Soundproofing costs - what's reasonable?

November 8, 2014 11:34 AM

I'm looking into soundproofing the party wall of my 1940s semi. What is a reasonable expectation for silence and cost?

The wall is single brick covered in plaster. Right now, I can pretty much hear everything that goes on in the house beside me beyond low conversation. The one person I found in Toronto who says he can soundproof will do the following on three walls of approximately 25 feet each:

- install resilient channels
- install soundproof drywall (quietrock)
- wrap the joists up to one foot to prevent sound transmission (He thinks this is where most of the sound is coming from)

He claims that I won't hear a thing after this. Total cost approx. $10,000. Considering I can't seem to find anyone else despite my searches, and that he gets good reviews, does this seem like a reasonable expectation and price?

Other details: I own the house. I don't want to move. The neighbours are otherwise nice people. I am as concerned about the noise my family makes (I've got two young kids) as I am about the neighbour's noise.

And, if you know anyone else in Toronto who does this kind of work, please send me their info!

posted by trigger to Home & Garden (3 answers total)

For him to say you won't hear a thing is a little irresponsible. The drywall is not sound proof - it adds mass so that the sound is not transmitted as well (it's absorbed and transformed into non-acoustic energy). All the things he mentions will help - maybe quite a bit... but you will still hear some noise.

The price... mostly labor and you could do it yourself (I have). Google is your friend. That's not to say you shouldn't pay him to do it - if you don't have time by all means go ahead. I spent less than $2,000 to deaden the sound in one room, meaning all four walls and the ceiling. Took me a couple of months, but I did it and I even sealed the seams with sound-resistant caulk.
posted by brownrd at 12:07 PM on November 8, 2014

I've lived in Toronto semis for many years and never heard a peep from a neighbour nor any indication that they heard a peep from us. If your shared wall is not keeping noise out, that seems like a giant red flag. I think you should consider getting it inspected and find out what else it wouldn't keep out. The quality of that wall is a key safety feature in a semi and noise abatement is the least of its purposes. If you're going to do work on it anyway, make sure you find out all the work it needs.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:27 PM on November 8, 2014 [1 favorite]

Green Glue might be another part of your solution. It's a little weird to use but nothing an average contractor or skilled DIYer can't handle.
posted by bink at 5:53 PM on November 8, 2014