by Tim Harry

Created on: September 25, 2009

Being disturbed by neighbours seems to have become the norm in recent years, and although the neighbours may not even realise that they can be heard, music and even conversations often are transmitted quite clearly. One of the most common complaints is about the noise that comes from flats above, and as a result many people consider the options of soundproofing the ceiling.

The need for ceiling soundproofing often comes about because impact noise, the noise caused by walking, or airborne noise, the noise from the television, is resonating through the ceiling. These noises are often blamed on the design of a building, with thinner than traditional ceilings and floors; it is though often more a case of the fact that carpets have been replaced with laminate flooring or tiles.

It is often impractical to ask neighbours to change their lifestyle and the design of their own flat, and so other solutions are needed. So even though it is a lot easier to soundproof a floor, soundproofing the ceiling may be required. The first thing to consider though is whether alterations to a flat or apartment are allowed. For owners in most cases the answer is going to be yes, for renters and tenants though there are often restrictions on the changes that can be made. Of course landlords and owners have a responsibility to make changes if required, but often noise levels can be annoying without being loud enough to force changes.

When looking for ceiling soundproofing solutions it is common to come across solutions based on hanging rugs or similar items from the ceiling; the basic idea being to dampen any noise emanating from the ceiling. There may be some success with this method although it is most likely to be airborne noise that is reduced, and only because a whole or gap between floor and ceiling as been effectively plugged.

There is though another hanging method which offers better results, and this is by hanging a second ceiling. It is not a cheap option though. The idea is to create a buffer between the existing ceiling and the new one, a buffer area that can be filled with acoustic insulation and membrane. The new ceiling can also be made from soundproofing floorboards up to any thickness desired. The drawback from hanging a second ceiling though is that sound can still travel down the connecting hangers from one ceiling to the next.

The same theory of ceiling soundproofing also applies when there is the option of pulling down the ceiling and starting again. This option though is expensive and is more relevant to houses rather than shared apartment blocks for obvious reasons. By removing the whole ceiling though it is possible to make use of acoustic insulation, acoustic membranes and thicker soundproofing plasterboards, all of which will help in the reduction of noise.

Soundproofing the ceiling is unfortunately rather a misnomer, as it is normally impossible to totally soundproof a ceiling, and is rather a case of reducing the noise levels. Impact noise in particular is likely to also resonate through the walls, and the whole structure of the building, and whilst furniture movement noises can be reduced, the low frequency sounds are still likely to occur.

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