Are you planning large-scale renovation work or finishing an apartment in a new building? Agree that timely soundproofing of the ceiling in an apartment under a suspended ceiling, which can provide permissible level noise for comfortable life will help you stay calm and a good relationship with upper neighbors.
Are you thinking about soundproofing, but don't know which option to choose? We will help you deal with this issue - the article discusses best ways soundproofing of the ceiling space.
And also the main stages of installation with step by step photos, recommendations and video tips experienced builders to carry out work on their own.
Have you long dreamed of installing suspended ceilings in your apartment and have you heard about the need for noise insulation work? Or do you think that these are unnecessary expenses that unscrupulous managers are trying to encourage you to make as much money as possible from the client?
Let's look at the feasibility of performing sound insulation for a suspended ceiling structure.
It is definitely needed in such situations:
Such problems can be solved by a competent sound-proofing structure (ZIK) or, as installers and ordinary users call it, Shumka.
Initially, you need to understand that soundproofing the ceiling space is not able to cut off all noise and sounds entering the apartment. It can muffle them, prevent reflection from surfaces, which will provide a comfortable noise level for the human body
There is a division of noise into 2 main types:
The first includes sounds made by animals, as well as the crying and screams of children and the voices of adults. And to the second type - sounds from hitting furniture, heels, hammer drills and others.
The main task of a ZIK installed under a suspended ceiling is to reduce the level of airborne noise to a comfortable level.
If you have problem neighbors who constantly drop or move furniture, or wear heels at 6 am, then such soundproofing will not help.
It will also be ineffective if the room has extremely low ceilings and there is no space for installing a good sound-absorbing layer made of several types of materials.
Even the latest and most expensive material 5-10 mm thick, alone attached under a suspended ceiling, will not be able to solve the problem of eliminating excessive audibility of extraneous sounds in the apartment.
You may have heard that suspended ceilings independently cope with the problem of sound insulation - after stretching them, you will no longer listen to the news on your neighbors’ TV? This is a myth in itself tension structure with PVC film or fabric is not able to cut off sounds.
You can easily live without friends, but you can’t live without neighbors. And the moral and aesthetic satisfaction from a just-stretched stretch ceiling can easily be spoiled by rapid and very persistent musical trills from somewhere above. At such moments, it is easy to believe in the well-known saying that it is easier to hide from the devil than from noisy neighbors, but there is no need: if you properly soundproof the ceiling in an apartment under a suspended ceiling, then you can even make friends with them.
Sound waves in modern apartment buildings are born from every little thing and spread quite unhindered if nothing is opposed to them. Air gap, which is located between the base of the ceiling and the stretched fabric, has certain soundproofing properties, but does not protect against noise as well as we would like.
There is only one way out - pick up suitable material, successfully absorbing sound waves and thereby preventing their active propagation. 
One of the most popular materials used for soundproofing the ceiling in an apartment under a suspended ceiling. 
Other disadvantages we note:
Consider the following soundproofing brands: Schumanet BM, Rockwool.
On sale you can find both fairly thin slabs of expanded polystyrene - only 20 millimeters, and 10 cm. In the latter case, you will be most protected from sounds coming from outside, but you will have to pay for this by lowering the ceiling level.
Manufacturers of this material are actively working to improve the noise absorption coefficient, but the fact remains that in a dispute with mineral wool in terms of the most important indicator (sound insulation), it outright loses to it.
Compared to cork sheets, wood boards are slightly cheaper, but at the same time they are inferior in terms of noise absorption coefficient. The thickness is also a little alarming - it reaches 20 centimeters.
Dowels are used to install wood-based panels, and the joints can be quickly and reliably filled with any sealant.
True, it costs more than rolled mineral wool and basalt slabs. For example, acoustic slabs that have a good reputation among repairmen TECSOUND will cost you approximately 1 thousand rubles behind square meter.
In some cases, for sound insulation, the combined use of similar aragonite membranes with fibrous mineral wool is observed. Let's put a fly in the ointment: as a rule, acoustic membranes, due to their considerable weight, require support with a frame and are not as easy to install as some other sound absorbers we discussed above. 
Before attaching soundproofing material ceiling surface should be prepared, ridding it of everything that could interfere with the correct fixation of the canvas or slab. To do this, completely remove the damaged coating, clean it with a very hard brush from the debris that inevitably appears as a result of these actions, and then prime the surface again, carefully treating the corners and joints of the ceiling with the walls. If the coating of your ceiling is perfect, then you can safely skip this moment.
The wall profile used for installing a stretch ceiling conducts noise well, so before installation it is advisable to stick soundproofing tape on it. After installation you can easily remove protective film and continue covering with sound absorber according to the standard procedure.
There are two types of installation of ceiling sound insulation in an apartment under a suspended ceiling - frame And adhesive. Mandatory frame support requires the use of heavy-weight acoustic membranes, as we discussed above. In all other cases of installing ceiling soundproofing in an apartment under a suspended ceiling, the final choice remains at your discretion.
If a chandelier will be used to illuminate the room, then do not forget about the need to remove the hook through the sound insulation for subsequent installation of the lamp.
Do not rush to immediately cover the ceiling with the material you just brought - your desire to soundproof the ceiling in an apartment under a suspended ceiling as quickly as possible is understandable, but you should still give the material some time for the so-called acclimatization.
When installing sound insulation in an apartment under a suspended ceiling, pay attention to the joints. Any soundproofing material requires close contact of adjacent slabs and reliable sealing of the joints. For the latter, any soundproofing sealants, which are found in a wide range in construction supermarkets, are suitable.
Despite the beauty and practicality of tension ceiling covering, it cannot boast of high soundproofing characteristics. In apartment buildings, the problem of noise from neighbors is especially pressing. In this case, before installing the tension fabric, the ceiling is soundproofed. There are many materials available for sale that are suitable for these purposes. They all differ in their characteristics and installation features. We will look at the features of each sound insulator and the nuances of its installation, which will help the consumer find the answer to the question of how to soundproof a ceiling under a tension covering.
Even when using acoustic tension panels, protecting an apartment from extraneous sounds will be ineffective. If such fabrics are used in conjunction with insulators made of other materials, the noise absorption of the coating will increase significantly.
Today you can find the following materials for soundproofing the ceiling on sale:
Before installing any insulator, the base surface must be prepared. In addition, it is necessary to install baguettes for the tension fabric, which will subsequently hide the sound insulator.
Preparation work base surface depend on its condition:
After preparing the base, install the load-bearing moldings. To do this, the installation level of the tension covering is drawn along the perimeter of the room on the walls. For this they use laser level and painting cord. The baguettes are cut to length and self-adhesive soundproofing tape is attached to their back side. After this, the profile is applied with tape to the wall and screwed with self-tapping screws.
Then the installation locations are marked on the base. lighting fixtures. For this purpose, special platforms made of plywood or OSB are installed. Bases for devices are mounted at the same level as stretch fabric, and are mounted on perforated hangers. Power supply cables are laid to the installation sites of lighting devices.
After preparing the base surface and installing the mounting moldings, sound insulation can be installed under the suspended ceiling. Since there are many acoustic materials suitable for these purposes, we will consider their features and installation nuances in detail.
Recently, turnkey ceiling soundproofing is often done using a new generation of roll insulation - MaxForte from SoundPro. With a thickness of 1.2 cm, this product protects well from impact noise and airborne sounds. The noise insulator does not contain glue and can be used in frame and frameless insulation systems.
The advantages of MaxForte from the SoundPro brand include the following:
Characteristics of MaxFrte from SoundPro:
A similar insulator is produced by the EcoAcoustic company. Plates made of synthetic padding polyester have maximum sound absorption. This is achieved thanks to aerodynamic styling polyester fibers. The dimensions of the slabs are 1.2 m x 0.6 m, and the thickness is 5 cm. One package includes four slabs, total area 2.88 squares. The density of the product is 1000 grams per square meter. The package weighs 3 kg.
Advantages of EcoAcoustic sound insulator:
Important! MaxForte is attached to the ceiling surface using dowel mushrooms.
It is better if the soundproofing of the ceiling in an apartment under a suspended ceiling is carried out not with ordinary mineral wool, but with modified products based on it - Shumostop K2 and C2 slabs, as well as Shumanet BM.
Schumanet slabs are made from basalt fibers. On one side the product is reinforced with fiberglass. This ensures high rigidity of the material.
Technical characteristics of the sound insulator:
Shumostop slabs are produced in two varieties C2 and K2. Their characteristics are as follows:
When using mineral wool slabs, the price of ceiling sound insulation will be the most affordable. Typically, C2 and K2 products are used simultaneously, because the fiberglass insulator absorbs noise better, and the K2 elements are not harmful to health. Therefore, C2 is attached to the ceiling first, and then K2. In this case, the sound wave damping reaches 46 decibels.
The frame installation method involves the construction of sheathing on the ceiling surface. To do this, marking is first performed. Then the guides are attached (their pitch depends on the width of the slabs). The frame is made of metal profiles or wooden blocks.
When using steel profiles, they are additionally sound insulated. For this purpose they use self-adhesive tape. Depending on the thickness of the sound insulator being laid, the frame is attached directly to the ceiling or suspended from it using perforated hangers. After assembling the frame, acoustic slabs are laid. They should fit snugly against the guides and fill their entire thickness. The material is laid without gaps, without any gaps.
The frameless installation method involves gluing the slabs to the surface with gypsum or cement-based glue, as well as adhesive sprays. Choice glue mixture depends on the material of the surface to be glued. For concrete ceilings, mixtures based on gypsum and cement are suitable. Additionally, dowel-fungi are used (5-6 pieces per slab). For painted surfaces it is better to use spray adhesives (additional fixation with dowels is not required).
Important! If perforated tension fabrics are used, then to protect against mineral wool getting into the air, the insulator is closed vapor barrier film. To fix the film, use dowel mushrooms, double-sided tape or fastening with staples to the sheathing.
Soundproofing the ceiling in an apartment under a suspended ceiling is performed using regular and extruded polystyrene foam.
Characteristics for regular (extruded) polystyrene foam are given below:
If unpressed self-extinguishing polystyrene foam is used, then it is better to choose PSB-S class 35 or 25 products. The material is attached to the surface with liquid nails, cement-based adhesives or polyurethane foam. For additional fixation, dowel-fungi are used. The same can be said about fixing extruded polystyrene foam.
The general advantages of all polystyrene foam include their low thermal conductivity, high degree of sound absorption, resistance to mold damage, and low weight. The disadvantage of the material is flammability and the release of toxic substances during a fire.
Texaund is characterized by high sound absorption and low thickness. This dense material absorbs and scatters sound waves well because it has a high density.
Texaund is produced in the form of rolls and plates and has the following characteristics:
The insulator is available in different sizes and has the following advantages:
Important! On sale there is Texaund with a self-adhesive base, on a felt pad, with a foil layer, and a regular one.
There are three ways to install this sound insulator:
This is the most affordable insulator, which has an impressive service life and is used both independently and in combination with other acoustic products. Because of its lightness, foam rubber is glued to the base with silicone or double-sided tape. The thickness of the foam rubber plates is 25-100 mm. The relief pattern of the surface may also differ. There are special reliefs that are designed to dampen low-frequency noise.
(thickness 4-5 cm)
Basic option for ceiling soundproofing - frameless systems in which a layer of sound insulation is laid either under suspended ceilings or under Armstrong-type panel ceilings. Efficiency is achieved due to increased sound absorption in the room: noise transmitted from neighbors decays faster, since the sound insulation layer on the ceiling prevents the sound wave from undergoing multiple reflections (as a result of which it would be amplified), on the contrary, leading to rapid attenuation of the latter. MaxForte-EcoAcoustic, EKOplit (3 and 5 cm thick) or roll material MaxForte-SoundPRO. The ceiling is covered with sound insulation over the entire area, and the materials are fastened to the ceiling using plastic dowels or MaxForte-SoundFLEX foam. Simple and quick installation will allow sound insulation to be carried out by a regular team working on site. Ideal for new buildings and offices (including call centers).
(thickness 4-5 cm)
Maximum thin version soundproofing the ceiling using plasterboard and profiles. Ideal for apartments with low ceilings when every centimeter counts. The scheme is based on KNAUF profile 60/27 mm, allowing you to immediately obtain flat surface ceiling. For sound insulation, MaxForte-SoundPRO rolls are used ( composite material new generation, only 12 mm thick), which are fixed to the ceiling using conventional dowel mushrooms. Where the frame is attached to the concrete, SoundPRO is compressed and acts as a vibration damper. For the rest of the ceiling area, the material works to absorb sound waves due to its fibrous structure. The increased flexibility of SoundPRO allows you to soundproof ceilings even with complex terrain (with pipes, wiring or height differences). Reducing noise from above by 3-4 times (12-14 dB).
(thickness 4-5 cm)
The second option is thin ceiling sound insulation. In this option, impact noise is isolated by VibroStop Standart vibration suspensions, and the sound is absorbed by MaxForte-ECOslab 80 kg/m³ (thin slabs 3 cm). The scheme is based on the KNAUF 60/27 mm profile, which makes it possible to obtain a flat ceiling surface. After installation, the ceiling is ready for finishing, no additional alignment is required. The circuit is designed to completely isolate household noise in apartment building(voices, TV, steps and stomping). Noise reduction up to 14 dB.
(thickness 7-8 cm)
The most proven soundproofing option used in apartments. For vibration isolation, special MaxForte vibration suspensions of the PRO series are used. Sound absorption is carried out by sound-absorbing slabs MaxForte-EKOplit or EcoAcoustic. Soundproofing of the ceiling is carried out according to standard schemes KNAUF, so any repair workers can handle the installation. Both airborne and impact noise are removed equally effectively (noise reduction up to 20 dB)!
How to make soundproofing correctly?
Types of noise
To understand which design will be effective, you first need to understand the types of household noise. If we classify them according to the nature of their distribution, they are divided into two types.
Basic principles of sound insulation under a suspended ceiling in an apartment
In acoustics there is the concept of the law of mass doubling. It follows from it that when the thickness of a homogeneous wall is doubled, the sound insulation coefficient will change by only 6 dB. You can deceive him by installing a structure consisting of dissimilar materials. For it to be effective, strict compliance with the following requirements is necessary:
What materials are used?
For the device to be effective frame structure We will need the following components. Here is a comprehensive list of options from various brands that actually work; other materials may not be as effective or even useless.
| FOR SOUND ABSORPTION | |
|---|---|
| Basalt wool slabs
Soundproofing properties of this material directly depend on its density, the higher it is, the better they are. |
The optimal characteristics and cost are:
|
| Soft fiber board
A denser material is used to filter low-frequency noise, such as bass in loud music. |
|
| Acoustic sealant
Required to seal all seams so that there are no channels left for sound. |
|
| TO REFLECT SOUND | |
| Acoustic gypsum board
Used as external cladding for finishing. Sheets of increased thickness are taken. |
KNAUF sheet (GSP-A) - GOST 32614-2012 (EN 520:2009) Gypsum building board, intended also for the installation of soundproofing interior partitions and sound insulation. |
| Acoustic GVL
Used as the first sound-reflecting layer. It has a higher massiveness than gypsum plasterboard. |
KNAUF-superlist (GVL) – GOST R 51829-2001 Panels made from a composite mixture of gypsum and cellulose fibers. |
| Acoustic triplex
Heavy material, has a high sound reflecting coefficient due to its significant massiveness. |
It consists of two layers of glued moisture-resistant gypsum GVLV sheet according to GOST R 51829-2001 |
| DAMPING ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM | |
| Damper tape
Designed for vibration isolation of various layers of the structure between themselves and from the floor surface. |
|
| Vibration-isolated suspension
Suspensions with a rubber washer to reduce the transmission of vibrations to the structure. |
Models that can be replaced with conventional hangers attached through a damper tape and save money. Plus 2 dB to Rw:
|
| Vibration-damping suspension
The peculiarity of these suspensions is that there is no rigid connection between the holder and the mount. Fixation is made through a rubber gasket. |
Models with excellent vibration isolation can significantly increase the vibration isolation of the structure.
|
| FRAME ELEMENTS | |
| Guide profiles
A fixing element of a frame structure, which is located around the perimeter. Ceiling profiles
|
Because This load-bearing element, it is important to use reliable solutions from trusted manufacturers. Knauf profiles are one of the best on the market. |
| FRAMELESS SOUND INSULATION | |
The only working option for today is ZIPS panels. It has the following nuances:
|
There are several models of ZIPS panels. Efficiency depends on the type of materials used and the thickness of their layer:
|
Frame sound insulation installation technology
For getting decent result besides correct selection materials, technology must be followed. What are the stages and nuances when installing a sandwich-type frame solution?
Surface preparation
Before you start installing the frame, you need to check the quality of the floor surface:
If defects are detected, it is necessary to eliminate them by carefully sealing the voids.
For this purpose it is used polyurethane foam. At large cracks Additional puttying may be required. Installation of fasteners
The next step is the installation of a frame on which sound-absorbing materials will lie and sound-reflective cladding will be attached. The most important point, which is often omitted when self-installation, or when ordinary repair workers are involved, this is vibration isolation. This special technology fastening, which allows to minimize the transmission of vibrations from the ceiling to the soundproofing structure and canvas. There are several ways to solve this problem:
Frame assembly
The next step is to assemble the frame itself from steel profiles.
Preparing profiles
Soundproofing is a set of measures, and the nuances matter. Simply collecting something and attaching it is not enough. These are the moments that are very often not paid attention to, but in vain.
Failure to comply with these requirements can reduce the effectiveness of sound insulation by half!
Installation of sound-absorbing layer
After the frame is assembled, we begin laying sound-absorbing materials. It's about It is about installation; rigid fastening to the wall will be a critical mistake. It is also important to ensure that there are no cracks or gaps between the layers of mats.
If the sound absorber is laid carelessly, sound will easily find its way through joints and cracks.
To minimize the transmission of vibration to the sound insulation structure under a suspended ceiling, it is not recommended to glue or place sound absorbers on mushroom-type dowels. The optimal sound absorber in terms of characteristics and installation quality is stone wool, pressed into slabs:
Sheathing with sound-reflecting materials
After laying the noise-absorbing materials, they begin covering with a sound-reflecting layer. How to properly use one of the following materials or a combination of them.
GKL and GVL sheets are screwed to the frame profiles in increments of 15 cm. When installing the panels, it is necessary to overlap them through special edges. It is necessary to ensure a tight connection without gaps.
Sealing seams and joints
The final stage is sealing the casing. All seams between the panels, as well as at the junction with the wall, are treated with a special acoustic sealant. The seams between the panels can also be simply puttied.
This leaves no channels for airborne noise to leak. At this point, the installation of sound insulation can be considered complete.
Installation of stretch ceiling
As a rule, if you order the installation of a stretch ceiling separately from sound insulation, during its installation the height of the room will decrease by another 4-5 cm. Our installers, using a special guide, stretch the canvas so that 10 times less height is required.
Only 4 mm added!
An additional advantage of this method is that the mounting is not on the wall, which is a transmitter of indirect noise, but on a vibration-insulated frame. This results in a completely soundproofed and vibration-free suspended ceiling.
Installation technology for frameless sound insulation
Today there are many materials on the market that are positioned as frameless options, but out of all the variety, perhaps only ZIPS panels can give some effect. However, due to the installation and design features, due to the low vibration isolation, even its final sound insulation value will be lower than that of a frame solution.
Surface preparation
An important requirement for this solution to work effectively is surface leveling. On a surface that is not leveled and not previously plastered, it will not be possible to mount the panels hermetically so that there are no gaps left between them. As a result, taking into account the cost of plastering and additional work, this solution is more labor-intensive and more expensive.
Also, to prevent mold from growing under the ZIPS panels, the surface must be completely dry after plastering.
Thus, the soundproofing process can take several weeks. Due to the need to perform wet work, ZIPS panels are usually installed simultaneously with renovations in the apartment.
Fastening ZIPS panels and vibration isolation
A common mistake Not professional installers is failure to comply with technical requirements for vibration isolation. If these conditions are not met, the effectiveness of sound insulation will greatly decrease:
Even if these rules are observed, one must be aware that the vibration isolation of ZIPS panels is still lower than that of the frame implementation.
Due to this factor, losses in Rw coefficient can be up to 5 dB.
GKL sheathing
Despite the presence in the panel of a layer that is responsible for the reflection of sound, the manufacturer in its technological recommendations indicates the need for additional sheathing with 12.5 mm thick sheets of plasterboard. This will further enhance the sound-reflecting properties of the structure. At this stage, the following requirements must be met:
Installation of tension fabric over sound insulation
After covering the gypsum board, we get a closed structure. As is the case with frame option, it is better to install the tension fabric at the same time to reduce height losses. The best option for this there will be not a film version, but a fabric version. By choosing an “acoustic” stretch ceiling with a specially perforated surface, you can improve the acoustic performance of the room by reducing the spread of echoes from internal sounds.
