| In today's hurried world, most people | | | | Attaching the MLV directly to the studs |
| don't have the time or money to waste | | | | or joists allows the vinyl to resonate |
| taking the entire family to the movies | | | | or move with the sound. If the MLV is |
| (up to $50 to $60 per shot) so why not | | | | able to resonate, it will work to it's |
| build out a Home Theater in your garage, | | | | full potential and will give you the |
| basement, or spare bedroom? The | | | | sound blocking required for a |
| construction and soundproofing of a Home | | | | well-soundproofed theater. The MLV will |
| Theater is much the same as building a | | | | be stapled (industrial air drive |
| soundproof music studio in your home. | | | | stapler) or nailed (using roofing nails |
| The only major difference is that with a | | | | with the large plastic heads) to the |
| Home Theater, you are less concerned | | | | studs or joists. If you are able to over |
| with sound coming into the Theater than | | | | lap the seams that would be better, |
| you would be if you were doing recording | | | | however, if that is not possible, you |
| or voice-overs. The most effective | | | | will want to butt the seams together |
| method for building your Home Theater is | | | | tightly and caulk both the butted seams |
| to actually construct a room within a | | | | as well as the entire perimeter of the |
| room. Basically this means framing out | | | | newly installed MLV. You want the MLV to |
| new walls within the existing room. This | | | | act as a soundproof membrane on your |
| is a lot simpler than it sounds. If you | | | | walls and ceilings. Caulking and taping |
| possess tool skills and are better with | | | | the seams is essential for to seal the |
| them than "Tim Taylor" on "Tool Time", | | | | MLV membrane. The caulked seams will |
| then you most likely are qualified to | | | | also need to be taped with a quality MLV |
| undertake this project. You will want to | | | | sealer tape before installing the new |
| frame out new walls within the existing | | | | drywall. I recommend installing 2 layers |
| room, this is pretty easy in a basement | | | | of ½" drywall for all of the walls as |
| situation, where at least 2 of the walls | | | | well as the ceiling. Now if this becomes |
| are most likely poured concrete or | | | | too costly then a single layer of 5/8" |
| concrete block, and are generally | | | | fire code drywall will be sufficient. |
| Earthen backed. They need no | | | | This should complete the soundproofing |
| soundproofing whatsoever. By framing out | | | | portion of your home theater. Finally, |
| the room within a room, you are taking | | | | if you are installing 2 layers of |
| all of the negatives in the room that | | | | drywall to your home theater walls, it |
| were working against your soundproofing | | | | is highly recommended that you apply at |
| endeavor, and now making them more | | | | least 2 tubes of the Green Glue damping |
| friendly in the form of "dead air | | | | compound to the second layer of drywall. |
| space". Dead air space (if it is sealed) | | | | Simply lay out the second layer of |
| is good soundproofer in itself, but you | | | | drywall on saw horses and apply 2 tubes |
| will still need a little more | | | | of the Green Glue to the back of the |
| soundproofing horsepower if you plan to | | | | drywall and then simply screw in your |
| watch Star Wars or The Matrix (cranked | | | | new layer of drywall to the existing |
| up) in your new Home Theater. Once the | | | | drywall with the Green Glue sandwiched |
| new walls are framed out, it is time to | | | | in between. The Green Glue will dampen |
| soundproof. We have found that good batt | | | | both layers of drywall and will also |
| insulation such as Roxul AFB or Roxul | | | | stop the sound of the home theater from |
| Safe which are very effective when | | | | flanking onto the walls. Once this is |
| placed in the stud or joist cavities. If | | | | complete, you with then need to |
| you are unable to find the Roxul | | | | acoustically treat the room to give it |
| products, then use a good quality rock | | | | the look and the acoustical properties |
| wool or mineral wool to fill the | | | | of a real theater. We will discuss this |
| cavities. The next step would be to | | | | in our next article. |
| adhere a layer of American Mass Loaded | | | | More articles from this pro: W. |
| Vinyl directly to the stud structure. | | | | |