"I can't stand the rain..."

John raised an interesting point on my loft conversion thread. As I'm doing an attic conversion what a bout the noise of the rain on the roof? The timbers are only 4" thick and the insulation they put between them is for retaining heat only. I will be plasterboarding it obviously and thought of doing this double thickness but is there some kind of thick sheeting i could put into to reduce noise going out and coming in. My architect said that one studio he had done had some lead kind of sheeting stuff between the plasterboard and the ceiling timebers!! All sound a bit heavy to me. Any ideas?

You need to use Resilient channel and a double layer of drywall. Lead is extrememly expensive;) If you don't know what resilient channel is do a search as it's been covered here somewhere. cheers john

I did a search for resilient channel but it only turned up one two results. Mine and another one that didn't mention it anywhere. What is it? Cheers Oliver

Oliver, here is a quote from US Gypsum's Construction handbook, along with an illustration from their Sound Control Handbook, both links to follow: RC-1 Resilient Channels Made of 25-ga. corrosion resistant steel. One of the most effective, lowest-cost methods of improving sound transmission loss through wood and steel-frame partitions and ceilings. Used for resilient attachment of SHEETROCK <../glossary.html> brand Gypsum Panels and IMPERIAL Gypsum Bases. Prepunched holes 4" o.c. in the flange facilitate screw attachment to framing; facing materials are screw-attached to channels. Size 1/2"x 2&1/2"; length 12'; approx. wt. 200 lb./1,000 ft. Limitation: not for use beneath highly flexible floor joists; should be attached to ceilings with 1&1/4" Type W or S screws only -- nails must not be used. See framing requirements <../chap2/fram_req.html> in Chapter 2 <../chap2/index.html>. http://www.usg.com/Design_Solutions/2_3 ... ontent.asp http://www.usgaction.com/handbook/toc.htm The pic is attached (if I get it right that is) - the RC is the horizontal, flimsy-looking rail onto which the nearside wallboards are screwed. (BTW, NEVER put screws thru the wallboard coincident with framing timbers, they may "short out" the RC, defeating its purpose... Steve

Oliver, in a previous post to you I said this

Have a look at S.Productions at the Construction site.

http://johnlsayers.com/Studio/index.htm He has pictures of doing a ceiling in RC. cheers John

Where do I buy this stuff? Builders merchants? Or is it specialist acousitc supplier territory? Cheers

http://www.domesticsoundproofing.co.uk/ ... ar_doc.htm second page of a google search. cheers john