Framing question

My contractor starts framing my basement studio tomorrow. We're using metal studs...... In Rod's book, it's suggested to put acoustical caulk under the stud that lies flat on the concrete to seal up any air gaps. Question: Do we need anything (acoustical caulk, rubber, etc.) between the top of the framing and the bottom of the joists?

caulking between the header of the wall and the joist of the deck above? What about when you're running perpendicular? Wouldn't the corner of the wall board meeting on the ceiling and wall be caulked with backer rod to provide your seal? And behind that you NEED to have fire blocking. Is that there? - Sorry for the questions and you may want to link to your main thread on threads like this as to help people trying to learn and link things together - Is it this one? http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... ght=#16920

Sorry Cram, I moved since then.... here's the new journal.... http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 5693#75693

fresh_oil_2003 wrote:

In Rod's book, it's suggested to put acoustical caulk under the stud that lies flat on the concrete to seal up any air gaps.

I never said any such thing - please tell me what page that would be on - and what paragraph - I want to see what you're talking about. BTW - don't waste money putting caulk under the plate - just caulk the sheets of drywall...........

Question: Do we need anything (acoustical caulk, rubber, etc.) between the top of the framing and the bottom of the joists?

What system of construction are you using? Rod

Well, Rod I apologize for misquoting you, I was repeating what my contractor said. I'll ensure in the future I will not misquote you... :wink: My contractor said on p.37, in the 2nd paragraph under "Air Tight Construction", there are a couple of lines that lead him to believe he needed to put one bead caulk on bottom of the framing (between the steel frame and concrete). I don't have the book in front of me, so I'm paraphrasing.... 1.) Where air goes, sound goes 2.) 1/16" of an air gap can equal a 7 1/2" sq ft hole in the wall The concrete is not totally even, and the metal stud isn't either. So, he errored on the side of caution and placed a bead of caulk to fill in the "air gap". Once the wall is up, he's going to caulk between the wall and the floor.

i don't think you'll need caulking on the header...i would strongly suggest you decouple your walls from the joinst above using rc channel, or mason industries clips into your foundation. unless your want to hear foot traffic, and annoy the people upstairs with your music. this is coming from experience, you will not be sorry about the added expense wich shouldn't be more than a couple hundered dollars. this is what i built, and i recomned you eliminate huge flanking paths.

kmetal wrote:

i don't think you'll need caulking on the header...i would strongly suggest you decouple your walls from the joinst above using rc channel, or mason industries clips into your foundation. unless your want to hear foot traffic, and annoy the people upstairs with your music. this is coming from experience, you will not be sorry about the added expense wich shouldn't be more than a couple hundered dollars. this is what i built, and i recomned you eliminate huge flanking paths.

Here, here!!! Definately think about this connection point. Since my room has been sealed up and semi functional from an isolation perspective, I've brought in a parade of 5 friends who are contractors of various disciplines who ALL doubted the level of isolation I would achieve. One specifically worked in a hotel and had done double and even triple layers between rooms without iso clips or RC of any sort. He recalled that experience in detail to me - saying that you could still hear foot traffic and "loud noises seemed to have shape from the next room", as he put it... If you can afford it in terms of support performed by the walls, you may look into spots where you can independantly frame the ceiling. Ok - I looked further: looks like you're well on your way here... (image from your thread intro) best of luck.