Our Customers Are Raving!
“Finest Finish was able to greatly reduce the sound transmission from our home gym to surrounding rooms. No longer do the rest of the family have to listen to the clanging of my husband’s weights!”
We can transform your home into a refuge of serenity and calm.
Nothing can interfere with the tranquility of your home more drastically than unwanted noise. But if you live in Victoria, B.C., or any city for that matter, there is a good chance you will be dealing with commotion of one sort or another — whether it comes from neighbours or traffic or middle-of-the-night emergency vehicle sirens, or even the TV in the next room.
But there is good news: Finest Finish can make that noise disappear. As Victoria’s soundproofing specialists, we can transform your home into a calm, peaceful oasis, even if you are located in a noisy area, such as directly downtown.
Best of all, because we are also Victoria’s go-to drywall professionals, you can rest assured that the finished product will not only be effective at quieting sound, it will be beautiful as well!
“Finest Finish was able to greatly reduce the sound transmission from our home gym to surrounding rooms. No longer do the rest of the family have to listen to the clanging of my husband’s weights!”
Soundproofing works by blocking sound transmission. This may seem obvious, but the concept often becomes conflated with sound absorption. So what is the difference?
Sound absorption will reduce echo and background noise in a space, which will improve the sound quality within that space. This is achieved with sound-absorbing materials such as foam or sponges, which absorb the sound waves, as opposed to reflecting them. A music room or gym are prime examples of where sound-absorbing materials are especially beneficial. Acoustic foams and panels won’t block sound transmission, but they will reduce it slightly and can work in conjunction with soundproofing.
Most people who contact Finest Finish are looking for soundproofing. They want to minimize the noise coming from outside their space. There are four basic ways to block sound from transmitting through walls, ceilings or floors. They are best used together for maximum effectiveness.
• Decoupling: Sound travels through the rigid connections in walls, ceilings or floors. In the example of a wall, it travels from drywall to stud to drywall. Decoupling the framing within walls will break the pathway and the flow of the sound vibration. Decoupling is the foundation for all other soundproofing methods and is highly effective, depending on the specific system for decoupling. The most effective methods are double stud walls and staggered stud walls. Less effective but also less costly are soundproofing clips with hat channels and resilient channels. Neither of these last two should be used in walls that are used to hang heavy objects such as cabinets.
• Absorption: As well as traveling through the rigid connections in a wall, the cavities within the wall can vibrate allowing some sound to travel through the wall. Insulation is used in conjunction with decoupling to absorb this vibration.
• Added Mass: If a wall is very heavy, it is harder to vibrate. So adding mass such as 5/8″ drywall, plywood, OSB, and cement board will help reduce vibration. Unfortunately mass won’t stop lower frequencies such as the bass line of the neighbour’s pounding music.
• Dampening: Green Glue™ and Sonopan™ are often the superior options, which will dampen the vibration in the drywall, reducing the workload of the methods mentioned above.
Most of the aforementioned methods are more easily accomplished at the construction phase of a building, though installation is certainly feasible in the renovation process. The most practical and effective solution we recommend to clients is the combination of resilient channel, Sonopan™ and 5/8″ drywall.
If you dream of making your home a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of city life, give us a call. We are your soundproofing specialists and we can advise you with options to make your dream come true.
Give us a call and let us answer any of your questions!
ADDRESS
3351 University Woods, Victoria, BC V8P 5R2
EMAIL
info@finestfinish.ca
PHONE
(250) 686-9483
HOURS
Mon – Fri: 7AM – 7PM
Sat – Sun: 8AM – 5PM
