In this guide, I’m going to show you different methods on how to soundproof a ceiling without construction.
Are the footfalls from the above floor making your life downstairs a nightmare, or is it the washing machine above vibrating too much, or is it the neighbor above you making your life unbearable?
If any of the above describes you, then it’s time to fix the problem once and for all. In this guide, I’ll be taking you through different steps on how you can soundproof the ceiling cheaply.
Steps on How to Soundproof A Ceiling Without Construction
1. Seal Holes and Gaps on the Ceiling
Small holes and gaps on the ceiling may be entries of a lot of noise into your room. The holes may be the area where the cables pass through.
There can be gaps if the ceiling is old or was not appropriately fixed during construction.
Noticing the gaps can be hard at times, and you have to be keen when identifying them. After identifying the gaps, purchase green glue compound to use in sealing cracks to prevent sound transmission.
Green glue works perfectly in soundproofing, and it can also be used on walls or floors.
Apply the green glue on the gaps then wait for the results when it dries.
The compound is usually green in color, so if the color does not compliment your house, you can paint on top of it after drying.
You can combine green glue and soundproof paint for better results. The paint will seal the cracks you might not have noticed.
2. Install Acoustic Foam Panels
The use of Acoustic panels is one of the easiest and cheap ways of soundproofing your ceiling. There are different types of acoustic panels in the market.
Make sure you are keen when purchasing them since there some that work best on walls and those best for the ceiling.
They are also of different quality, the better the quality, and the higher the price. For better results, consider purchasing these acoustic panels since they are of high quality.
This way, the panels will serve you longer, and you will be able to have peace when inside the room.
Note that the panels come in various colors so you can choose the color that suits your room.
3. Use Mass Loaded Vinyl
If you are keen on your room’s appearance, you can consider using mass loaded vinyl on your ceiling over the acoustic panels.
Also, considering that the acoustic panels are a bit heavier exerting more pressure on the ceiling, then the MLV will make a good option.
The mass loaded vinyl will absorb the noise coming from your upstairs neighbors or any other sound that penetrates through the ceiling.
Soundsulate Mass Loaded vinyl is one of the best MLV that will suit your room ceiling. It absorbs both high and low-frequency sounds. They have a good design and are effective since they are of a high quality.
Installation is simple; measure the dimensions of your ceiling then cut the MLV to fit on the ceiling.
4. Install a Layer of a Drywall on the Ceiling
A drywall is a sound-absorbing material made of ceramics, gypsum, and viscoelastic. It works out effectively in soundproofing a ceiling.
The drywall provides an extra layer on the ceiling that blocks a lot of noise from escaping or penetrating the room. Installation of the drywall can be tricky at times, and you will have to call an expert to do the work for you.
If interested, you can use two layers for maximum soundproofing.
5. Use Acoustic Foam Egg Panels
These panels surface resembles that of the egg trays, as the name suggests. Thanks to its unique edges, they provide excellent insulation to the ceiling.
The panels are usually thick for maximum sound absorption and insulation. They reduce the noise entering the room and the one escaping to the outside, so you have less to worry about.
The egg foam panels have different designs, so you can choose the one that compliments your interior design. They are mostly used in studios, but you can also use them in your apartment.
On the downside is that the panels might not be visually appealing.
I would recommend foamily burgundy acoustic foam egg crate. They can be used in different settings like offices, control rooms, home entertainment theaters and recording studios.
6. Use Fiberglass Insulation
This method works out perfectly, but it will require some extra effort. Fiberglass is best known for absorbing sound signals. It is mostly installed on the garage or storeroom ceiling since they do not look so good.
7. Install Drywall with Resilient Channels
Resilient channels are used to fill the gap that is left between the ceiling and the drywall. The channels are good in absorbing sounds penetrating through the ceilings.
They are mostly used to improve the effectiveness of the drywall used on the ceiling.
This will mean that the sounds will have to pass through the ceiling, to the resilient channels then to the drywall before reaching the inside of the room.
This means that there will be very little noise that will reach the room since most of it will have been absorbed.
8. Use MuteX Soundproof Material
A muteX soundproof material looks like a mat and can be used to substitute the acoustic foam panels. Installation is straightforward and takes only a few minutes, and you will be done.
Mutex is made up of vinyl that makes it flexible and a high mass element that makes the material denser. Since the material is dense, it means that more sound is absorbed, thus effective for use in soundproofing.
The material is very versatile and can be used in many places, such as offices, cars, apartments, and any other space that can be soundproofed.
You can use it in conjunction with drywall to improve its effectiveness
9. Be a Good Neighbor
Ideally, it’s useful to have considerate neighbors.
The same applies to you, be nice to your neighbor too. As the saying goes, do to others what you will want them to do to you.
If your neighbors are the noisier ones, you can try talking to them concerning the noise.
However, some neighbors may not be willing to reduce the sounds; the best option will be to look for a way to soundproof your ceiling.
This will also apply if you are working on a garage or a music studio. Since you can work without causing noise, the best option will be to soundproof your ceiling.
Final Thoughts on Soundproofing A Ceiling Without Construction
Soundproofing a ceiling isn’t an expensive venture but demands more effort than soundproofing the floors or walls.
This technique of soundproofing without construction is highly recommended especially if you live in a rental apartment where the landlord doesn’t allow major construction changes.
Meet Mike O’Connor, (a DIY enthusiast), living in Cincinnati, a city ranked as the noisiest in the USA.
As a work from home dad, I have a first hand experience of how noise can truly affect your well being.
Soundproofing isn’t something that should be taken as a hobby, it should be a skill that every homeowner should be equipped with.
Most of the work documented on this blog comes from purely first hand experience, and the products recommended work as indicated.
We own and live in our condo but the owner upstairs leases theirs out to a renter. When we talked to the renter upstairs about the pounding on the floor and the subwoofer and moving furniture or vacuuming at 3 a.m., his girlfriend became irate and started walking heavily and stomping her feet every night middle of night. So as you can see it doesn’t always help to talk with your neighbor, it can make them angry. Letters from our management office do not seem to help. But, thanks anyway.
Sincerely,
Bunker Hill Tower Condo owner in downtown Los Angeles
I’m so sorry that happened to you. It’s unfortunate that your neighbor’s girlfriend is so evil.
Talking to the neighbor in most cases may backfire. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t friendly neighbors. My wife and I we’ve been through the worse, even with a baby barely months old and the neighbors wouldn’t listen. We moved to a rather “rural” setup and I’m glad the neighbors here are quite friendly.