The Four Square Gospel Church in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania has great plans. At the end of March they plan to open a youth center – right inside a local mall.
The benefits are numerous. Kids usually wander the mall because they’re looking for a place to hang out but they rarely have anything to do. The youth center will give them an opportunity to participate in activities while keeping them within an environment they enjoy.
The center is currently undergoing renovations – including the installation of soundproofing materials to ensure the music and events don’t bother other mall tenants. As soon as the work is complete the center will open!
We read one of the most amazing stories ever the other day. An animal shelter in Pawtucket, Rhode Issland takes in hundreds of animals each year. The struggling economy has made it difficult for the Providence Municipal Animal Control Facility to keep up with demand, with low adoption and high drop-off rates.
Sadly, a local resident, Robert Genereux, passed away. The good news is that he left more than $220,000 to the animal control facility in his will. The shelter plans to use a portion of the money for soundproofing and will use the rest to complete construction projects and to provide better care for the animals that call the shelter home!
Over in the UK, a Ramsey community will soon lose an old icon. The Grand Cinema will be demolished to make room for a housing development that construction officials hope to see open by the end of 2011.
Why are they getting ready for the cinema? The old building, built in the 1930’s simply can’t compete with new, larger theaters and the new owners absolutely could not afford the soundproofing bill.
The new development will include 2 large houses, 22 flats, and several other public buildings. Hopefully they prove an asset to the community!
The Brown County Mental Health Center has been a part of Brown County, Wisconsin for almost 100 years but if officials have their ways the historic building may soon be demolished.
The problem? The building is full of asbestos, as are most buildings built during the end of the 19th century and early part of the 20th century. The asbestos was used in soundproofing, insulation, and in dozens of other aspects of the construction process.
The concern is that this particular building has so much asbestos that the only way to get rid of it would be not to do renovations but to demolish the entire building altogether.
The good news is that Brown County already has a new treatment center, so residents will have a place to go. The trick now is to find the money to demolish the building – and a developer willing to buy the empty land!
A popular music venue on Albany Road needs help. Unless The Globe can raise 25,000 pounds, for use in soundproofing the roof, the club may be forced to close.
Fortunately, The Globe has tons of loyal fans. Music lovers who depend on the existence of the club have rallied together and plan to attend and promote several fundraising events.
The club owner has already spend $10,000 soundproofing the walls. Complaints from neighbors won’t stop this Welsh establishment from entertaining the public for long!
The 2010 International Builder’s show is scheduled to be held in Las Vegas from January 19th through January 22nd. If you’re in the area, make sure you get there and check out soem of the incredible exhibits featured at one of the biggest and best trade shows in the industry.
If you do go, make sure you head on over to booth C2026 to visit our friends at the Green Glue company. They will be there showing off their incredible soundproofing materials, taking the construction world by storm once again!
The Houghton Portage High School deserves special honors. The beginning of the New Year marked the end of a $10 million improvement project, featuring a new wing that recently opened to students.
The improvements included a new gym, a new music room, and tons of new technology. And, of course, that music room is complete with state of the art sound proofing panels.
The timing of the project was amazing and the school now stands to save more than $3 million in utility costs over the next 10 years. Amazing!
The RAIC (or Rhode Island Airport Corporation) has big plans to help along changes at the Green Airport. The organization plans to acquire more than 53 homes before the end of the first quarter in order to clear the way for changes to the airports and its runways.
They have actually earmarked a total of 188 homes, the remainder of which they hope to purchase before 2020. They’ll then clear the homes out in order to expand the runway and soundproof the remaining homes in the area.
The RAIC recognizes that many other area airports have already completed soundproofing projects and, as such, they know the FAA has the money to spend. As a matter of fact, the entire project is forecasted to cost around $67 million and they expect to get $55 of that from the FAA.
According to a report in The Sun, soundproofing doesn’t always help if you have neighbors in an attached dwelling drinking, cursing, fighting, and causing trouble until 5am – every single night.
Ask Paul and Carol Mitchell. They lived a peaceful life in the UK until a family (a mother and two boys, ages 46, 12, and 16 respectively) moved into the semi-detached home attached to theirs.
The family terrorized them – getting drunk every night, hosting wild parties, and even threatening their lives.
Then they got smart. The Mitchell’s installed some soundproofing but it did little good. Then they installed CCTV cameras outside the home and began recording the incidents. They had more than 200 on tape when the landlord finally evicted the noisy family.
Persistence pays but can you imagine having to live like that for so long?
Way back in 2006, Austin Studios received an endowment from the city. Voters had approved a bond package worth more than $31 mllion and the studios were given $5 million for improvements. They also received $1 million from the energy and water utility companies.
In 2009, Austin Studios was finally able to begin it’s upgrade project, including the installation of extensive soundproofing materials and a gigantic screen that takes up three walls, amongst other things. Hopefully the renovations will be complete in 2010 so we can check the upgraded studio out!
A group of apartment owners in Tuscon has decided to start 2010 off with a bang. They plan on opening the Tuscon Rental Homes complex, with 96 luxury apartments, in early 2010 – breaking their dry spell having opened no new apartment complex units in 2009.
The apartments will have tons of the most modern bells and whistles. There will be sun tunnels, high-tech energy saving appliances, and the most modern soundproofing materials available to afford unit owners the highest level of privacy.
We can’t wait to see what these gorgeous units end up looking like (and costing)!
In Olympia, you’ll find a small establishment on Fourth Avenue. It has a small sign that simply reads “northern” in small print. It’s a mysterious little place – a mystery you can’t solve unless you walk through the front doors.
Inside you’ll find a nifty little music and arts club, open only on Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Inside you can sip tea, view artwork, and mingle with friends. All in a sound proof environment that ensures patrons to the weekend jaunt won’t disturb neighbors.
Are you still confused about the differences between sound isolation and sound absorption? If so, you might want to check out this soundproofing video for a quick explanation. It explains a little bit about soundwaves and why there are so many different types of soundproofing. Give it a look!
Caroline Cartwright is in a interesting prediciment. Her neighbors complained that she had sex too loudly and how she’s facing charges for breaking an order that deemed her behavior to be antisocial.
She hasn’t been allowed to make love to her husband in more than 8 months and after breaking her first noise abatement order was forced to leave her home and spend just as long in a hostel awaiting her day in court.
The couple has a lot of problems, especially considering they’ve ignored several mandates banning them from making excessive noise. Now, Caroline faces jail time. Why didn’t she just invest in some soundproofing materials?
Long ago I had the pleasure of walking in to a hotel room to find I had a bathroom with a heated floor. I was astonished and immediately wished I could have a similar device in my own home but the costs, at the time, were astronimical.
Today, however, the costs of ThermoSoft floors have come down quite a bit and even “aveage” homeowners are finding them affordable and convenient. But you know there’s a special reason we like them and here it is – the technology used to create the thermal heat is also a great sound proofing material. So there you have it. If you install a heated floor in your bathroom you’ll be able to use less soundproofing material in there as well!
A series of homes near the Los Angeles International Airport will receive good news this holiday season. Almost 50 housing units (homes, duplexes, and apartment buildings) in the 8th district will receive more than $1.5 million in soundproofing work.
They’re not the only ones. The entire project will eventually offer sound insulation to more than 9,400 residences throughout the Southern Los Angeles area. They’ll receive insulation in their HVAC systems, double-paned windows, and much more.
More than 6,000 homes have already received soundproofing and more than 2,700 still remain. In the end, though, all residents are grateful for the reduction in noise!
Landlords in New York City took advantage of new zoning laws to purchase residential buildings in zones that were at one point strictly industrial. The problem, however, is that there is still a lot of activity in the area and residents are complaining about the noise from construction and trains.
While the city mandated that the landlords must install soundproof windows with thick glass, they didn’t require any additional soundproofing. Landlords have taken matters into their own hands, however, and many plan to add soundproofing materials throughout their buildings.
They want to rent their space instead of seeing it empty and one way to get the job done is to make sure the living space is, well – livable. Kudos!
Check out this amazing video, another great from ExpertVillage. Soundproofing is about more than the materials you put on your walls when you’re working in an acoustical studio. It’s about overall noise reduction and sound management. If you’re working in a sound studio you need to have the right microphone and headphone equipment as well. Check out Gregg Tauriello’s advice!
The Ford Motor Corporation has recently announced big plans for the 2011 Mustang. The new, sleak design will feature a lightweight engine as well as a 6-speed transmission. The car is expected to average 30 miles per gallon – a stellar improvement when compared to similar vehicle models.
What else will make the 2011 Mustang special? Let’s try a new front end design, lower maintenance costs, and – our favorite- enhanced soundproofing for the interior!
Ford hopes this new, enhanced model will get more people interested in driving one of the most popular sports models of all time. Only time will tell!
Seth Bernard and The Invincible Turkeys had the opportunity to perform at a coffee house in Traverse City, Michigan the week before Thanksgiving. The band was honored to make one of the first performances in the coffee house which had just recently been updated with soundproof tiles and materials so that it could be used as a music venue as well.
This was the first of a series of monthly concert events and patrons were thrilled to see Seth Bernard and the group. The next event iwll be a holiday benefit, featuring Seth and a number of other performers!
Tragedy struck at a shooting range in Busan, Korea. Ten people died, not from bullets but from a fire started somewhere on the range.
The shooting range the tourists from Japan were visiting was on the second floor of a building with a total of five. A fire broke out on the first floor, trapping people above. They tried to jump out of the windows but there were bars over the windows to prevent theft. Soundproofing materials made it difficult for the smoke to leave the building.
The building had passed its safety inspections back in 2006 but hadn’t been checked since than. Residents and nearby business owners hope that regulations are reviewed and revised in time to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
In a small Brooklyn neighborhood there’s a guy with a problem. He purchased a small home and the house next door was vacant. No big deal, right?
It wasn’t until a few guys eyeballed the empty space and started using it as a recordign studio. They’ve even gone as far as to have clients visit them in the home.
So what’s a guy to do? The police ignore his calls and his last complaint was met with the suggestion that he report them for running an illegal business out of a residential area.
The residents of a small Glendale community are tired of noise. When United Airport opened in 1930 it was a very small establishment. After passing hands several times, the property finally became the property to the airport authority in 1978.
After several years of relative quiet, the airport is now more operational than ever before and neighbors are really upset. They claim the FAA is worried about losing money but they’re worried about losing sleep at night. Should residents really be forced to soundproof their homes and stay inside all day or should the FAA cough up the money for soundproofing? You decide.
A British court recently ruled that a woman is no longer allowed to scream during – uh – intimate relations with her husband.
Yup, you read that right. Caroline Cartwright’s neighbors complaind to authorities that she and her husband were being just a bit tool oud. Caroline, honestly, likes to scream during their intimate encounters but authorities likened her passionate sounds to those of a woman being murdered.
Go figure.
The Cartwrights say that they are being denied their right to privacy. The authorities say they are violating sound ordinances.
Go figure.
Hopefully they’ll stop making this a public argument, give in, and soundproof their bedroom!
This week we’re going to continue our exploration of some of the most interesting and silly soundproofing mistakes you can possibly make. Today’s subject is the egg crate.
We’re not 100% sure how this rumor got started but somewhere along the lines someone decided that layering the walls of homes with cardboard of foam eggcrates was an effective soundproofing solution. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The idea here is that the egg crates are shaped in a manner that makes them strong. This is true – it’s exactly why dozens of eggs crates (filled with eggs) can be stacked on top of one another without crushing eggs. Part of the reason why these crates are so strong, though, is the fact that they are porous materials.
Porous – as in, full of holes. The strange design might deflect sound if the material were not porous but in reality all an egg crate will do is take up space. Holes let sound pass through. Period. End of story.
There are dozens of other soundproofing materials and, in the end, they are just as cost effective as these alternative methods – and work much better!
Looking to soundproof your room on a budget similar to that of a college student? Have no fear. While you may not be able to complete a traditional project with extra drywall or Green Glue, there are a few things you can to do ensure your soundproofing project is a real success.
First, we’re going to assume you are not attempting to soundproof a college dorm room. If so, you may have trouble getting any sort of construction past your RA or the school itself. If you’re looking to soundproof your home bedroom but don’t have a lot of money to spend, consider the following:
Hang heavy drapes on your walls. You can purchase or make decorative drapes and even back them with a heavy material like mass loaded vinyl. If the drapes run from ceiling to floor they’ll help block sound from other rooms.
Pick up your radio equipment. Put your speakers up on stands and move your radio so that it isn’t right against the wall. This will cut down on noise caused by vibrations, cutting down on noise in your room and preventing you from disturbing your neighbors.
Buy a sound machine. White noise machines that play soft music or ocean sounds can do a lot to cut out unwanted noise. They aren’t distracting and can help to calm your environment while allowing you to spend your money on things other than soundproofing.
It may come as a bit of a surprise but, believe it or not, not everyone wants to spend their time or money completing traditional soundproofing projects. Instead, many people will lean towards alternative solutions, one of which is constructing a wall garden.
Wall gardens are perfectly acceptable as an alternative to traditional soundproofing, especially if you’re looking to live a greener lifestyle. Creating a wall garden around your home will not only block sound but will contribute to the creation of a gorgeously landscaped environment for you and your family to enjoy regularly.
Wall gardens are great for economic reasons as well. Having a wall of plants around your home will provide shade during the summer months (cooling your house) and density around the home during the winter months (keeping things warmer). Having a wall garden will help you to save money on your heating and air conditioning bills.
While not the most sought after alternative to soundproofing, wall gardens can be very beneficial – beautiful and functional at the same time!
Today we’re going to take a look at another very common mistake people make when they first approach their sound proofing problems. While it may seem easier to simply hire an acoustical consultant to help you figure out the source of your problems, doing so is not only completely unnecessary but can be very costly as well.
An acoustical consultant isn’t going to tell you anything you can’t figure out on your own. He’ll look at your house, figure out where the sound is coming from, and then send you a HUGE bill for his time. You can easily act as your own detective and figure out where this sound is coming from. Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking otherwise – especially with such a high price tag involved.
Have a soundproofing problem you simply can’t seem to shake? While you may think complaining to your local municipality is the answer, think again. In many cases, filing a complaint will either make you frustrated or (in some instances) actually make your problems worse.
You have a valid complaint, right? The local municipality likely has a bunch of written rules and regulations designed to make the proces of filing your complaint a long and drawn out experience. Some cities make complaintants keep records of their problems for a full year before they’ll take any action. Others refuse to acknowledge sound problems at all.
On the other hand, complaining can backfire. Your neighbor, for example, may find out you filed a complaint and simply step up his sound production – not exactly the results you were looking for.
Instead, focus on the things you can change. Find ways to effectively sound proof your home, protecing yourself from unwanted noise pollution. In some cases, taking a proactive stance is the best way to solve your problems.
Here’s a great video you should watch if you have plans to start a soundproofing project with drywall. We recommend, of course, using Green Glue, but this video offers a brief explanation of how to install the drywall itself.
Before you start your soundproofing project you’re going to have to do a bit of research. During that process, don’t become overwhelmed by the myriad of different tools and techniques you have available to you. Over time, we’re going to discuss which elements are more effective than others.
In the meantime, you should know that there are four main categories of soundproofing material. They include:
Sound absorbing
Mass bearing
Damping compounds
Decoupling materials
Each works differently and would be used in different situations. Some can be combined and others should be used alone. If chosen carefully, you’ll get the absolute best soundproofing results possible!
There are several different types of noise but the one that is often most misunderstood is flanking noise. Flanking noise is a type of sound that is able to enter a room through any means other than the walls or ceiling. Flanking noise sources aren’t always easy to identify but theycan have a huge impact on the level of sound in any given room.
So you’re trying to figure out where that annoying noise is coming from? Think about the following aspects of construction:
How well-built is your floor framing system? Is the nose coming from the place where the walls and floor frames meet?
Are the joists from upper-level rooms causing sound to resonate down through the house (sometimes through more than one floor)?
Are you in an apartment or condo with shared stud walls?
These are just a few examples of how flanking noise can enter your home. They’re not the most common sources of noise but they’re definitely significant. Keep them in mind as you begin your soundproofing research.
If you live in an apartment building you’re probably already intimately familiar with noise. What could possibly be worse than waking up at night to hear squeaky floors all around you? Even worse is realizing that the sound is coming from your own apartment floor.
Did your significant other or a young one get up for a glass of water or a midnight snack? Perhaps they’re just going to bed later than usual. Sadly, to anyone who’s already trying to get a good night’s rest, hearing the sounds caused by a squaky floor can be quite the disruption. So what are you going to do about it?
You might want to consider soundproofing the room in question. It isn’t difficult to soundproof a room, especially if you use great products like the Squeak Eliminator Kit or Green Glue to get rid of the squeaks associated with hardwood floors. These are inexpensive tools and, if used correctly, will allow you to get a great night’s sleep in no time flat!
Those living in the Long Beach area, not far from Los Angeles, are waiting patiently for the Long Beach Airport to get around to soundproofing their homes.
Over the past few years, more frequent flights, including those by insanely loud military aircraft, have shattered the sound levels in what was once a peaceful neighborhood.
Homes in the Clark Avenue and Willow Street areas are slated to receive improvements. Neighbors near them are outraged as they watch their new paint jobs crack off the walls and cover the ears of their newborn children multiple times daily.
The Los Angeles Times incorrectly reported that the cost of the project was $28 million instead of the actual $2.8 million figure. Perhaps Long Beach Airport should consider actually finding $28 million and take care of soundproofing everyone affected by the noise.
Before we dive into explanations of the myriad of soundproofing techniques available to you, we thought we’d share a video we found. The folks at CityLine did a segment explaining the different types of soundproofing materials. Take a quick look and you’ll see how many different options are available to you. We’ll go over which are best as we move forward!
The Meow of a cat actually can be a high frequency sound which is not readily blocked by the industry standard sound control materials used on construction sites. Most sound transmission class ratings only rate a material on the frequency range of 125-4000 hz. A proper damping compound like cheap green glue is manufactured to work on a broader frequency spectrum thus eliminating higher than 4000 hz sound. Additionally it is also very adopt and controlling sound that reaches below the 125 hz range.
Floors are a great source of noise, especially if you’re talking about upstairs floors that are transmitting impact sound (sounds from footsteps, furniture, etc) through the ceiling to the rooms below.
If you’re on a budget, you may not be able to rip up your existing floor to install soundproofing materials. If that’s the case, look for sales on high-quality rugs and carpeting material. Doing so will muffle the intensity of the impact noise and even if it doesn’t eliminate your noise altogether it will definitely provide you with a significantly improved environment!
Believe it or not, cats are just as susceptible to contracting upper respiratory infections during the fall and winter months as people are. Your cat will exhibit symptoms similar to that of the common cold, including runny noses, sneezing, and a lethargic attitude.
Feline respiratory disesases can’t be transferred from cat to human but can be transferred from cat to cat or from cat to human to cat via clothing or other objects. If you have multiple cats you’ll want to make sure they are separated if one is sick.
Watch your cat’s eating a drinking habits if he isn’t feeling well. Feed him strong smelling foods that might get past his debilitated sense of smell or softer foods that might not bother the cold sores he may have in his mouth. If he doesn’t eat, take him for an exam with your vet. He will check your cat to make sure he really has a virus and not some sort of bacterial infection and, if needed, will put him on IV fluids.
Don’t worry, though – if your kitty isn’t too sick he’ll come home with you. Even vets recognize that it’s easier to get well at home than it is in a hospital. Give your kitty a quiet, soundproof place to recover and he’ll be back to normal before you know it!
Cats and kittens love to play, especially younger cats. Most cats lean towards one of two types of play – social play or solitary play.
Solitary play is when a cat is content to play by himself. He likes to chase objects, lay with toys, or roll around with a skein of yarn. They even enjoy playing with rolled up paper, hiding in boxes, and playing inside large paper bags.
Social play is when cats like to play with other cats, animals, or people. The problem is when cats choose to play with people because while he is only playing, your cat does not realize how painful his bites or scratches are to you. I myself have been the victim of cat play and it was not a pleasant experience.
When you play with your cat, which you should do at least twice a day for at least 10 minutes, make sure you direct his play away from your extremeties. Play with string or a toy that you can dangle away from you. Your cat will appreciate the interaction you are giving him and you’ll appreciate walking away without any new cuts or scrapes!
Believe it or not, when you cat meows or yowls he is tryign to communicate – with you. The average cat meows to greet his family, ask for food, or to tell his you when something isn’t right in his world.
Most cats do not meow at each other. Kittens will meow at their mothers to tell them if they’re hungry or uncomfortable. Once they become adults they generally stop meowing at each other.
Cats will, on the other hand, yowl at each other. The sound of a yowl is different than a meow because it is a more drawn out sound with a bit of a melody to it. Yowling usually hapens during breeding season.
While most cats are quiet, some breeds do meow much more than others. If the sound of a cat meowing gets on your nerves, avoid breeds like the Siamese or those that are related. Otherwise, if your cat won’t stop meowing you may want to have him checked out by your local vet to ensure nothing is seriously wrong.
We’ve found that most adult cats don’t have a tendency to chew electrical cords but younger cats, especially kittens, seem to be drawn to them like magnets. So what can you do to get your fuzzy little friend to stop chewing?
Try coating the cords your cat likes best with nail-biting solution, cayenne pepper, or even orange peel. The bitter tastes will deter your cat from chewing what he knows will leave a disgusting sensation in his mouth.
Another solution is to wrap your cords in cardboard tubing. You can use mailing tubes or old wrapping paper tubes. The tubes can easily be covered in contac paper or painted to make them aesthetically pleasing, too!
Cats, in general, do not like to be told what to do. If you want your cat to come to you when youcall then you’ll have to act sneakily, letting your cat believe it was his idea to get up and visit you in the first place.
Most cats recognize patterns of behavior. If a cat knows you will pet him, brush him, or let him sit in your lap he is more likely to come when you call than if you yell or raise your voice. Cats also respond better to high pitch voices, so try not to use low, barking tones when asking your cat to come. The calmer you are, the more likely he is to stretch out and stroll on over.
Admit it – you love it when your cat is affectionate enough to rub on you but think it’s a bit strange when he tries to pound into your legs or stomach with his head. We thought it was a bit strange at first, too – that is until we realized that this is completely normal behavior for a cat.
Cats have a number of glands in their faces and each of these glands secretes hormones known as phermones. While they have glands throughout their bodies, the phermones secreted by the glands in thier faces are used to mark territory. When your cat head-butts you he is rubbing phermones on you, letting you know that he is comfortable with you and accepts you as a companion.
Cats may seem fickle at times but they don’t have too many ways of showing their love and affection. Since most are so aloof, you should feel honored your cat has chosen to rub on your or even interrupt you with a head-butt or two!
Believe it or not, one of the strangest behaviors for humans to get used to is the sleep patterns of a cat. Your cat is not, contrary to popular belief, nocturnal. Most cats are what is called “crepusucular,” which means they are most active at both dawn and dusk but not necessarily in the middle of the night.
The average cat sleeps anywhere between 16 and 20 hours per day – nearly twice as long as the average human. Cats sleep during the warmest part of the day and get up at dawn and dusk because their natural instincts tell them it is time to hunt. While most people believe cats can see in the dark, this actually a misnomer as well. They do have great night vision but can not see in 100% total darkness – another reason they like to go back to sleep!
Watch your cat for changes in his sleep pattern and have him checked if there is a dramatic change. Otherwise, don’t worry about your sleepy critter. His behavior is completely normal!