One of the most welcomed, and most valuable, of all home improvements is creating a quieter world in which to live. We all know that the modern world is a noisy place, and making it a little bit quieter will go a long way.
There are many techniques for soundproofing a single room or an entire home, and which ones are appropriate will depend in large part on the location of the home, the nature of the noise problem, and of course the budget of the homeowner.
For new construction, one of the most effective noise proofing techniques is to stagger the location of the doorways so that they are not directly opposite one another. This will keep the sound from traveling directly across hallways and reverberating around the home. It is also a good idea for at least one quarter of each room to include some sort of absorbent material, be it carpet, curtains, or furniture. It is also possible to install a soundproofing mat on the walls and the ceilings.
If noise from squeaking floors on the upper floor is the problem, it can be solved by taking down the ceiling on the lower floor and placing triangular wood strips on the flooring above and an the floor joists. In addition, liquid adhesive can be used to keep the flooring from moving around and causing squeaks.
Another popular soundproofing technique is to use two sets of disconnected wall studs to frame back to back walls. In addition, the use of fiberglass installation will help to absorb sound.
For traditionally framed houses, the wall framing and the covering drywall will transmit noise from through the wall to the other side. This is because the wall studs transfer the noise which bounces off the drywall in one room through the stud and into the drywall which is mounted on the back of the same stud in the other room.
Simply by inserting fiberglass installation bats, the sound will be dampened but not completely eliminated. For greater noise elimination, it will be necessary to use separate studs for each wall, therefore stopping the noise from being transmitted room to room.
Using double paned glass and vinyl frames for windows is another good way to soundproof a home. These double paned windows will cost a little bit more, but they are worth it in the long run. Adding shutters to the interiors of the window can be a big help as well.
By: Brooke Sikula
Posts Tagged ‘Home Improvement’
Practical Home Improvement – Soundproofing Techniques
March 28th, 2010Hand Crafted Home Improvement with Wood
March 19th, 2010
Imagine
Your home can really work for you. It can be a sanctuary from a hard days work, it can be a safe place for family and an effortless welcome for your friends. Subtlety of design can make the day to day easier and even a pleasure. If you want to improve your Kitchen, Bathroom or home in general, you can gain a lot by talking with talented designers.
Quality
Properly sourced timber can make all the difference. Your craftspeople will know where your timber has come from and its various nuances. Some timbers are better than others and this needs to be recognised throughout your project. Combing timbers and getting the most from our natural resources is a fine craft indeed. Not only should creating your dream be a pleasure, it can offer an insight into how we can work with the world.
Timescale
It is important to set yourself targets and deadlines. You will probably find new ideas as your project takes shape; it is often wise to adopt these ideas however you should bear in mind the timescale of your craftspeople. Everyone involved with your project will want to complete something beautiful. If necessary, take your time, don’t rush.
Enjoy
When you are living in your dream home, you can always call on quality craftspeople to modify or improve on what you have. Just give them a call; part of the beauty of a properly crafted home, is that you and your craftspeople will know each intricacy. Give your people a call, you’re part of a relationship that is that has been improving our knowledge of the world, since the dawn of time.
By: Jamie Ledger
Winter is a Great Time For Home Improvement Projects
March 19th, 2010
The most popular time for home improvement projects is the spring and summer. After all, who wants to paint their house or put on a new roof when snow is falling? That doesn’t mean, however, that there aren’t many projects you can tackle in the winter. In fact, you can even save money by undertaking jobs in the off season.
Since business slows down in the colder weather, contractors and home and garden stores often have specials this time of year. Of course, you don’t need to spend a ton of money to make your home look (and work!) better.
Many home improvement projects can be done by a homeowner with a do-it-yourself spirit and a small budget. While some jobs are best left for the warmer months, many jobs are well suited for working indoors, and don’t require you to be outside in the elements, thus can be pursued in the winter.
For example, you may want to paint the inside of your house. Modern paints are not as toxic as they once were, and they do not give off fumes as strong as in years past. You can beat the lines at the hardware store and rent the equipment you need to make indoor painting painless. Power sprayers are available for rent or borrow in every city and turning up the heat can help the paint dry more quickly.
If you can handle your own carpeting, installing a new color can be done during the winter without the aid of a carpeting crew. Carpeting prices may also be cheaper during the winter.
There are many indoor maintenance projects you might want to consider now too.
Burst pipes can cost a fortune, and the old standby of letting water drip slowly doesn’t always work. Installing heat tape on your pipes is easy to do yourself, and is cheaper than having a plumber do. The tape, which is actually a cord more often than not, wraps around exposed pipes that may freeze. You plug it into a standard outlet and it warms up the pipes, preventing them from freezing. Heat tape must be plugged into an outlet with a ground (3-plug) to work properly.
Changing light fixtures can obviously be performed indoors and provides an excellent opportunity to add higher efficiency lights and seals. Installing lights and fans is a fairly simple process and fans can be purchased on line, eliminating the need to drag them home through the snow. Simply put in the order, and they will be delivered to your doorstep.
Organization is a different type of maintenance that you can undertake in the colder months. Let’s face it: everyone can think of some area of their home that needs to be reorganized. Instead of feeling cooped-up inside, use the time to clean out closets and install shelving units or storage cabinets. Old boxes and drawers can be opened and cleaned out. Many areas have organizations that would be happy to take old coats and clothes from you during the winter as well.
As you can see, there are many ways to improve the look and functionality if your home this winter. As always, the hard part is getting off the couch to do it…
By: TC Thorn