Hello,

I just moved into a home in Wheaton, IL. The house is great except for one thing: you can easily hear through the walls. For example, the master bathroom was placed along the main hallway, and you can hear... everything... not what you want when entertaining guests!

I've read about folks reducing noise by making a small hole in the wall and blowing foam in between the 2x4's. As the foam is added, it expands and significantly reduces the flow of noise.

Any comments on how to do this? Would the above work? I image any insulation would help, and a 1/4" hole + spray-in foam seems the simplest way to go.

Thank you for your guidance.

Regards,

Chris

Hey Art, I'm just down the street from you. Tell us about the house ineterior, is thei sdrywall or plaster and approximate age of the home.
Bob

Bob,

The home was originally built in the 1950's, but this portion of the house is completely new construction (expansion) built in 2007. All the drywall in the home (1950's and 2007) was replaced and new insulation put in the exterior walls. But the interior walls are hollow, which is fairly typical from what I've read.

What are your thoughts, neighbor?

Chris

Hey Chris, sounds like possible you are in the Wakeman area near Washington School, maybe not. When they did the remodeling they really missed an opportunity to add unfaced interior insulation. You can add foam, cheap at Home Depot or Menards on North Ave. Do not buy the standard foam because it expands a great deal and will actully puff up your drywall between studs. Maybe even pop a few seams. Great Stuff makes a foam made for window and door installation that does not expand as much. There is an outfit downtown called Wall Fill. They could give you an estimate and then you decide if you want to do it or them.

That's a lot of great stuff lol. If you were to try it id use the laytex version. It expands but not with the same pressure as the oil based version does, because it will push your walls out.
As for the application it would be a lot of 1/4 holes and I mean a lot hundreds to really make sure it gets to all the voids. This will require sheetrock and repainting. And a lot of great stuff. Using regular insulation will be cheaper
What id do is cut a channel out in the sheetrock maybe a 2ft tall by the length of the wall, and take the insulation and slide it up the wall and then tuck the rest down to the floor.

Obviously there is sheetrock mud involved sanding and repaint, but if ballengerb1 is so close id just hire him to do all of it. I rarely run into home repair specialist that knows as much or more than me. So if he's that close id have him do it. He seems to be well qualified

Thanks but does that mean you are doing house calls from NC?

I think that you are able to do it to a room noise reduction , but first you need to know if your house is able to hold some heavy materials . If it is able to hold , you need to build another layer of a wall or add another layer of bricks.

I think we can safely get some additional insulation into Arts walls.

What?? A 2x4 wall doesn't add much weight I wouldn't worry about that, nor would I add another wall either

I live just a little east of Wheaton and will come over with some friends, bearing drinks and snacks, to test out the acoustics once you're finished.

Maybe we'll get an invite out of Art if he solves his issue. Good to see you here.
Bob