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