First Post!

Hi folks, wow what a great forum, so much great info. So I am currently in the process of buying a house in Dorset, UK (my first!) with a pretty big outbuilding at the rear (almost as big as the house!) measuring approx 32'x16'x14' wxdxh (roof is sloped front to back, I think its around 12' at rear) Its currently set out as a garage to house 4 cars side by side (see photo) It has double skin walls already (not sure about the roof!) i.e. brick and block, presumably with air gap. Concrete floor. All doors in photo will be bricked up of course. In a residential area but nearest house I think probably about 50' away at the rear. I have read up on the various skin walls available. The focus for me was to turn it into a teaching room for my piano and voice students along with an equipment store for my gear. But it occurred that I ought to create a practise space and studio out of the site as well that I can rent out. My question would be, with the walls already double skin, what degree of leaf construction would you think would be necessary inside to get as much sound isolation outside (ideally to silence a rock band) as possible? My initial thought was 5-6" air gap, insulation, single leaf wall (not sure how many layers or what composition ought to be - I was thinking 3-4 layers - drywall 1/2" then barrier mat then 5/8") My questions are 1) How many layers and what composition would you suggest, given the thickness of the existing walls? 2) Is it worth doing cavity wall insulation on the existing walls? 3) Is green glue really helpful here? I calculated I would probably need 6 cases of it at nearly £700 that's quite pricey! 4) Is it worth using sound barrier material i.e. lead lined rubber sheet? Again very expensive for the size of the space. 5) Resilient channel or not? Don't get me wrong I don't want to cut corners and ruin its potential and if I need resilient channel, barrier mat and green glue I will use them but really just trying to see with existing thick walls in place how much further would you recommend I go? Thanks Stuart

Hi Stuart (Great name you have there! :) ). Please read the forum rules for posting (click here). You seem to be missing a couple of things! :) - Stuart -