Studio/Office soundproofing help

[inspector13]

I just helped my son move out    and I'm left with a roof that is screaming "Studio/Office". The room is very loud, all hard reflective surfaces (drywall on the walls and ceiling and laminate flooring). I'm looking for a cheap way I can sound proof this room. I'm going to get some carpet for the areas in front of my desk. Don't know what to do next I am on a very small budget. Any ideas? I have thought about making panels for the wall  but don't know what materials to use. Thanks.

[hatofthecat]

Carpet on the floor will make definite difference as it will help break the cycle of sound reflections.

Panels for the walls are next thing (don't need to cover whole wall).  Usual thing is "pyramid foam" acoustic tiles which are sold for this purpose.  There are specialist suppliers of acoustic foam but building products suppliers often carry it and it will be cheaper from them.  Also the tiles are often available cheaply on ebay such as this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/Soundproofing-2-Acoustic-Studio-Pyramid-Foam-REMNANT-C_W0QQitemZ260125873957QQihZ016QQcategoryZ3278QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Whatever you choose make sure its flame retardent....!!!!!!  ...you don't want to turn the room into a fire trap 

There are also special sound absorbing blankets/curtains.  These are essentially like quilts that you just hang on the wall.  Popular with garage bands (or at least their parents and neighbours).

If you were thinking of egg boxes.... don't, does not work.....even if you paint them black so they look kinda cool.... 

Or there's always that 70's look ..... yup carpet on the walls...  ...may actually work enough to be a solution for you and "end of roll" remanants can often be cheaply had.

After wall panels you might want to think about bass traps for the corners of the room..... but I'd do one thing at a time as you may find doing just the basics will get you what you need.

Pete

[jeremy3220]

Rigid fiberglass is what you need for sound absorption. This link is probably the best you can find on info for studio acoustic treatment. It should answer most of your questions.


http://www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html#rigid%20fiberglass

"For a given thickness, 703 is about twice as absorbent as acoustic foam at the lower frequencies, and it generally costs much less."

[hatofthecat]

Rigid fiberglass is what you need for sound absorption

I forgot about that one   

The sound absorbing wall panels used to create rooms in otherwise open plan offices are made of similar stuff with "porous" fabric covering....so are squidgy to the touch..... also handy when you bang your boss's head against it when he gives you a bad evaluation....   

The description of fitting the fibreglass sheets to the wall and then covering with a frame stretched with fabric in that link sounds very much more "home friendly" than ugly lumpy grey foam.  I'm pretty sure you could actually make up the panels with say a nylon mesh back attached to a frame, attach the fibreglass sheet to that and then stretch the fabric over.  Could then mount panel to wall.  This commercial products site might provide some ideas on this and other soundproofing materials

http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/fabric_panel/fpswallp.htm?d=4

If you don't mind big black panels you could use "grill cloth" (as in for speakers so acoustically transparent), Radioshack sell big sheets of this 9ft by 32"

This thread has got my brain working  as I've a spare bedroom thats aching to lose its bed, gain a sofa and become my music room..... but its got a laminate floor and is all drywall walls and ceiling just as inspector13 has but does have a view down to the reservoir with the sailboats 

Pete

[Mr_LV19E]

    Is this the first time your son moved out?  You might not want to invest to much time or money in case he decides to move back in. OTOH maybe you have the perfect idea, (sorry son but we just don't have the room anymore)

[hatofthecat]

sorry son but we just don't have the room anymore

...hmmm    ...my folks got a little more sneaky.... when I was away at college they moved house 500 miles and "forgot" tell me  ....but I tracked 'em down 

Pete

[mrrinse]

Rockwool in bags for acoustic treatment (google ready bags for a cheap DIY method of doing this).
Soundproofing is a whole other kettle of fish. Much more demanding and expensive (room within a room, suspended floors, etc).
For both topics, have a look in the acoustics forum at www.sospubs.co.uk and the web generally.