SMALL Basement Project Studio Build Project

Looking good!

Thanks Stuart! Forgot I had this one too - photo doesn't really say much, but to me it means - "Finished hanging two layers of drywall on the ceiling of both the control room and live room". This shows the 2nd layer in the CR, which I hung by myself, with no lift . . .

Just wondering about that big hole up in the ceiling: What is that for, and how are you going to seal it and replace the missing mass? - Stuart -

That's an electrical box for my track light. If you look close, you might be able to make out the wires coming through. Will be sealed with caulk and mass will/is replaced by putty pad, as with all outlets.

That'll work! (Just looking over your shoulder, and making sure that you're not doing something silly... :) ) - Stuart -

Stuart, I do appreciate that. I have seen numerous instances of posted photos only to have someone say, you should have done it this way 10 steps ago and the person posting the photo then has to decide whether to undo everything they did, or live with the fact that they didn't do it right. Thanks,

only to have someone say, you should have done it this way 10 steps ago and the person posting the photo then has to decide whether to undo everything they did

Now that you mention it, I think you should undo everything, float your floor on empty coke bottles, glue carpet to the ceiling and put some egg crates to the walls! :) :shot: (Sorry! Couldn't resist a bit of sick and stupid humor...) - Stuart -

Could you point me to the site that lists the STC values for coke bottles? I think it sounds like a really good idea . . . ;)

Sure! No problem! http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hb ... avity.html (OK, so it's not STC, but you just KNEW that SOMEONE had to have figured the acoustic value of a coke bottle! :shock: :!: ) Oh well... - Stuart -

Thanks for the link Stuart! If I read that correctly, I should be able to tear down all my framing, insulation, and drywall. Throw them away. Line all my walls, ceiling, and floor with empty coke bottles (20 oz. variety I believe). AND I should be able to play death metal at 125 dB at 3:00 am and not disturb my family or any of my neighbors. Looks like I need to get drinking me some coke . . .

:) hehehe!

Looks like I need to get drinking me some coke . . .

Just make sure you add enough rum or brandy to it, to help it down... :) - Stuart -

Just an open general question; several posts back, the OP mentions using rockwool covered in plastic in leu of ductboard or ductliner. What about using rigid panel insulation coated in a flat black acrylic based paint? More direct on the OP would it be possible, or is it too late to a show picture of your silencers (as you did in an earlier post) with the insulation?

Hi BriHar, I actually don't have any pics of the silencers with the lining. But, I haven't finished them yet so I may still be able to get a few (if I remember while doing it . . .). If I'm reading your post correctly, are you saying that spraying the rigid panel insulation with the paint would be similar to using the plastic? To clarify, I'm using the plastic to prevent any of the rockwool particals from entering the air exchange. Thanks,

Yes the idea being to emulate commercial ductboard (albeit the actual manufacturing procedure is probably completely different - but you never know) by applying an acrylic sealer to prevent the particulate and fiber from becoming airborn. Whether sprayed, brushed or dipped is open to discussion. I presented this simply as an idea that would/will hopefully be commented upon by those more in the know. I also came across an old post where the poster incorporated the use of acoustic ceiling tiles into his silencer, and sealing the edges with a watered down white glue (also a thought?). He does mention something about a wrapped rigid insulation, but unfortunately the thread ends. http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11364&start=18

Hmm . . . the acoustic tiles part is specifically interesting to me since I have saved all the ones I tore down from my space. Glenn had suggested that these may come in handy as treatments later. If I could use them rather than the rockwool/plastic then it would: - Save the rockwool for treatments - Seemingly be easier to fabricate Wonder if anyone will chime in with more thoughts on this? Specifically performance of the tiles vs the rockwool in the silencers and sealing the tiles (glue as suggested in the linked thread vs plastic vs something else). Thanks,

I'm not so sure that painting or sealing it would be a good idea! Insulation absorbs sound by the fibers moving, vibrating in sympathy with the sound, and thus converting the kinetic energy of the sound waves into heat energy. If you paint/seal the fibers then they become far more rigid, stick together in clumps, and lose their ability to move freely. Thus, they lose their ability to absorb sound. - Stuart -

Stuart, By sealing, I just meant a way to prevent the fibers from entering the air in the silencer(s) - similar to what I'm doing with the plastic around the rockwool.

A plastic cover on the fibers only inhibits movement a little bit, at the surface (unless you wrap it tight, which is not the idea!). Using any kind of liquid, such as paint or sealant, is very different because the fibers themselves "wick" the liquid much deeper into the insulation, even if you try to only put it on the surface. That's part of why wrapping bass traps in plastic is normally mentioned here as a way to treat it so that it "reflects highs" without affecting its abilities to deal with lows: it only affects the tips of the fibers, the surface layer. The fibers a bit deeper into the insulation can still move and vibrate as always, and still absorb low-frequency energy. But paint or sealant will penetrate much deeper into the insulation, being "sucked in" by the fibers themselves, especially if you spray it on. That will affect a much larger percentage of each fiber, and will also cause several fibers to physically stick together, which plastic wrapping does not do. By painting or sealing, you are changing the physical structure of the insulation itself at the microscopic level, but that's the exact level where the acoustic effects occur! Painting or sealing won't affect the thermal properties anywhere near as much, because thermal insulation depends on different physical effects than acoustic absorption: paint it and it will still keep the room warm, but it won't absorb sound in the sound way. The acoustic properties of insulation depends, to a large extent, on a property knows as gas flow resistance. Painting the fibers changes the gas flow resistance a lot. - Stuart -

Understand Stuart. All makes sense to me. Personally, I would think the plastic would do a better job of keep the particles in than paint would anyway. What I'd be interested in is if I could use my "acoustic tiles" for liners for the silencers. I would probably still wrap them in plastic as cutting them to fit would free up the fibers a bit and I would still want them contained just as if I was using the rockwool.

After going over it a bit more I think I found a better spot for the HVAC silencers. The opposite corner in the live room is where they will go. I remembered why I didn't think they would go there before - since I wasn't planning on them being there, there is a stud that cuts through where the ducting would go. BUT, after taking a better look at it, I think I can get the flex duct past it okay. This will eliminate the embedded silencer in the superchunk problem. I'm looking forward to finishing up hanging the drywall, only 12 sheets left from my original 72! And moving on to the next steps . . .

Sounds like a plan! :) - Stuart -

any takers on drop ceiling acoustic panels as hvac silencer lining?

you can use the acoustic tiles for scattered absorption around the room, stacking etc. to increase the depth. not as effective as purpose built but will be workable. on the duct liner - get new duct liner - it's built for the task and has the embedded binders etc already in place.

Glenn, Thanks for weighing in. I have two of the silencers mostly lined as I described, with the rockwool covered in plastic. Two more without any lining yet. Are you suggesting to remove the rockwool (or rebuild the silencers) and go with duct liner instead? I was having trouble sourcing it but can try again if I need to. For four silencers, each approx 3.5' t x 1' x 1', with three 90 degree panels in each, how much should I expect to pay (or what is a fair price) for all the duct liner I will need? I think I'll need about 56 - 60 sq/ft of it. Thanks,

I found a local supplier that sells the owens corning duct board 1'' thick, 48'' x 120'' sheet for ~ $29.00 a sheet. Is that average price?