Walls and Ceilings - Soundproofing a ceiling

We are buying a Historic Home with ceilings that are 9.5-10' high. It was originally built as a tri-plex. Three levels of over 2100 square feet. Plaster walls & hard wood floors. We want to live in the middle unit. We are already tearing out ceilings to handle central air & some plumbing changes, so I figured we might as well do something to reduce noise from upstairs. Any suggestions on products, methods or good websites!

Hello from Missouri and welcome aboard!

Check out this site, Gypsum Today Sound Control (http://www.gypsumtoday.com/sound.shtml)

Nat Gypsum -sound (http://www.nationalgypsum.com/resources/firesound/)

Blue board & plaster some would argue will give you better sound proofing yet, but I do drywall. :coffee:

When the ceiling is torn out I would add insulation. It is very effective at reducing noise passing through walls.

Sound is primarily conducted through solid materials, such as your framing. (ceiling joists and floor joists) Drywall on one side of the floor vibrates and the sound is transferred through solid materials to the opposite side of the wall or floor. Insulation will certainly help, but you need to establish a sound deadening "break" between floors.

For the best soundproofing (like they do in hotels) you should sheet the ceiling with 5/8" sheetrock or soundboard, then install resilient metal channels (metal sound channel or metal lathe) perpendicular to the framing. Another layer of 5/8" sheetrock is then screwed to the metal channels (not the framing).

It's a lot of work, but will be well worth it.