I can't hear you!
April 20, 2009 3:52 AM Subscribe
How do hotels soundproof their rooms?
After a recent stay, I was struck by the fact that even though there were hundreds of guests staying in the same building that I was, I could not hear evidence of a single other person. How do they do this?
I realize that it's not always 100% effective, but it's pretty darn good. I imagine that the carpet absorbs a lot of the noise, but what about the walls between rooms? What is different between a hotel and a typical apartment building?
After a recent stay, I was struck by the fact that even though there were hundreds of guests staying in the same building that I was, I could not hear evidence of a single other person. How do they do this?
I realize that it's not always 100% effective, but it's pretty darn good. I imagine that the carpet absorbs a lot of the noise, but what about the walls between rooms? What is different between a hotel and a typical apartment building?
I think the answer has less to do with construction and more to do with courtesy. I've worked at hotels before, and seen several under construction. Most of them are stick-frame buildings, not concrete or cinder block, as those are way more expensive. True, they do tend to use thick carpeting, which helps, and there's usually stuff on the walls, whether it's "art," curtains, or just bathroom and closet space, all of which cuts down on noise somewhat.
But I think what's really going on is that people are culturally conditioned to respect others around them, who may be sleeping at completely random times of day, and thus tend to be quieter in hotels than they would be otherwise. As evidence, have you ever been in a hotel with a bunch of kids? They can be impossibly loud, and once they get going the walls start to feel like paper. If you work at a front desk and there are kids anywhere in the building, there's a pretty decent shot that you're going to get noise complaints.
In short, I don't think there is a "secret" here, and the degree to which you do experience something close to silence is a testimony more to common courtesy than to construction technique.
posted by valkyryn at 5:50 AM on April 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
But I think what's really going on is that people are culturally conditioned to respect others around them, who may be sleeping at completely random times of day, and thus tend to be quieter in hotels than they would be otherwise. As evidence, have you ever been in a hotel with a bunch of kids? They can be impossibly loud, and once they get going the walls start to feel like paper. If you work at a front desk and there are kids anywhere in the building, there's a pretty decent shot that you're going to get noise complaints.
In short, I don't think there is a "secret" here, and the degree to which you do experience something close to silence is a testimony more to common courtesy than to construction technique.
posted by valkyryn at 5:50 AM on April 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
hotels generally put insulation in the wall between each room. since each room has an independent heating/air system, this is necessary. (suppose one room is running AC, and its two neighbors are running heat, without insulation, this would be arecipe for a huge waste of energy).
most homes do not insulate interior walls. only exterior walls get insualtion. a home wants the heat and air to go smoothely from room to room.
posted by Flood at 6:39 AM on April 20, 2009
most homes do not insulate interior walls. only exterior walls get insualtion. a home wants the heat and air to go smoothely from room to room.
posted by Flood at 6:39 AM on April 20, 2009
Hmmm, I'm not sure about people being culturally respectful... to some degree I would agree, but in general I find rudeness and lack of concern for others is the order of the day for many people. A heck of a lot of people don't give a damn about disturbing others with their tvs, music, partying, arguing, amorousness... etc.
I think googling 'soundproofing in hotels' shows plently of evidence that there are alot of different soundproofing materials used in hotel construction. This is a good example... www.hotelsoundproofing.com
I also wonder if a high proportion of guests in hotels are people travelling alone (ie. for business) or in couples, who tend to be quieter. It would be interesting to know what percentage of hotel clients are families. I don't tend to stay in family friendly hotels so have never been disturbed by children. But then, I've never really ever been disturbed in a hotel, and I've just assumed that the hotel has excellent sound proofing.
posted by Zaire at 6:39 AM on April 20, 2009
I think googling 'soundproofing in hotels' shows plently of evidence that there are alot of different soundproofing materials used in hotel construction. This is a good example... www.hotelsoundproofing.com
I also wonder if a high proportion of guests in hotels are people travelling alone (ie. for business) or in couples, who tend to be quieter. It would be interesting to know what percentage of hotel clients are families. I don't tend to stay in family friendly hotels so have never been disturbed by children. But then, I've never really ever been disturbed in a hotel, and I've just assumed that the hotel has excellent sound proofing.
posted by Zaire at 6:39 AM on April 20, 2009
Best answer: Double sheetrock on the walls.
Modern fireproofing standards for hotels require that the walls between rooms and corridors be "rated", i.e. that they contain fire for at least one hour, sometimes two. This generally requires that the walls have two sheets of drywall on each side of the studs, and often, fireproof insulation between the studs, as well. All of this contributes to the seeming "soundproof"ing of the rooms.
posted by notsnot at 6:47 AM on April 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
Modern fireproofing standards for hotels require that the walls between rooms and corridors be "rated", i.e. that they contain fire for at least one hour, sometimes two. This generally requires that the walls have two sheets of drywall on each side of the studs, and often, fireproof insulation between the studs, as well. All of this contributes to the seeming "soundproof"ing of the rooms.
posted by notsnot at 6:47 AM on April 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
I stayed in a nice hotel about a month ago and as far as I could tell there was no soundproofing at all. There was a 5 year old brat in the next room who would not keep his mouth shut. Every word was at volume level 10. His parents seemed to not mind either. They were up till past 11 and got up in the morning around 6.
posted by jockc at 7:39 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by jockc at 7:39 AM on April 20, 2009
I have noticed this phenomenon as well, but I think it might have less to do with soundproofing and more with typical behavior in hotel rooms. People typically use their hotel rooms only for bathing and sleeping. If you're on vacation, you're going to want to spend most of your time out in whichever place you've chosen to go on vacation, and if you've been driving for the past 12 hours, you're going to want to sleep.
People live in apartment buildings, on the other hand, so they party, watch TV at loud volumes, have annoying dogs, etc.
posted by pravit at 7:46 AM on April 20, 2009
People live in apartment buildings, on the other hand, so they party, watch TV at loud volumes, have annoying dogs, etc.
posted by pravit at 7:46 AM on April 20, 2009
My experience lately with mid-range chains like Hampton and Courtyard is that soundproofing is sadly lacking. In many of these, you can hear every step taken by your neighbor upstairs, can hear the TV or telephone conversations in both of the rooms on either side, and can easily hear conversations as people pass your door in the hallway. And, when there are groups of kids in the building, it's even worse.
And I think there is a lack of consideration in hotels. Remember, the aim of the hotel is to make you think that the hotel room is yours and that nobody else has ever stayed in it - I think that tends to make guests feel more "at home" and less likely to remember that they have neighbors and that they should be more considerate than usual.
posted by johnvaljohn at 9:06 AM on April 20, 2009
And I think there is a lack of consideration in hotels. Remember, the aim of the hotel is to make you think that the hotel room is yours and that nobody else has ever stayed in it - I think that tends to make guests feel more "at home" and less likely to remember that they have neighbors and that they should be more considerate than usual.
posted by johnvaljohn at 9:06 AM on April 20, 2009
Best answer: While there are things that can be done afterwords to improve old construction, the most effective methods are incorporated into the original construction.
Sound is most effectively transferred from one room to another when there are simple studs in the wall with drywall attached directly to the studs. What you have then is effectively a drum consisting of the two drywall membranes on opposite sides that are connected by studs that transmit sound directly from one room to another. What you have to do is break that direct connection.
One of the most effective means is using drywall sound channeling. Sound channeling is lightweight expanded metal furring strips that you attach horizontally to the studs. The strips are flexible and don't transmit sound very well. Then you screw the drywall to the metal furring strips so that the drywall sort of floats on the channels rather than being attached directly to the studs. The same method is used for ceiling joists. The space between the studs is filled with fiberglass insulation to further dampen the sound. You can see pictures here. Since the drywall is not connected directly to the studs, there is no path for sound transmission from on side of the wall to the other.
An additional technique is used for the plumbing walls between adjoining bathrooms. Bathrooms will generally be placed back to back in opposite rooms because they have common plumbing. The wall is usually 2x6 instead of 2x4 construction to allow room for the plumbing vent stack. Instead of using 2x6 studs, they use staggered 2x4 studs nailed to 2x6 top and bottom plates. You can see a picture here. Notice that there is no stud that connects directly to the drywall on either side. By using staggered studs, there is no direct stud connection between the walls on either side to transmit sound.
posted by JackFlash at 9:11 AM on April 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
Sound is most effectively transferred from one room to another when there are simple studs in the wall with drywall attached directly to the studs. What you have then is effectively a drum consisting of the two drywall membranes on opposite sides that are connected by studs that transmit sound directly from one room to another. What you have to do is break that direct connection.
One of the most effective means is using drywall sound channeling. Sound channeling is lightweight expanded metal furring strips that you attach horizontally to the studs. The strips are flexible and don't transmit sound very well. Then you screw the drywall to the metal furring strips so that the drywall sort of floats on the channels rather than being attached directly to the studs. The same method is used for ceiling joists. The space between the studs is filled with fiberglass insulation to further dampen the sound. You can see pictures here. Since the drywall is not connected directly to the studs, there is no path for sound transmission from on side of the wall to the other.
An additional technique is used for the plumbing walls between adjoining bathrooms. Bathrooms will generally be placed back to back in opposite rooms because they have common plumbing. The wall is usually 2x6 instead of 2x4 construction to allow room for the plumbing vent stack. Instead of using 2x6 studs, they use staggered 2x4 studs nailed to 2x6 top and bottom plates. You can see a picture here. Notice that there is no stud that connects directly to the drywall on either side. By using staggered studs, there is no direct stud connection between the walls on either side to transmit sound.
posted by JackFlash at 9:11 AM on April 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
Not necessarily how hotels do it, but in home construction, bedrooms are often insulated using house insulation for the interior walls, instead of having empty spaces between the studs like other rooms.
posted by zippy at 9:38 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by zippy at 9:38 AM on April 20, 2009
Soundproofing? Don't make me laugh.
I have been in a room-with my parents and son!-where it sounded like they were filming a danged porno film in the next room.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 1:12 PM on April 20, 2009
I have been in a room-with my parents and son!-where it sounded like they were filming a danged porno film in the next room.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 1:12 PM on April 20, 2009
My apartment building is an old hotel, and the ceilings and floor are indeed concrete. I can't hear my neighbors at all.
posted by bradbane at 3:30 PM on April 20, 2009
posted by bradbane at 3:30 PM on April 20, 2009
They do? Not at the Best Western I'm at right now. Or maybe the sound of that child whining is all in my head...
posted by medeine at 10:07 PM on April 20, 2009
posted by medeine at 10:07 PM on April 20, 2009
sound isolation costs money, so it really varies from one hotel to the next how much soundproofing is taken into account during construction. Sometimes owners will value-engineer these items out, thinking that it doesn't make much of a difference - after all, it's not visible. There are both airborne and structurally-transmitted noise sources to be concerned about, and at varying frequencies; it's not as easy as you would think to make a building full of people sound quiet. Once footfalls are transmitted to the building structure, they can travel a surprising distance and are very difficult to attenuate. Anyway, this page about STC-rated assemblies might be interesting to you.
posted by Chris4d at 8:47 AM on April 21, 2009
posted by Chris4d at 8:47 AM on April 21, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bigmusic at 3:56 AM on April 20, 2009