How to best soundproof a floor under a piano?
June 4, 2010 11:43 AM Subscribe
Asking for my sister: How to soundproof a floor under a piano?
I just received an email from my sister. Here are its contents:
"I thought you might have some ideas on soundproofing the floor under the piano we're getting. The room that we want to put it in has neighbours below. If necessary, it can go on an external wall over the lobby but this location is our second choice (if we get a noise complaint). So, to avoid getting a noise complaint I've been googling how to soundproof a floor...but I think you're better at this sort of thing. What I'm hoping is that we could make (or buy) some sort of pad that the piano could sit on. Any suggestions?
The wall noise isn't a big deal since the piano won't be against another unit."
I'm hoping that someone on AskMe will have some insights into this problem, as I'm pretty uneducated on this front.
I just received an email from my sister. Here are its contents:
"I thought you might have some ideas on soundproofing the floor under the piano we're getting. The room that we want to put it in has neighbours below. If necessary, it can go on an external wall over the lobby but this location is our second choice (if we get a noise complaint). So, to avoid getting a noise complaint I've been googling how to soundproof a floor...but I think you're better at this sort of thing. What I'm hoping is that we could make (or buy) some sort of pad that the piano could sit on. Any suggestions?
The wall noise isn't a big deal since the piano won't be against another unit."
I'm hoping that someone on AskMe will have some insights into this problem, as I'm pretty uneducated on this front.
Also, previously. Your best bets are sound absorbing wall and floor coverings, like heavy drapes and carpet.
posted by electroboy at 11:57 AM on June 4, 2010
posted by electroboy at 11:57 AM on June 4, 2010
The World Famous is spot on. It's really expensive and really difficult. Choose your location accordingly.
posted by Jairus at 12:08 PM on June 4, 2010
posted by Jairus at 12:08 PM on June 4, 2010
The usual method of sound-proofing between floors is to install insulation - the same as regular thermal insulation. This would involve ripping out the ceiling from below, installing insulation and replacing the ceiling. Probably not an option.
Padding under the piano, an area rug with foam padding underneath, will help reduce the transmission of vibration from the piano legs directly into the floor itself, but will do little to reduce the transmission of ambient sound. She'd have to check with her downstairs neighbor to see how much this actually helps.
The best option might be to place the piano over the lobby, even though it's not the most convenient. A rug with padding underneath still wouldn't hurt.
posted by nangar at 12:18 PM on June 4, 2010
Padding under the piano, an area rug with foam padding underneath, will help reduce the transmission of vibration from the piano legs directly into the floor itself, but will do little to reduce the transmission of ambient sound. She'd have to check with her downstairs neighbor to see how much this actually helps.
The best option might be to place the piano over the lobby, even though it's not the most convenient. A rug with padding underneath still wouldn't hurt.
posted by nangar at 12:18 PM on June 4, 2010
I know Moby does a lot of recording in his apartment, but his floors are full of sand.
placing it on top of some mass load vinyl should help, but really, major soundproofing equals major construction.
posted by magikker at 12:39 PM on June 4, 2010
placing it on top of some mass load vinyl should help, but really, major soundproofing equals major construction.
posted by magikker at 12:39 PM on June 4, 2010
Padding under the piano, an area rug with foam padding underneath, will help reduce the transmission of vibration from the piano legs directly into the floor itself, but will do little to reduce the transmission of ambient sound. She'd have to check with her downstairs neighbor to see how much this actually helps.
Yes. I mean, padding the floor will do a little, but...it's a piano. The noise will travel. You can do things to the piano to quiet it a little - if it's a grand leave the stick down, use the quiet pedal if you have to, pad the back if it's an upright...but...it's a musical instrument. As a pianist myself, I'm a big believer in the "I play piano and I live here...so deal" philosophy while still being respectful (i.e. practicing during reasonable hours, never past 10 or before 8, etc.
Sorry for the sort of non-answer answer.
posted by Lutoslawski at 1:18 PM on June 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
Yes. I mean, padding the floor will do a little, but...it's a piano. The noise will travel. You can do things to the piano to quiet it a little - if it's a grand leave the stick down, use the quiet pedal if you have to, pad the back if it's an upright...but...it's a musical instrument. As a pianist myself, I'm a big believer in the "I play piano and I live here...so deal" philosophy while still being respectful (i.e. practicing during reasonable hours, never past 10 or before 8, etc.
Sorry for the sort of non-answer answer.
posted by Lutoslawski at 1:18 PM on June 4, 2010 [2 favorites]
Here's how I would approach it. First, go to the downstairs neighbor before the piano is delivered and tell him/her that you are going to be playing the piano soon. Ask them to contact you if they are bothered by it. If they don't contact you, do nothing more. If they do contact you, I would start by putting down those cushioned mats that are sold for use on commercial kitchen floors. Get the solid kind, not the egg-crate kind. This will go a long way toward isolating the piano from the floor below it. If they are still bothered by the sound, it is, as has been mentioned, ambient rather than structurally transmitted sound. There is not much you can do about this, because you are now held hostage by the many ways that sound can travel. A plate of cookies, a pan of brownies or an invitation to a sind-along may be the best way to deal with it from there.
posted by Old Geezer at 3:29 PM on June 4, 2010
posted by Old Geezer at 3:29 PM on June 4, 2010
sound absorbing wall and floor coverings
There are two kinds of "soundproofing." One, such as sound absorbing wall and floor coverings, is mainly about improving the acoustics inside the room.
To keep sound from traveling you need a different system. For that you can use isolated and alternating layers of soft and springy, with hard and heavy. This could get pretty thick so you want a big enough area to include the bench.
DIY: (bottom, wood flooring,) next, carpet, next, 1/2" MDF, next, carpet. You could stop there or do it again. Don't screw anything straight down that connects the layers. If you need to tack it down, drill larger holes in the MDF, so that the screw doesn't touch the wood, and use a plastic washer at the top.
You could do the same treatment on the wall behind the piano. That, and the room acoustic treatments, would be pretty good.
posted by StickyCarpet at 4:08 PM on June 4, 2010
There are two kinds of "soundproofing." One, such as sound absorbing wall and floor coverings, is mainly about improving the acoustics inside the room.
To keep sound from traveling you need a different system. For that you can use isolated and alternating layers of soft and springy, with hard and heavy. This could get pretty thick so you want a big enough area to include the bench.
DIY: (bottom, wood flooring,) next, carpet, next, 1/2" MDF, next, carpet. You could stop there or do it again. Don't screw anything straight down that connects the layers. If you need to tack it down, drill larger holes in the MDF, so that the screw doesn't touch the wood, and use a plastic washer at the top.
You could do the same treatment on the wall behind the piano. That, and the room acoustic treatments, would be pretty good.
posted by StickyCarpet at 4:08 PM on June 4, 2010
If you want a lower profile, you could alternate felt and lead impregnated linoleum (made for this purpose). Take the wheels off the piano so that the weight doesn't poke through, or top off with MDF.
posted by StickyCarpet at 4:11 PM on June 4, 2010
posted by StickyCarpet at 4:11 PM on June 4, 2010
My suggestions:
a) Either "floating" studio floor.
- special 2nd floor constructed, which insulates the piano from the ground
b) OR it's more likely version
- buying special pads from the music store which do the same when set under the piano feet.
One of these solutions is needed in any case to mitigate the greatest problem that the sound of the piano will move as a resonance through the structures of the building. If you don't do this, the sound will move surprisingly far away in the building. You can not believe how far and how easy...
Once you have done that, you can continue by
a) adding soft material under the piano, and improving acoustics of the room (mainly for your own benefit)
b) asking the piano tuner to soften the hammers (reduces volume of the instrument)
c) adding a soft cloth against the sound board (the same)
d) insulating the doors and windows, as they are the weakest link in sound insulation normally (e.g. heavy drapes as suggested above)
DB
posted by Doggiebreath at 4:28 PM on June 27, 2010
a) Either "floating" studio floor.
- special 2nd floor constructed, which insulates the piano from the ground
b) OR it's more likely version
- buying special pads from the music store which do the same when set under the piano feet.
One of these solutions is needed in any case to mitigate the greatest problem that the sound of the piano will move as a resonance through the structures of the building. If you don't do this, the sound will move surprisingly far away in the building. You can not believe how far and how easy...
Once you have done that, you can continue by
a) adding soft material under the piano, and improving acoustics of the room (mainly for your own benefit)
b) asking the piano tuner to soften the hammers (reduces volume of the instrument)
c) adding a soft cloth against the sound board (the same)
d) insulating the doors and windows, as they are the weakest link in sound insulation normally (e.g. heavy drapes as suggested above)
DB
posted by Doggiebreath at 4:28 PM on June 27, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by electroboy at 11:49 AM on June 4, 2010