Squeaky floors in flat upstairs since I installed acoustic ceilings
Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 2.44 PM
I live in the ground floor flat of a late victorian property. After I moved in I realised the soundproofing was non-existent, especially when my upstairs neighbour got married (say no more!). It was driving me crackers hearing conversations, snoring etc so after much research I found a contractor to install acoustic ceilings. They did a great job and I couldn't hear a thing, apart from some impact (footfall) and a minor amount of flanking noise. HOWEVER about 2-3 weeks after the ceilings were installed, the floors above started to creak. The room above my bedroom is the worst. It wakes me up so I wear earplugs and avoid going to bed until they do. I have no idea what's causing it, and they show no interest in trying to find out. I can only guess that because of the superb heat insulation (two layers of acoustic plasterboard and a layer of fibre + air space, on acoustic frame) the hardboard on top of their floorboards and the floorboards themselves have expanded slightly? Maybe the boards have worked loose since the work was done - the lady is generously sized and the man is a heavy 'stomper'. I don't mean to moan, but it has affected my health with stress. But I love my flat and try and stay positive. RESPONDING TO ANSWER: Thank you. The boards etc were attached to a track system so the new ceiling is lower by about 10"; not sure what screws were used to attach the hangers to the joists as I didn't do the job myself :) Upstairs say they have hardboard on their floors and don't want to look beneath, but the noise sounds like hardboard or chipboard edges rubbing together. RESPONDING TO ANSWER - thanks, you are right it does sound like broken glass in places - I think all the drilling etc has loosened things up. Pity they won't co-operate even though I offered to pay....!
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Having read your comments and mulled this over for a moment I would say that the additional weight applied to the joisted floor structure as a result of attaching an acoustic ceiling has had a consequential influence in that the amount of movement in the floor has increased and for this reason I suspect this is the cause of the creaking.
I have install countless acoustic ceilings in my time and one of my primary considerations is how much weight the existing floor/ceiling structure can tolerate without flexing to such a degree that this phenomenon occurs.
The capacity of the joisted platform construction to retain some deflection whilst remaining stiff enough to has much to do with the supporting elements and a great deal to do with the joist depths, width, condition, potentially flitch connections, spacing and embedment into the surrounding walls. In many cases with properties of this age the method used to attach the floor joists into the supporting walls has degraded to such an extent that additional support is required to ensure the attachment of additional weight must be considered first.
The preferred method of installing acoustic ceilings in these cases to form a completely independent acoustic ceiling construction off the surrounding walls so that there is no mechanical contact from the existing joisted structure to the newly formed acoustic ceiling. In doing so ensures limiting the structural sound flanking paths, impact transmission paths and direct/indirect airborne paths into your flat.
Given that this was not an issue prior to installing the new attached acoustic ceiling then this for me would be the answer to your question.
Essentially what I am saying is under the additional stress applied by the further weight (likely in excess of 35kg m2), the structure is being pulled out of shape and under those circumstances the offset of weight, i.e. persons walking above in a normal manner causes the subfloor to flex and thus emit creaks, ok perhaps more so for heavier individuals and irregular walking patterns but either way the issue remains the same.
Unfortunately there is no easy fix for this issue and just applying more weight by installing an acoustic floor will not solve the problem and stiffening this from above is practically extremely difficult.
I would potentially look to take this up with your acoustic installer as if it were me this is something I would have looked into in greater detail before recommending the applied method of acoustic ceiling.
I do hope this has been of some help albeit not what you wanted to hear I’m sure.
Jason MacDonald
Answered7 February 2017
3
Anonymous user
Hello
Have you used dry wall screws with a cordless drill,as we have installed ceilings before and found that if not installed on a track system,the screws pop through the boards and can cause a squeaking noise as the boards come away from the timber and leave a small gap for them to rub against. hello
as regards to the tenants upstairs,if the ply as you say is not glued and fixed down then dirt can get underneath the boards and when walking on they will make the ply move.And will sound like they are walking on broken glass.I would try and ask them to inspect the flooring and try to sort out between you.
Hope this helps and all the best.
The suspended ceiling should be fine and with insulation too. I'm surprised you can still hear noise. If your squeak wasn't heard before, then perhaps your neighbours have found or created a squeaky board.
If upstairs is landlord owned I'd recommend speaking with him about putting down acoustic chipboard and carpets. Hardboard won't squeak. Plywood might but only if it's been put down unsupported by a joist.
