As silly as it sounds, gaming is a very serious cause of concern amongst parents. Not just because their kids spend too much time playing, but because they make so much noise while they’re doing it.
Are your kids a little loud when they get excited about their video games? If so, consider soundproofing the bedroom or game room so that you’re not as disturbed while they’re in action. With a little Green Glue and some paint, you’ll have the job done in no time flat!
Are you intrigued by the concept of using Green Glue but hesitant because you’ve never seen it used before? If so, check out this simple video from the Green Glue company showing how easy it is to use.
When we say you simply need to apply it with a caulking gun and then apply new drywall to the existing wall, we’re serious. It’s really that easy. Check it out!
The nightclub scene in London is already suffering, with many popular DJ’s and performers opting to hit other major European cities instead of what is becoming a sleepy destination. Now, the Ministry of Sound faces closure as the Allies & Morrison development company considers building a development in the area.
So what’s the problem? If the residential development moves in and just one resident makes a noise complaint the club could be shut down.
In the developer’s defense, they have agreed to pay more than 400,000 pounds towards soundproofing in the club. The club rejected the deal because they don’t want to close down to do the work.
Beggar’s can’t be choosers…
In the hearts of those who lost loved ones, and in those who are still suffering from their injuries, the memories of The Station nightclub fire in 2003 still burn strongly.
This month marks the 7 year anniversary of the blaze, in which pyrotechnics used by the performing bands lit soundproofing materials on fire, causing a rapidly spreading blaze and a maze of panic. More than 100 people died in the fire and many others were seriously injured.
The owners of the club originally pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter but were eventually convicted. Today, lawsuits and judgements are still pending against the owners and the band itself.
Some of us are a bit more visual than others. That’s why we were glad to find this incredible video from ExpertVillage outlining some of the details you need to consider when attempting to sound proof a room on your own. The video talks about covering windows (if that is your choice), checking for places where sound can leak through, and things you can do to absorb sound if you’re on a really tight budget.
Bar and club owners in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida are furious. The city has instructed bars and clubs that they must take actions to stop noise from leaving the bars after 11pm each night. In an area full of beach bars and outdoor performances, the ruling came like a punch to the gut.
Several venues, including the infamous Elbo Room, are well known for having live musicians perform well into the evening. Now their performances are shorter and occur during the bar’s slowest early hours. Many beach bars have opted to switch to indoor house music after the sound curfew.
Most of the area’s beach bars were cited for not having adequate soundproofing to prevent noise problems after the 11pm cutoff. City officials say that sound should not be heard beyond the owner’s property lines – and neighboring condo owners, the ones making the complaints, agree.
Set in the field of Sandusky, Ohio is the NASA Space Power Facility. On the site is a 122 foot high vaccum chamber designed to simulate the conditions found in space. NASA usually sends spacecraft to Sandusky to to test aircrafts before they’re used in space missions.
In the year 2014, NASA plans to lauch a new vehicle designed specifically for missions involving humans. The Orion will generate tons of radio and radar frequencies in order to operate but the question is whether or not the electromagnetic waves in space will cause the system to malfunction.
As such, NASA has plans to make serious upgrades to the spaceship “torture chamber.” The chamber, currently 50 feet below the surface of the ground, features a 2,500 ton concrete platform complete with steel rods anchoring it to the bedrock. When the Orion arrives it will be pounded with strong vibrations created by hydraulic machines for more than 45 minutes. In another chamber the Orion will be blasted by nitrogen-powered horns designed to imitate the noise generated when an aircraft reaches space.
The upgrades will, of course, result in some concerns. The largest is that the tests run on the Orion will generate quite a bit of noise. In order to soundproof the testing chambers NASA planst to build a 2 foot thick concrete door to keep the neighbors from complaining.
They hope to complete renovations by 2012 so that they can test the Orion before its first scheduled launch in 2014.
Homes around the Tuscon International Airport have been participating in a 17-year program to reduce noise levels caused by airport operations. As of July of this year over 880 homes have been treated and another 230 are scheduled to be completed by the middle of 2010.
The program is a partnership between the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Tuscon Airport Authority. It involves installing insulation, windows, and proper air and heating units in homes near the airports. Upgrades to each home cost approximately $25,000 – most of which is paid by the FAA.
The entire process takes about 20 months to complete – including months of applications, paperwork, designing, planning, and permit obtainment. The work on each home takes about 10 days!
Admirably, the Tuscon International Airport has taken measures to reduce neighborhood noise as well. They’ve lobbied for zoning regulations in unpopulated areas, have relocated their main runway, and are taking advantage of aircraft with quieter engines.
Despite the project not being 100% complete, the results of their soundproofing efforts are already apparent. The number of noise complaint calls have reduced significantly!
Not all of us are as warm blooded as the rest. As your body temperature rises with the warm weather you may find it necessary to kick on the air conditioner while your cool-blooded neighbors are still content with the windows open. So what do you do when your air conditioner fan turns on and makes noises that disturb the neighbors?
In most cases you will find that you cannot build a box around the air conditioning unit. The reason for this is because the air conditioner needs air in order to function properly. What you can do, however, is build a fence or wall around the sides of your air conditioner and include absorbing materials on the inside that will form a sound barrier. The fence or wall will really only need to go around three sides of the air conditioner and will only need to be about 6 inches taller than the air conditioner itself to be effective.
Use latticework for the exterior, apply mass loaded vinyl or some other soundproofing material to the inside, and plant some flowers or plants on the outside. You’ll not only cut down on noise but have an eye appealing addition to your landscape!
Summer is right around the corner and that means dozens of you will be opening your pools if you haven’t done so already. On those warm summer nights we love sleeping with the windows open to enjoy the breeze but then something dreadful happens. The pool pump turns on.
Most pool pumps, regardless of whether they’re attached to filters, waterfalls, swim jets or anything else, are going to make noise. The standard pump has vibration pads attached to the feet but once they’re installed on a concrete surface there’s no telling how much noise the pumps will make.
A common solution to this problem is the building of a soundproof box to cover the pump equipment. You will, of course, need to build the box out of soundproof materials, including mass loaded vinyl, and you’ll want to use acoustical caulk to ensure there are absolutely no gaps in the box.
Trust us when we say that covering your pool pumps is the way to go. It’s cheaper than soundproofing your entire home and, to be honest, your neighbors will appreciate your efforts as well!