If the floors beneath your appliances aren’t
the drywall to float. Second, there is a 1⁄4-in. gap
adequately supported, they will transmit sound
around the perimeter of the ceiling, which is
like a drumhead. So consider that when devising
caulked with acoustical sealant.
solutions.
Remember: The fewer screws you use, the bet-
Ducts, pipes, and wires. You wouldn’t want to
ter the soundproofing.
live without electrical, plumbing, and HVAC sys-
tems, but you don’t have to live with the racket
SOUNDpROOFiNg
they make. Where forced-hot-air ducts are acces-
WAllS: ONE AppROACH
sible, wrap them in insulating jackets to conserve In addition to sealing the many wall openings
heat and suppress sound; where they exit to
that can leak sound and filling stud bays with
deliver heat to the house, fill the spaces between
fiberglass batts, you can install a sound-deadening
ducts and framing with expandable foam. Caulk
layer before installing drywall panels. Drywall
or foam-fill the holes for plumbing pipes and
expert Myron Ferguson recommends covering
electrical cables, and you’ll simultaneously sup-
studs with 1⁄8-in.-thick mass-loaded vinyl sheets,
press sounds and stop drafts.
which, he notes, are “acoustically equivalent to a
If your renovation includes gutting walls and
sheet of lead.” Again, detailing is crucial: caulk-
exposing these mechanical systems, you can also
ing seams between sheets, carefully cutting open-
wrap HVAC ducts and DWV pipes with dense
ings in the vinyl for electrical boxes (power off, of
vinyl jackets, which incorporate a layer of fiber-
446 Chapter 15
course), and caulking their edges. To boost
Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings,
Ferguson further recommends using a sound-
control drywall such as
zzzzzz Options for Deadening Sound
1⁄
Original wall
2-in. Suppress® panels,
which laminate two 1⁄4-in. layers with a resilient
adhesive to further reduce structure-borne sound.
Original wall
A more affordable solution: Cut the mass-
loaded vinyl into 2-in. strips and staple them to
5
stud edges before installing drywall. Similarly,
/8-in. drywall screwed to channel
with type S drywall screws
you can staple to stud edges the foam-gasket
strips intended to create a sound break between
5/8-in. drywall screwed to channel
floor joists and subfloors. In both cases, the resil-
with type-S drywall screws
ient strips will reduce the transmission of sound
Resilient channel, 24 in. o.c.,
between drywall panels and studs.
perpendicular to studs
SOUNDpROOFiNg:
Resilient channel, 24 in. o.c.,
perpendicular to studs
lESSONS FROM A SOUND STUDiO
OPTION A
To reduce sound transmission through an existing wall, attach
Stephen Marshall of www.thelittlehouseonthe
resilient channel and a layer of 5/8-in. drywall.
OPTION A
trailer.com allowed me to photograph details of a
To reduce sound transmission through an existing wall, attach
sound studio he created for a musician/composer
Carpet Original wall
resilient channel and a layer of 5/8-in. drywall.
client (pp. 448–449). The studio’s design had two
Joist
primary functions, which were somewhat at
Carpet
cross-purposes. First, the studio had to be thor-
oughly soundproofed (achieving an STC 60 rating)
5
Joist
/8-in. drywall screwed to
5/8-in. drywall screwed to channel
so the musical instruments could be played (and
channel with type S drywall
with type S drywall screws
screws
OPTION B
recorded) without disturbing neighbors. Second,
5/8-in. drywall screwed to
Deaden noise between
the space had to be pleasant and light-filled dur-
channel with type-S drywall
floors by carpeting the
ing those times when the client was engaged in
Resilient channel, 24 in. o.c.,
screws
Resilient channel, 24 in. o.c.,
perpendicular to studs
floor, insulating between
quieter pursuits.
perpendicular to joists
joists, and installing a ceil-
The studio had fiberglass batt insulation on
Resilient channel, 24 in. o.c.,
ing of resilient channel and
all six sides and resilient channels attached to
OPTION A
Sound-attenuation
To reduce sound transmission through an existing wall, attach
perpendicular to joists
batts
drywall underneath. For
walls and the ceiling, to which drywall would be
OPTION B
resilient channel and a layer of 5/8-in. drywall.
optional sound deaden-
attached. The sound-control drywall was specially
Deaden noise between floors by carpeting the floor, insulating Sound-attenuation
ing, insulate with special
ordered: It was 3⁄
Carpet
batts
4 in. thick, consisting of three
between joists, and instal ing a ceiling of resilient channel and drywal
OPTION B
sound-attenuation batts.
pieces of 1⁄4-in. drywall of varying densities and
underneath. For optimal sound deadening, insulate with special
Joist
Deaden noise between floors by carpeting the floor, insulating
laminated with an elastomeric adhesive that
sound-attenuation batts.
between joists, and instal ing a ceiling of resilient channel and drywal
never completely sets—so the adhesive also acted
5/8-in. drywall screwed to
Original wall
underneath. For optimal sound deadening, insulate with special
as a sound-deadening agent. The panels were
channel with type S drywall
screws
sound-attenuation batts.
extremely heavy, each more than 125 lb., so
New framing
Original wall
installing them on the ceiling required both a
Resilient channel, 24 in. o.c.,
dry-wall lift and extra hands to hold panels in
perpendicular to joists
Sound-attenuation
New framing
place so they could be screwed to the resilient
batts
Sound-attenuation
channels (see p. 449).
batts
OPTION B
Apply sealant around
Sound-attenuation
Typically, drywall ceilings are installed first so
Deaden noise between floors by carpeting the floor, insulating wall edges.
batts
the edges of ceiling panels are supported by the
between joists, and instal ing a ceiling of resilient c
hannel and drywal
tops of wall panels. But here the goal was to iso-
underneath. For optimal sound deadening, insulate with special Apply sealant around
wall edges.
late the ceiling and allow it to float from the
sound-attenuation batts.
Original wall
metal resilient channels. So wall panels were
5/8-in. drywall
attached first; ceiling panels were then installed
New framing
so that there was a gap between ceiling and
5
Sound-attenuation
/8-in. drywall
walls. That gap would be filled with resilient
1/2-in. cut through subflooring
batts
acoustic sealant—OSI® Pro-Series® SC-175.
interrupts sound path.
Apply sealant around
Should the ceiling panels and resilient channels
1
OPTION C
/2
wall edges.
-in. cut through subflooring
sag slightly, they would still never make contact
interrupts sound path.
Double walls with discontinuous flooring is effective but eats up
with wall panels.
living space.
OPTION C
5/8-in. drywall
Double walls with discontinuous flooring is effective but eats up
living space.
1/2-in. cut through subflooring
interrupts sound path.
Finish Surfaces
447
OPTION C
Double walls with discontinuous flooring is effective but eats up
living space.
Additionally, mass-loaded vinyl was used to
achieve an STC 60 rating in some of the most
problematic areas: electrical boxes and the win-
dows that made the space so pleasant. Electrical
boxes were surface-mounted to avoid creating
holes in the envelope and wrapped with mass-
loaded vinyl jackets. But because the acoustical
value of a room is only as strong as its weakest
link, the windows were the greatest test. High-
performing sound windows would have been
prohibitively expensive, so the solution called for
sliding window covers, rather like sliding barn
doors, which would be constructed from mass-
loaded vinyl and rigid insulation. When it was
time to make music, the insulated covers would
slide over the windows, creating a uniform
STC 60 cocoon.
This sound studio is insulated on all six sides. Special
sound-attenuating drywall will be attached to metal
resilient channels, rather than screwed directly to
framing. Resilient channels allow the drywall panels to
float—further absorbing sound. window openings were
the studio’s biggest soundproofing challenge.
Interior surfaces were clad in a special
3⁄4-in. drywall fabricated from three
layers of 1⁄4-in. drywall of different
densities, glued together with an
elastomeric adhesive. Because
the adhesive never quite set, the
layers shifted somewhat during
handling, which meant that each
panel had to be “trued up” before
it could installed.
448 Chapter 15
Unlike a typical drywall job, in which ceiling panels are installed first so they
The three-ply 3⁄4-in. drywall panels were so heavy they needed both a drywall
can be partially supported by wall panels, this design called for an isolated
lift and some supplemental help to hold them flat to the resilient channel so
ceiling. wall panels were installed first, and ceiling panels were cut 1⁄4 in. shy
they could be attached.
of walls—so the ceiling panels would never touch the walls. The 1⁄4-in. gap was
filled with acoustic sealant.
Mass-loaded vinyl, which is pliable
and weighs about 1 lb. per sq. ft., was
used to help sound-deaden some
crucial areas, including electrical
boxes and sliding window coverings.
Finish Surfaces
449
16 Tiling
Tile surfaces can be beautiful, durable,
and—if you’re patient—fairly easy to install.
Although tile has a hard finish, the ultimate dura-
bility of the installation depends on the integrity
of what lies beneath.
Choosing Tile
There’s a riot of tiles to choose from, including
slate, white porcelain hexagonals, ruddy Mexican
pavers, tumbled marble, glass mosaic, brick
veneer, cast cement, limestone quarry tile embed-
ded with fossils, and so on. You can even paint
your own designs on unglazed tiles and then have
them kiln-fired. Although some types of tile are
better suited to certain uses than others, finding
a tile you like is rarely a problem.
Selecting tile
Here are seven useful tips for choosing tile
appropriate to the job:
Make sure the tile can handle the
conditions where it will be installed. Does it
need to be waterproof? Will you walk on it?
Will you set pots on it?
Sketch the area to be tiled. Include
dimensions, fixtures, corners, odd jogs, and
adjoining surfaces such as wood flooring or
carpet. This sketch is a systematic first step in
assembling a materials list.
Choose a tile store with knowledgeable
staff that will take the time to answer your
questions. Plan to visit the shop on a weekday,
which is likely to be less busy and thus a good
time to get extra help. High-end tile stores
have room mockups and may also have a
website showing a wide selection of tiled
Decorative and durable, tile can handle high humidity and heavy use—making it a great choice
for kitchens and baths. A little Mexican, a little Moorish, this bathroom is always sunny.
450
kitchens and baths. Stores will also display
many types of tile in 2-ft.-sq. or 3-ft.-sq. panels.
Such visual expanses of tile convey much more
than single-tile samples.
If you like a particular tile, have your
salesperson determine the manufacturer’s
specs, which should tell you its suitability for
various uses. For example, you wouldn’t want
to install a wall-rated tile on a floor.
At some point, reconcile the tiles you like
with your budget. Some tile is breathtakingly
expensive. Also check on availability. Will
specially ordered tile arrive in time to meet
your renovation schedule?
Determine if trim tile is available for the
pattern or type of field pattern you select. Trim
tile is used to finish edges and corners and is
especially important for counter installations.
Test a tile sample at home. Here, you
want to determine its suitability for your
intended location by simulating actual use; for
These tumbled-marble sheets are attached to a paper backing, which is embedded into
example, by scuffing it with shoes, banging it
the adhesive.
with pots, or dribbling it w
ith water to check
for absorption. Does the tile clean easily?
Color and size. In general, smaller tiles are bet-
ter suited for small areas, such as counters.
Larger tiles are more appropriate for larger
zzzzzz Field and trim tile
areas, such as floors. Because light-colored tiles
reflect more light, they make a room seem larger.
SURFACE-BULLNOSE
Conversely, dark tiles make a room seem smaller.
TRIM
However, light colors tend to show dirt more
readily. Vivid colors or busy designs can provide
nice accents, but when used to cover large areas,
Field cove
Left-hand
they may seem overpowering.
cove stop
Grout is a specialized mortar that seals the
Surface trim
joints between tiles. Its color can make a big
Right-hand
cove stop
impact on the overall look. The closer the grout
color matches the tile color, the more subdued
Field tile
and formal the surface. The more contrast
between grout and tile, the busier, more festive,
Surface-
or more geometric the tile job will appear and the
bullnose corner
more it will highlight your tiling skill.
Surface-bullnose
Manufactured versus handmade. Mass-
V-cap trim
down angle
produced ceramic tile is popular because it has a
clean, classical look, and its uniform size makes
RADIUS-BULLNOSE
an installation more predictable. Most smaller
TRIM
(1⁄2-in. to 2-in.) mass-produced tiles come evenly
spaced and premounted on paper sheets or fiber-
glass mesh, simplifying installation.
Handmade tiles offer unique color and a
Radius cove
Radius-bullnose
handsome, handcrafted look. But these irregular
down angle
tiles take greater patience and skill to lay out and
install. Handmade tiles often need thinset adhe-
Radius trim
sive applied to each back, as well as a thinset
Quarter-round
layer troweled onto a setting bed. Because they
tiling
451
are irregular, handmade tiles may also need to be
arranged with plastic spacers to align their edges
trim Tile
with the underlying layout lines.
Sheet-mounted tiles. Some tile comes either
Trim tile is specially shaped to trim or finish off
face mounted or back mounted, typically on
surface edges, corners, and other transitions.
12-in. by 12-in. sheets. To install face-mounted
Renovation 4th Edition Page 105