Soundproof Old House Loft

Discussion in 'Getting Started FAQ' started by Paul Lloyd, Nov 12, 2018.

  1. Paul Lloyd

    Paul Lloyd New Member

    HI Gents,

    Some advise please, I live in a 160yr old cottage with only a 900mm high loftspace, ceilings have been moved up into the apex of the loft long time ago.

    We live in a flight path where the noise is getting worse, loft has old insulation, it's not boarded out either. Basically plaster board ceiling, fiber glass insulation then 900mm and less to roof tiles.

    I want to replace the insulation with soundproof insulation and wondered what people recommend?
    Rockwool WRA45 comes up on the searches is this the best option?

    I intend to board over it after to use as storage.

    Cheers for your help.
     
  2. sospan

    sospan Screwfix Select

    Used quite a bit of WRA45 over the last few years. It is an excellent product that not only sound proofs but is fire and rodent proof as well. It could be worth putting a layer of this in the loft.

    One thing I would check for is noise being transmitted through the structure of the roof through vibration. With an old house you may have quite thin rafters and sometimes bracing them reduces vibration as planes fly over. Whilst you are in the loft, just feel the rafters as a plane comes over.

    There are quite a few companies that specialise in this but you have probably found out by now that there services aren't cheap
     
  3. Richard_

    Richard_ Screwfix Select

    If you're up for replacing the ceilings then you can include isolation to separate the ceiling battens from the rafters so the sound doesn't get transmitted form the rafters into the ceiling.

    What are your windows? If double glazed then switch the glazing panes to acoustic versions. Primarily these use different thickness of glass, so the resonance of the inner and outer panes are different. If single glazed, then consider secondary glazing with acoustic absorber lining the resulting gap.
     
  4. Paul Lloyd

    Paul Lloyd New Member

    Thanks mate...rafters are good. Old oak rafters still in place with newer rafters on top..ive had a couple of roofers look at it and both said was in good condition..bit windy up there but also good and dry.

    I'll heck vibration thou good idea.
     
  5. Paul Lloyd

    Paul Lloyd New Member

     
  6. Paul Lloyd

    Paul Lloyd New Member

    A friend suggested the same ref ceilings but the thought of doing it not sure want to go that far.

    We had double glazing about 4yrs ago so pretty very new don't thinks its acoustic though worth knowing thou thanks for advise.
     
  7. Richard_

    Richard_ Screwfix Select

    To be honest, isolating the ceiling is going to be the most effective way to exclude the low frequency of the plane noise. It's simply a case of fixing resilient acoustic battens to the ceiling joists and then covering with plasterboard.

    http://www.uksoundproofing.co.uk/ceiling-solutions.php

    Geniecompare3_6.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2018
  8. Paul Lloyd

    Paul Lloyd New Member

    Thanks Richard will look at this method now. Will cost a lot more money and be messy but in the long run a big benefit!
     
  9. Paul Lloyd

    Paul Lloyd New Member

     
  10. advq

    advq New Member

    Also dont forget your windows are the thinest most vulnerable layer exposed to the outside, a lot of noise will be coming in due to the thin layer of glass. Secondary Glazing is a affordable and effective way of insulating them,
    not only will you completely insulate from unwanted draughts but you will get optimal soundproofing benefits !
    ideally you should aim to have a cavity of at least 100mm for the secondary glazing to work its best. Stadip 6.4mm Acoustic laminated is the highest quality glass for this application.
     

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