Finishing the basement - how to soundproof the ceiling?

[Anonymous]

We are starting to finish our unfinished basement, but I cannot stand the "de-thump, de-thump" from upstairs. Any ideas on how to sound proof the ceiling (without blowing my budget)? How to sound proof and keep the ceiling "open?"

TIA

[Anonymous]

Could you clarify what you mean by keeping the ceiling "open"? Do you mean you want to see the joists?

[Anonymous]

1. Make sure that the drywall guy hangs the ceiling on resilient channel and that it is used properly. This is easy to find online. Adds almost no cost at all.

2. If you want additional coverage you can use resilient channel and homosote in combination.

3. You can insulate which will help with voices but is virtually worthless for the thump thump thump



No idea what 'open' means on the ceiling. I assume you are hanging drywall.

[Anonymous]

We did insulation and double drywall.

[Anonymous]

OP here; this is an "open ceiling:"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here; this is an "open ceiling:"

Why?!?! Does your basement ceiling look that great? Mine has plumbing, lots of electrical, AC ducts... you'd have to move all of that to make the open ceiling look prettier. No way to soundproof that except add better insulation under your wood floors.

[Anonymous]

Why?!?! Does your basement ceiling look that great? Mine has plumbing, lots of electrical, AC ducts... you'd have to move all of that to make the open ceiling look prettier. No way to soundproof that except add better insulation under your wood floors.

Why you ask? Probably cause the basement ceiling is already too low <7' tall. Also, if he paints the open ceiling white gives the illusion of more head room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why?!?! Does your basement ceiling look that great? Mine has plumbing, lots of electrical, AC ducts... you'd have to move all of that to make the open ceiling look prettier. No way to soundproof that except add better insulation under your wood floors.

Why you ask? Probably cause the basement ceiling is already too low <7' tall. Also, if he paints the open ceiling white gives the illusion of more head room.

My rafters aren't that uniform. It's reinforced below kitchen and bathrooms. I hate that picture and that's probably the best case scenario.

[Anonymous]

OP here. No, my basement doesn't look like that (yet?). It was an example of an "open ceiling." I don't mind an 'industrial look" in the basement - I can be creative with paint and masking... but those don't eliminate the sound from upstairs. I will look into this "resilient channel and homosote" suggestion from above.

I wonder how these "open ceiling" folks do it?

[Anonymous]

There is sound paint you can buy, but you either need to insulate from the upper floor by ripping out what ever you have upstairs and putting padding, full plywood and lots more or you need to put insulation and two sheets of drywall or another method.

[Anonymous]

It's expensive, but get big rolls of cork matting or cork tiles and cut strips the width of the spaces between the joists, then staple them to the underflooring of the upper floor. The cork will absorb a significant amount of the noise; not all, but a significant amount. Cork is relatively expensive and you want more than just the really thin stuff used for memo boards. Best option (but not the cheapest) is to get the cork tiles designed to be ceiling tiles, but they are a more finished look for putting over drywalled ceilings. But they will soundproof the ceiling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. No, my basement doesn't look like that (yet?). It was an example of an "open ceiling." I don't mind an 'industrial look" in the basement - I can be creative with paint and masking... but those don't eliminate the sound from upstairs. I will look into this "resilient channel and homosote" suggestion from above.

I wonder how these "open ceiling" folks do it?

I've seen open ceilings in a lot of houses with low basement ceilings and I think if done right, it looks great and really keeps the room looking more open. Not idea sure, but its also a basement.

[Anonymous]

The best is to have a thick subfloor under your main floor which is something that many older homes lack. That's very expensive to fix just to renovate a basement, though.

[Anonymous]

We finished our basement. We used double insulation in the bedroom we created down there and you don't hear a THING upstairs - no thumping, nothing. Right next to it is the laundry room, which we left as an open ceiling. Not only do you hear the thumps, but you can clearly hear the voices of everyone above you and when you are on the first floor, you can hear someone turning on the washing machine.