Dan Holohan and I would like to know...

Dave Millet

Dan Holohan and I would like to know if anyone could speak from experience about the soundproofing qualities of gyp-crete?
I am building a log home next spring. I'll have exposed log joists with tongue and groove decking above the living room. My bedroom is located upstairs, directly above the living room and I would like to isolate it as much as possible from the noise below. I plan on putting a plywood sub-floor directly over the t. and g. and using 1 1/2" of gypsum concrete over that (with hydronic tubing) to heat the bedroom. Would the mass of the gyp-crete provide adequate (or any) soundproofing from the room below?
I haven't found any information regarding the soundproofing qualities of gyp-crete. Can anyone offer any information or advise on this topic??

Paul Cooke

Soundproofing

I think that the original purpose for using gypcrete in commercial applications was for soundproofing and also as a firestop between floors in apartment buildings and condos.

It was probably some time later that some smart soul thought to embed pipes into the mud and heat up the mass.

You'll probably have little problem with sound between the bedroom and the living room. You can check with the larger gypcrete suppliers for specific sound properties of their material.

Paul_6

I would think you

would have better luck approaching it from the living room side. insulate in between the floor joists with sound deadening insulation and put up a layer of sheetrock, sound channel, and another layer of sheetrock, Its the dead air space that mutes the noise, not the mass of the floor. hope this helps. Paul.

Unknown

I can not promise an answer but

my son owns a construction company and they work with gypsum concrete. His foreman tends to be very knowlegable about construction stuff. I will get in touch with him and let you know.

Paul Cooke

Another thought...

In order to direct the heat upstairs to the bedroom, you might use a foil/bubble/foil insulation on top of the decking before you pour the gypcrete.

Troy_3

Gypsum concrete

Check out www.rapidfloor.com Go to acoustimat II & acoustimatIII It will give you all the sound ratings. A plain gypsum floor improves sound transmission greatly, but with this acoustimat product you will really control sound. Check it out. We use it commercially and for high end residential.

Mark Hunt

I can say from experience


that I have never sold gyp as a sound insulator.

That being said, it does do a great job as such.

The gypcrete gypsy thst I use does more non-radiant work than radiant. Most of his work is in hotels, Motels, and NO tells.

Sound proofing is the big seller there.

I can say that you would have a tough time hearing a foot step on the upper floors.

Mark H


To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Michael - Warm Floors

STC of GypCrete or GypSpan

STC (Sound Transfer Coefficient) of GypCrete GypSpan is great, about 50 at 1.5". We prefer GypSpan by Hacker Industriesfor a lot of reasons. http://www.hackerindustries.com/gypspan.htm

Acoustimat or Hacker's Sound-mat is very expensive, about twice the cost of the Gyp covering, and has marginal improvement over Gyp alone. We sometimes use it, but only for clients who have a lot of money! Best-value improvements after Gyp would be the sheetrock below on resilient channels and weatherstripping interior doors to stop sound leakage.

Shhhh. Quiet is good. That's what makes radiant heated floors so great.

Michael

Unknown

Acoustimat III

is the answer- very expensive but definitely good to block out sound. See www.rapidfloor.com. This according to Rumford General Contracting my sons company.