ᐅ Sound insulation for gallery void/open space on the upper floor
Created on: 16 Feb 2016 23:51
C
cumpa
We are planning a house with a gallery or open space approximately 300cm x 360cm (10ft x 12ft) in the living-dining area. The exterior walls will be made of Poroton bricks, 42.5cm (17 inches) thick. The interior walls will mostly be 11.5cm (4.5 inches) hollow bricks.
The bedrooms and bathroom will be on the upper floor. We are concerned that noise will be very noticeable upstairs due to the thin interior walls (music, TV, etc.). Yes, we were already aware that noise levels would be higher with an open gallery/void on the upper floor.
We asked the builder if they could use 17.5cm (7 inches) thick walls instead of 11.5cm to reduce sound transmission through the walls. The company said that wouldn’t help much. They said that only if we use sand-lime bricks on the relevant upper floor walls would it make a difference.
This specifically concerns two walls, each 450cm (15 feet) long (bedroom and children’s room), which directly border the gallery/open space. The builder wants an additional charge of €1100 for this change (switching from 11.5cm hollow bricks to 11.5cm sand-lime bricks).
Does anyone have experience with open spaces and sound transmission? Is the extra cost justified?
The construction plan is attached.
The bedrooms and bathroom will be on the upper floor. We are concerned that noise will be very noticeable upstairs due to the thin interior walls (music, TV, etc.). Yes, we were already aware that noise levels would be higher with an open gallery/void on the upper floor.
We asked the builder if they could use 17.5cm (7 inches) thick walls instead of 11.5cm to reduce sound transmission through the walls. The company said that wouldn’t help much. They said that only if we use sand-lime bricks on the relevant upper floor walls would it make a difference.
This specifically concerns two walls, each 450cm (15 feet) long (bedroom and children’s room), which directly border the gallery/open space. The builder wants an additional charge of €1100 for this change (switching from 11.5cm hollow bricks to 11.5cm sand-lime bricks).
Does anyone have experience with open spaces and sound transmission? Is the extra cost justified?
The construction plan is attached.
Only 230 sqm (2,475 sq ft)? And with an open space?
That’s not acceptable at all! You really need to tear it down immediately...!
Of course, it depends on the floor plan, and a 20 sqm (215 sq ft) hallway is already quite large. But with “standard” house sizes of 140–180 sqm (1,500–1,940 sq ft), you don’t get such big hallways—in fact, the aim is usually to keep them as small as possible. In my opinion, open spaces and galleries just don’t work in those cases. This kind of design requires a spacious, airy floor plan. And you have to want that and be able to afford it. In other words, you’d need at least a 1,000 sqm (10,760 sq ft) lot and the financial capacity for a $500,000 house.
That said, I have seen floor plans for 300 sqm (3,230 sq ft) homes with huge, elegant hallways, galleries, and open spaces—but only one single children’s room of (no exaggeration) 12.5 sqm (135 sq ft)! Not even a guest room! I would have given that architect a serious talking-to over those plans!
But that’s probably not much help to the original poster....
Best regards,
Andreas
Steffen80 schrieb:
Oh dear. Then it won’t work for us at all. We only have about 230 sqm (2,475 sq ft).
Seriously: It obviously depends on the floor plan. We have the open space in a 20 sqm (215 sq ft) hallway. It looks really good there.
Regards, Steffen
That’s not acceptable at all! You really need to tear it down immediately...!
Of course, it depends on the floor plan, and a 20 sqm (215 sq ft) hallway is already quite large. But with “standard” house sizes of 140–180 sqm (1,500–1,940 sq ft), you don’t get such big hallways—in fact, the aim is usually to keep them as small as possible. In my opinion, open spaces and galleries just don’t work in those cases. This kind of design requires a spacious, airy floor plan. And you have to want that and be able to afford it. In other words, you’d need at least a 1,000 sqm (10,760 sq ft) lot and the financial capacity for a $500,000 house.
That said, I have seen floor plans for 300 sqm (3,230 sq ft) homes with huge, elegant hallways, galleries, and open spaces—but only one single children’s room of (no exaggeration) 12.5 sqm (135 sq ft)! Not even a guest room! I would have given that architect a serious talking-to over those plans!
But that’s probably not much help to the original poster....
Best regards,
Andreas
Thank you for the initial responses. An additional cost of €1100 for sand-lime bricks is too expensive for us. If there is also an extra charge for 2 doors, we would easily be looking at around €2000 in total – and it’s uncertain if that would be worth it.
Does anyone have experience with gypsum boards with polystyrene insulation applied to brick walls? Could that provide more benefits?
Does anyone have experience with gypsum boards with polystyrene insulation applied to brick walls? Could that provide more benefits?
You will also be able to significantly reduce sound transmission with carpet, plants, curtains, furniture, and wallpaper.
There are many prefabricated houses with well under 20sqm (215 sq ft) of ceiling openings or galleries that still look good. I cannot understand the 300sqm (3,230 sq ft) threshold.
There are many prefabricated houses with well under 20sqm (215 sq ft) of ceiling openings or galleries that still look good. I cannot understand the 300sqm (3,230 sq ft) threshold.
Similar topics