louder, but then that would make me look bad to the landlord.

 

[Rickster71]

-- looks like I'll have to start looking for another place. Damn.

If it's any consolation, it is a renter's market. Maybe you can look for a place that better suits your needs.
Possibly even a free standing house, instead of the apartment / condo multiple dwelling like you have now.
Good Luck

 

[highfigh]

Here's the thing about it -- she is not loud. It's just that the floors are so thin that any and all sound just passes right through. She doesn't mind it, but I do. She simply does not want to be imposed on at all with this construction (which would be two days max -- I even offered that she can use my apartment with me at a friend's place while it's being done, to no avail.) So it's not that she's overly loud, it's that this is an older building and she just doesn't want to help me out here, and is not being reasonable.

Hopefully the landlord will be a little more forceful with her when I tell him I'm going to leave.

As I said, she really has no say in the matter because it's the landlord who stands to lose if one of you decides to leave. It's an inconvenience for you but he will lose income and to him, that's not an acceptable option.

While you say the hardwood floors are beautiful, that's about the worst for sound isolation. A nice rug, large enough to cover most of the floor but leave a border, would not only make it more quiet, it will also improve your acoustics. If you put a non-slip mat underneath, it's even better.

 

[gmichael]

I might just have to do that. I've already been playing music at a louder level than I usually do, but again, it just doesn't bother her. I might have to go louder, but then that would make me look bad to the landlord.

Often, older people (I'm getting there myself) do not hear most frequencies as well as others. But most people can hear & feel bass well into their golden years. Maybe a couple of bass heavy movies are in order.