I have a multi-family property, and we plan to convert part of the garage into another living unit. There's a two-bedroom unit above the garage. What's the best way to sound proof the top and bottom floors?

I'd love to get some sonopan, but it's only available in Canada.

Would double drywall work?

I know the sound proofing won't be perfect, just trying to limit noise exposure for both units.

This post was edited on 1/4/26 at 2:34 am

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Posted by geauxnc0308

pineywoods of ET

Member since May 2008

597 posts

Posted on 1/4/26 at 9:01 am to TheOcean

Spray foam it, i think closed cell is more sound dampening

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Posted by gumbo2176

Member since May 2018

19550 posts

Posted on 1/4/26 at 9:54 am to geauxnc0308

quote:
Spray foam it, i think closed cell is more sound dampening

This. I have a 2 story and the ground floor is split between a man cave and my woodworking shop. All of the man cave is below the upper living area and I put 7 1/2 batt insulation between the downstairs ceiling and bottom of the upstairs hardwood floors and then hung 1/2 in. sheetrock on the ceilings in the man cave. Sound still traveled through pretty easily.

If I were to do it again, I'd definitely use the spray foam.

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Posted by MasterDigger

Member since Nov 2019

2730 posts

Posted on 1/4/26 at 12:21 pm to TheOcean

quote:
Would double drywall work?

This is part of a process called decoupling.

Search 'decoupling ceiling sheetrock from joists' and you'll find a lot of info.
Several methods for several applications.

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Posted by billjamin

Houston

Member since Jun 2019

17041 posts

Posted on 1/4/26 at 12:51 pm to TheOcean

The people who built my house who were retired and didn’t want to hear their grandkids stomping around put in a 2” subfloor on the second floor and insulation. You can do jumping jacks up there and I don’t hear shite.

This post was edited on 1/4/26 at 12:51 pm

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