Best Way to sound proof your walls/floors while house hacking

Best Way to sound proof your walls/floors while house hacking

Michael DohertyBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · West Hartford, CT · Member since 2016 · 449 posts · 476 votes

Hi all,

My girlfriend and I have been house hacking and sharing walls with tenants for about 4 years now. It's been great, we have saved a lot of money and our portfolio has grown because of it. However, the 11pm footsteps/ moving noises above you while your trying to sleep is starting to get real old. We are stuck on the second floor and have the 1st and 3rd floor rented out on year leases. Both sets of tenants are great, it's nothing against them for 'being too loud'.... you're just naturally going to hear everything going on at all hours. 

Instead of just pulling the trigger and buying a single family house, I thought of trying to sound proof the walls/ceilings. We like where we live its just getting bit too noisy. Has anyone else solved this issue by using some sort of insulation you can put between the joists in the ceiling to minimize the footstep/moving around noises you inevitably hear daily? 

Would love to hear what others have done to solve this issue. Perhaps... it is what is is and it comes with the territory. 

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  • Dan MackinBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Erie, CO · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 512 votes
    6y

    If you check out the youtube channel Home RenoVision they have some good ideas on there and aren't pitchy about particular products. You could also go to the local hardware store and grab a sample of each insulation type and do some tests of your own with a speaker in a box. Pretty cheap and fun way to test it all out for yourself.

  • Michael DohertyBusiness Member
    OP
    Real Estate Agent · West Hartford, CT · Member since 2016 · 449 posts · 476 votes
    6y

    @Dan Mackin awesome, thank you- I'll check it out!

  • Rental Property Investor · Rocky Hill, CT · Member since 2019 · 42 posts · 20 votes
    2y

    @Michael Doherty What did you end up doing in that apartment to sound proof the unit? Having a similar issue.

  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    2y

    @Patrick Fanning  not sure what @Michael Doherty did but read up on thesoundproofcow.com website has some good information.  

  • Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
    2y

    @Michael Doherty

    Sound attenuation insulation would help a little. Carpeted floors above would also help

    But you have sound and vibration and vibration is impossible to get rid of.

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  • Michael DohertyBusiness Member
    OP
    Real Estate Agent · West Hartford, CT · Member since 2016 · 449 posts · 476 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Patrick Fanning:

    @Michael Doherty What did you end up doing in that apartment to sound proof the unit? Having a similar issue.


     We ended up moving and buying a single family house which was our ultimate goal. House hacking was a great stepping stone to buying a single family and couldn't recommend in more highly. 

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