Green Glue vs. Soundboard

I'm in the process of getting estimates from drywall contractors to hang drywall in my basement - including my studio room. I explained to the guy coming to do the estimate that I wanted to use Green Glue between two layers of drywall on the walls in the studio. He's trying to get me to use soundboard (one layer of soundboard and one layer of drywall) instead because that's what he and his crew are familiar with. Plus, for me it'd be a lot cheaper than using Green Glue. GreenGlueCompany.com shows that Green Glue performs better than soundboard... by about 5 STC units if I remember correctly. Have any of you had experience with both Green Glue and soundboard? Any thoughts/opinions on which you'd rather use? I know I can't let this guy tell me what to do because I need to make sure I make the right decision for my studio... but I'm just curious about what anyone else thinks.

Your contractor's lack of familiarity with Green Glue doesn't make up for the crappiness of the product for which he is familiar. Print the instructions from the Green Glue Web site (there's a PDF version that is very print-friendly) and make him not only read it but commit in writing to following it. It's very easy to do. I've done it. Also, while you're there, read their article on STC and what it means -- and most importantly, what it doesn't mean. In a studio context, it doesn't mean squat. --Keith :mrgreen:

kindohm - Most contractors do not want to change their ways. . "We always do it this way." . "You don't need that." <- my personal favorite . "I've never seen anybody do that way in twenty years." I was reading Rod's book and he had a small part on contractors and attitudes. Basically it says that if they don't buy into your project and doing it the right way, then don't use that contractor! I couldn't agree with him more. You will probably alienate at least two-thirds of the contractors you talk to by insisting on using the Green Glue (or whatever special requirement you have).. and it will probably cost you more money to get the right contractor. But if you stick to your guns, you will be doing the right thing. I'm not as technically knowledgeable as some here, but soundboard is not as dense as drywall; therefore I think a dampening layer like Green Glue and more drywall makes more sense to me. I believe that when soundboard is used it is usually applied directly to studs and before the drywall. It does two things: 1) adds more mass than if it weren't there, 2) acts a little like a slight shock absorber / decoupler for certain frequencies (I think the higher ones). I believe it would be redundant in a system that uses decoupling (e.g. staggered studs, or RC channel, or double wall, etc.) Creatch

Yup; stick with higher mass, and GG if you can; if your contractor wants the job, he needs to do it your way. Otherwise keep looking for one with a willingness to learn. And do NOT, repeat NOT, repeat again NOT, tell him what you want and then NOT BE THERE when it gets done, or you WILL be sorry, I can almost guarantee it... Steve

sharward wrote:

. . . read [Green Glue Company's] article on STC and what it means -- and most importantly, what it doesn't mean. In a studio context, it doesn't mean squat.

Here it is. And here are their published tests comparing Green Glue to "soundboard." --Keith :mrgreen:

I've decided to NOT let the contractor touch the studio. I'm going to hang the drywall myself in that room, and let the contractor hang it in the rest of the basement. The more I thought about it, the more I decided I could never sleep at night years down the road knowing that I didn't do the studio drywall myself. Thanks for the input.

You're in good company, bro. :-)