Sound-Proofing for Open Floor Trusses & Basement Ceilings

Ducts

• Air ducts for your HVAC system carry sound very clearly from one floor to another. The registers in the upper floors provide a perfect opening for sound transmission. To achieve a small amount of sound insulation, place rubber padding between the ducts and any metal or wood that they rest against. If you want better results, line your ducts with an acoustic treatment to help isolate all sound on the inside of the duct-work.

Pipes

• Like duct work, water pipes provide another ideal path for sound to travel between floors. In addition, the sound of the water itself running through the pipes is disruptive. Purchase insulation and wrap all of your pipes in it. These are foam tubes with a split down the middle that allows them to fit over pipes. The insulation comes in different sizes so you can buy tubes of the right diameter to fit around any of your plumbing.

Closing the Ceiling

• If you want to truly soundproof the basement in your home, give up the open ceiling and close it in. A spray-foam insulation designed specifically to block sound closes in even the gaps that you don't notice when inspecting the ceiling visually. Then, a layer of sound-absorbing fiberboard creates a ceiling that helps completely isolate the basement from the sounds above. Use resilient channels to separate the ceiling from the floor joists for even better results.

The Floor Above

• One of the most effective ways to better soundproof your basement ceiling is to soundproof the floor above instead. Remove the old flooring. Install an underlay product specifically designed to insulate the floor so that sound is not transmitted. These products are made of a variety of materials, but are designed to absorb and dissipate impact sounds on the floor. Install your new flooring on top of the underlay and give yourself a much quieter basement.