How to reduce bathroom and pipe noise?

[lilleth]

We added a bed and bath last year. I asked the GC and plumber to insulate walls and plumbing to ensure we didn't have a lot of PVC pipe noise and to ensure bathroom privacy. They put insulation in walls but not sound bats and it does no good. We are used to plaster walls but the walls are not thick enough and framing principals that would have helped with sound insulation were not used. Thus, you can hear everything that goes on in the bathroom all the way to the kitchen. Small house only 1800 sq feet.

so, I know I can go back and add sheetrock or more insulation, but both options are pretty drastic.

What kind of insulation can be put on waste pipes to make them quieter? Plumber did no insulations. And are there other ideas? Here are some I have:

1. extra layer of sheetrock in closets between rooms
2. layer of tile halfway up the wall in bathroom (tile floors are probably making the sound travel already though)
3. layer of beadboard (but then we have to remove and replace the molding, although I guess that would not be too much work.

 

[Jadnashua]

Never tried to do what you're trying. I have read about some special sheetrock sound suppression devices that you use if you are going to put up a second layer. They basically keep the sheets slightly apart - decouple them - to suppress sound transmission.

I've not tried it, but you might check out sprayed in expanding foam insulation as well. Get some expert advice. You might only need to do the bays where the drains are. This would have the advantage of being the least instrusive. Don't try to use the cans, you'll need a professional to do this. They would need to use the low-expansion stuff, I think, so you don't blow the walls out from over-expansion.

Good luck.

 

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[Gary Swart]

Foam insulation

I agree that foam is probably the best thing to do. No question the best thing would be to let the pros do it. You would have recourse if there was a problem later and they would be able to get the foam everywhere it needs to be. I think you could tackle the job yourself with cans, but if you do, use the type that does not expand.

 

[LonnythePlumber]

Cast Iron

I've never gotten insulation to be much help. It usually requires cast iron pipe with an offset to keep the water from falling so fast.