Hi guys,

Anyone here has successfully installed acoustic foam or tiling to absorb some sounds coming from the upstairs unit?

Some background on why I need this installed:

Been living in a condo for a year and all was well until my next door neighbors and upstairs neighbor moved in with their kids. Previously, the unit was so peaceful and quiet until these neighbors moved in and made my life hell what with all the running and pounding sounds (kids must be jumping as well).

Can’t really fully place the blame on them since the developer cheaped out on the materials, but I have spoken to the neighbors regarding the noise and it has decreased after a certain time. However, when the kids are running, the pounding is still giving me a headache.

I’ve installed a plaster ceiling but am looking into redoing it and getting a professional well versed in soundproofing to lay some acoustic panelling or foam and install a new plaster ceiling (mainly for the living room).

For those who have done this, would like to know: has it worked? How much did you spend and can you recommend your contractor?

Thanks!

This post has been edited by mataharih: Jul 14 2020, 09:32 PM

It might be cheaper to buy them a nice soft carpet coz you're looking at a few k's for plaster ceiling + flameproof soundproofing materials

Am willing to shell out money in order to have some peace and quiet as I was planning to stay in this unit for a couple of years. Even if I buy the carpet, can’t guarantee they’ll use it. 😅

Another thing would be to just end up selling this unit, if the soundproofing doesn’t work. Which is quite sad since it’s a lovely place. 😢

The sound proofing won’t really work as it depend on the frequency. I had rock wool inside my plaster ceiling and still the sound will go through

Rock wool dont work as is porous. Trees cannot reflex sound along highway other than concrete and is also not 100%..

Any suggestion ?

Between wool and foam, i will use the latter

Just like some car owners used this type ..


https://s.lazada.com.my/s.bB8Ey

I am sure it works well as this is for car purpose. Suggestion how to install ?

Ask the pro to do it.

Hi. I am looking into this as well. But its more towards negating sound from my room going out and disturbing neighbours. Is using acoustic panel covering the ceiling works in my case?

Rockwool more for heat/cold insulation. Not for sound

Pls make sure its fireretardant material like rockwool etc...

Thanks for the suggestion...I wish I had thought of this before we sealed up the plaster ceiling. Then again, who knew the soundproofing would be so bad until a year later. 😭

If anyone knows any pros who have done residential soundproofing, please recommend! Thanks.

I found this guy on FB: https://www.facebook.com/Aestherior/

I think this would suit your case more...

Just buy sony noise cancellation earbuds like i did. Its audiophiles approved.

My upstair neighbor make a lot of noise, their old bed headboard is attached to the frame and not wall, Everytime they have have sex the board banging on the wall. Since their sex life is good they breeds like a rabbit ( i saw so many children shoes and slippers outside their door). Children are playing all sort of things rolling on the floor in their bed room.
And in the weekend a noise of drilling from handheld powertool of him fixing the loose over use bed frame.

Try beat that.

I hope my upstairs neighbor doesn’t reproduce anymore. However, my next door neighbor has around five to six kids in his house. During the worse days of MCO, almost went crazy and felt like chopping their little legs off for running, thumping and jumping. Even as I’m typing this, their toddler is going nuts and pushing chairs/knocking walls. I’m also surprised their downstairs neighbor didn’t commit homicide.

I kinda wish that developers would allocate some special floors and units for families so those who are single, working professionals like me can have some peace and quiet in our own homes!

It is the concrete floor that vibrate and produce sound. The vibration travels through wall also. Put insulation on ceiling would not reduce much, I believe; unless people upstairs use carpet.

I see...so no choice but to get the neighbors to buy carpet on their side then. Thanks though 😅

remove all the plaster gypsum boards and frames of ceiling
attach/stick firmly and cover all the ceiling with a layer of 2mm or 3mm MLV sheets directly to the ceiling
then build ceiling stud, fill the stud space with rockwool 50mm 60kg/m3 mineral wool at least
then use 9mm at least gypsum boards to cover ceiling stud
then a layer of MLV again attached to the gypsum board again (ensure it is firmly attached and wont drop)

then build ceiling stud again, but this layer leave it with a gap of 6 inches at least with above, fill the stud space with rockwool 50mm 60kg/m3 mineral wool at least again

then use gypsum board to seal the ceiling as per what you have of your ceiling now

How much ceiling height left for normal condo ? Fan installation ?

This post has been edited by mini orchard: Jul 17 2020, 12:15 PM

floor to plaster ceiling is 10ft. old school unit is 9ft.
floor to RC ceiling is 12ft. so you have about 2ft (30cm) room to play with.
by doing that, you can reduce about 20db-30db noise from above.

2ft = 60cm
typo

Thanks for the suggestion but it seems that the noise is also coming from the next door unit. Not sure if re-installing the plaster ceiling with added layers will fix this too. 😔

For now, am speaking with the management to help talk to the neighbors...hopefully that works.

so the same thing to the wall. a layer of MLV attached to the plaster cement brick wall, then build a wall stud, fill the stud with rockwool, seal the stud with a layer of gypsum board.
of course you will still hear noise if the kid purposely knock the wall but it will be compromised and feel the noise a bit more denser.

Ooh...okay. Would you happen to know how much in total I would have to spend to fix the ceiling and shared wall? Hopefully it won’t cost a bomb.

My estimation ~Rm300+/sq.meter

MLV sheets 3mm cost about rm10 per sqft
Gypsum boards 9mm 4ftx8ft cost about rm0.625 per sqft
Rockwool 50mm 60kg/m3 cost about rm4 per sqft
Pine wood 1x2x6ft cost about rm8 per piece

Calculate the material cost your own. Of course it would be much more cheaper if you purchase your own but provided got someone wanna do it for you.

This one is way to fancy lol.

Ya. My cousin's apartment at Midfields 2 also has a kid running around like an elephant. Why can't neighbours be more noise consentious?

Padding your ceiling isn't going to do anything as noise will travel through the walls too. The noise will also transfer from living room through the other ceilings making it soundlike it's coming from there.

Your best bet is perhaps asking your neighbour down to you place and hear what their kids sound like as they run around..

Being a nice neighbour to your neighbour might do the trick.

Having said that, my problem in Penang is those pesky mat remits going through the road below me. Need to soundproof my walls and windows... Or else a cannonball as I will shoot them!

This post has been edited by GuyB: Jul 25 2020, 10:25 PM

Some neighbours are just aholes no matter how nice you are to them. I guess the good thing is that they’ve stopped making noise close to midnight.

Urgh, I feel you about those damn mat rempits! You can try to invest in the double glazed windows...I live right next to a mosque and somewhat busy road and it has reduced the noise by 80%. Else, pray that the mat rempits all crash and die.

Can't soundproof windows. I'm renting!

Isn't there a law on noisy vehicles? There are motorcycles that sound like a angry lawnmower on 2 wheels...

I understand it's a 2 years old post. Anyone has luck in soundproofing ?

Any recommendation for the contractor in Penang? Many thanks!

Hi liyanakahar,

Is this the common practice in Malaysia for soundproofing?

As to the materials, is there any particular brand / supplier you can recommend for rockwool, MLV and gypsum board?

Thanks!

I’ve asked two contractors and they said it’s not worth the effort and money. On my end, I’ve just contacted my neighbors when it gets too noisy or bang on the ceiling/wall lol. Not planning to stay here long term, so have to live with it for now.

Hope you manage to find someone who is knowledgeable in soundproofing. Feel free to share their contact in this thread.

Ai...finished reading this post and was hoping someone had good references or solution but seems like it's a dead end... Am tired with the neighbor upstairs and talking to management, it does seem like if they are tearing down the house during normal hours, it's perfectly legal for them to do so if they choose to so nothing much we can do......

Hey, just wondering did the contractors share on the effort and fees needed to do the soundproofing? and did they share if the result will be significant even tho I understand it will not be 100%..

Unfortunately, they didn’t give me a quotation. One contractor wasn’t very knowledgeable about the materials needed and the other just stated it wasn’t worth the effort because it would just dampen the noise slightly. I think one of the comments by liyanakahar has already given the materials needed…the problem is getting a contractor who knows what he’s doing.

I’m guessing someone who is knowledgeable about renovating an office would know better since they need to soundproof rooms for meetings and stuff.

This post has been edited by mataharih: Aug 11 2021, 12:30 AM

Bro...did you find any in pg?

I have abundant of used conveyors belts.

I am planning to

1. Lay a layer on top of current floor tiles, then hard tiles on top of the rubber conveyors. Kind of tired to remind the kids and visitors about running around (stopping noises to downstairs). Its also a big mental burden. This might be a great help. Any comments?

2. Glue and screw the rubber belts on the ceiling.
And then install plaster ceiling to reduce noise from above. They like to drop heavy stuffs on the floor during midnights. From the thread it seems this will not be of a great help. But multiple layers of plaster ceiling might just be too costly. Any thoughts?

Seems like this is a common problem in Penang. I’ve resorted to sleeping in my car when it gets too much. 😞

Did this work? If soundproofing fails, the ceiling thumper is now available in Shopee.

Uncivilized people are everywhere. They shouldn’t be allowed to drive you away from your own home. 😞

Just read this post. I have the same noise problem. No point sound proofing wan. Sound travels through the walls. Unfortunately if your neighbours are a-holes and a nice friendly chat doesn't work, then revenge is your best option. They make noise, you make louder noise. Until they learn the lesson

having same issue now, the kids non stop running.. after complaining the upstairs neighbours came down and banged my door shouted asking me to move to bungalow.
Anyone know if we can set up a soundproof booth in condo?

That is a very inconsiderate and self-centered neighbor.
Im in the same situation, just rented a unit....and upstairs neighbor with kids is crazy....ground thumping past midnight

When they are not in it is peaceful.

Similar issue here, my upstairs daughter is so hyperactive even on her on only. Jumping, running, throwing stuffs around always! Even during late night!

Complained to MO, MO called to the owner to give a warning, in return, owner asked me to move to landed or bungalow if cannot accept all these kind of noises. Speechless! Why they can be so inconsiderating?? Not to mention that diy guy suka suka knock n drill here and there. Sigh..

Really feels like moving out to another place

Hi mataharih, we are in the same situation. Can you email me: peggyjoo11@ @gmail.com

Hi Peggy, there’s not much to update except that I had to move out for peace of mind. These type of people will never learn nor care that they’re inconveniencing others. I will still leave this forum topic open for those who wish to share their methods in dealing with noisy neighbors.

This post has been edited by mataharih: Jan 5 2023, 11:47 PM

u bought or rent another apartment or landed?
Either one - good, must have felt liberating to no longer have neighbor from hell.

Those ceiling thumper device is pricey - so i cant go with that.

I've approach security and agent, i doubt they will say anything as they are not beholden to me.

This post has been edited by olman: Jan 23 2023, 09:36 PM

Any contractor in Malaysia successfully soundproof the above unit?

google Zhenlouqi’ Floor Shaker

can try that next time

I'm having the same problem. The noise started when my upstairs neighbor's girlfriend moved in with him in 2018. Since then, every day my family have to suffer listening to heavy stomping noise, dragging of furniture & pot plants and dropping of unknown heavy objects. All these noises usually start from 7pm onwards until 1-2am daily, worse on weekends and MCO was a living hell.

I tried to solve this the peaceful way by talking to them, but I was told "You cannot control how people walk" and "If you cannot take it, MOVE!" My family have been sleeping with earplugs and white noise for more than six years now because we didn't have the money to move. We tried to find solutions by asking contractors to do a plaster ceiling but were advised not to because we are already staying within the unit.

Roughly 10 months ago, my upstairs neighbor started to hammer every night from 8.45pm to 11pm, not continuous hammering, but hammering once every 2-3 minutes which is driving us insane. Management said they can't do a thing if the noise is done before 11pm. I can feel my wife is going into depression because of this and I was so pissed I considered Zhenlouqi’ Floor Shaker to revenge on those MOFOs, but decided to move instead.

I'm considering another condo (landed property too far or too expensive for me), and thinking of looking for a contractor to build this ceiling for me.



Not sure anyone here has tried doing this, want to get some opinion.

FYI, my current condo is in Mont Kiara (not some flat) and my neighbors upstairs are Malaysian Chinese. I'm a Malaysian Chinese myself, but after being bullied for so many years, I'm starting to have a negative perception of my own race...