Soundproofing a timber ceiling in a residential property using the ReductoClip Ceiling System

The most effective way to soundproof a ceiling using the ReductoClip™ Timber Ceiling System

This case study highlights the soundproofing pf a timber ceiling against unwanted impact and airborne noise using the ReductoClip Ceiling Soundproofing Solution. As featured in The Yorkshire Post

The noise issue

Mr and Mrs Helliwell live in a 3-bedroom 1930's semi-detached house and have a one storey, flat roof extension. Since the extension was built they have had a long-term problem with hearing excessive levels of noise on the roof every time it rains.

What they are experiencing is not dissimilar to those people living in properties with noisy neighbours living above.

When the rain hits the roof it creates an impact vibration which travels from the roof, into the joists and down into their room below. The exact same principle applies when it comes to soundproofing against unwanted impact noise from above, regardless of the type or source of impact vibration (whether this be rain, footsteps, or dragging furniture etc).

A soundproofing system such as the ReductoClip System which decouples layers of mass from the original structure provides the most effective solution for all unwanted noise situations. The big benefit of this system is that it decreases high levels of both impact and airborne noise.

In this instance, for Mr and Mrs Helliwell it isn't unwanted airborne noise such as talking, shouting, TV noise or music, but unwanted traffic noise from a nearby busy road.

Important questions before soundproofing a ceiling:

• What type of ceiling do you have? Is it timber or concrete?
• What is the noise being heard? Is it impact noise such as footsteps, dragging furniture, or as in this case, rain?
• Is the unwanted noise airborne noise such as voices, music and TV noise? Or is it a combination of both impact and airborne noise?
• Do you need to pass Part E Building Regulations?

What are the benefits of the ReductoClip Timber Ceiling System?

Sound energy vibrations travel very easily through solid materials. Hence why the impact from the rain is easily travelling from Mr and Mrs Helliwell's roof, through the ceiling, down the joists and into the room below. It has a path to travel because as all of these materials are connected together. To stop this from happening there needs to be a de-coupling, or separation and that's where there ReductoClips come into play.

ReductoClips act like shock absorbers, absorbing the sound vibrations creating a de-coupling suspension system for the furring bars and soundproofing layers to be attached to. Once they are in place, when an impact noise is made above it gets to the clips, which then absorb it and stop it from getting into the ceiling layers.

• ReductoClips de-couple from the original ceiling delivering the highest level of soundproofing
• Minimal loss of space. The full system including the layers of mass results in only 60mm loss of ceiling height
• At only 25mm, The ReductoClip and bar combined is the thinnest clip and bar system on the market
• Dual rubber design which enables the ReductoClips to absorb different sound frequencies achieving a higher level of performance
• A wider clip face space means wider furring bars, which allow for a greater surface area to attach acoustic plasterboard to. This makes installation of the clips and bars much easier

Installation of the ReductoClip Ceiling Soundproofing System

The ReductoClip Timber Ceiling Soundproofing Solution can be installed by a competent DIYer. Mr Helliwell is an electrician by trade, but without any experience of installing soundproofing. With the help from a colleague, they installed the system themselves following The Soundproofing Store's comprehensive installation guide.

What lighting should be used on a soundproofed ceiling?

When it comes to lighting, ideally pendant lights, or surface mounted lights are the best option. In a perfect world it is best to avoid spotlights and downlights because they require big holes to be cut out of the soundproofing and by removing these layers of mass it is going to reduce the performance.

However, if the preferred option is to use spotlights then you can use acoustic hoods or covers which will help to minimise the negative effects of cutting into the soundproofing.

Performance of the soundproofed ceiling

A sound test was carried out using a hand held recorder prior to installing the soundproofing. The background noise without any distinguishable sound measured at around 40dB. When impact noise was made on the roof to recreate the impact of the rain, the reading was 55-60dB.

Following the installation of the ReductoClip Ceiling Soundproofing Solution, the same test was carried out again. The aim was to get as close to 40dB (i.e. the original silent ambient noise) as possible. The second test reading with the same level of impact noise being made measured at between 43-45 dB. This means the ReductoClip Ceiling Solution achieved an incredible reduction of 10-12 dB. This is a huge reduction, as the logarithmic scale of decibels means that for every 10dB reduced it is actually a halving of the volume, so in real world terms this is a huge improvement.

Customer testimonial

The sound test above showed a brilliant result. However a further test would be the 'real world' one when there was next heavy rainfall and the feedback from Mr and Mrs Helliwell.

"I had a look online and found The Soundproofing Store. After discussing our noise problems with them, they advised on the best solution. They recommended the ReductoClip Ceiling Soundproofing System. We can no longer hear the rain and we also live fairly close to the A1 and we are no longer hearing that sound anymore either. Thanks ever so much to The Soundproofing Store, they really helped us and it's just nice to know that these companies are out there, willing to help."