Is it possible to soundproof a window?? Garden studio (part 5)

[@benjaminpeternorris]

This is really great! - I love seeing your explanation and reasoning behind everything. It's inevitable when doing a hobby project with limited time and budget that some compromises have to be made. I had to make many compromises in my soundproofing garage project, that in an ideal world would have done differently. One thing I would have done differently is use solid block work rather than plasterboard. - I was slightly horrified when you said you were going to cover up that solid block work with dot and dab plasterboard, which is pretty horrendous from a soundproofing standpoint. The air cavity that is created behind the dot and dab allows sound to resonate and amplify - so it can make sound transfer worse, rather than improve it. - I realise that your inner block work is isolated from the outer leaf of block work, so it may be a none issue for you. - I've watched soundproofing videos where they actually removed all the dot and dab plasterboard and replaced it with a more solid structure using soundproof panels. (I haven't watched your next video yet, so not sure how you tackled this part). The other reason I hate plasterboard is it's an absolute pig for fixing anything to the walls in your studio. - Because my studio is so small, I have ended up fixing lights, cameras, acoustic panels, mics etc. to the walls. Every time I add a new fixing, it compromises on the sound proofing integrity of the walls/ceiling. If I did it all over again I would opt for solid walls/ceiling structures that allow me to mount things without interfering with the sound proofing. Fantastic job though, looking forward to the final result!

[@DerekTJ]

Liking the 7/8 jazz!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Oh yes! 😁

[@raydriver7300]

Mr handyman, then Mr tidy man; now Mr careful and thoughtful man. Thank you for sharing Andy 🌞

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Ray! 😎👍

[@MikkoKalavainen]

What a lovely song around the 9 minute mark!

[@richardphillips3303]

Suggestions of what you could have done better?....That's the most thorough soundproofing video that I have seen so thank you! Hope that it fulfills your expectations 🙂

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you Richard!

[@lilypudd]

I never knew so much had to be seen to for sound proofing. Very interesting. So aggravating the builders you hired didn't do something as basic as keep everything plumb and level. That was the first thing my Dad taught me. Thanks.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Yeah, plumb and level seems to be an optional extra these days! 🙄

[@colingoode3702]

I've got one of those walls in my kitchen. 18mm run out from bottom to top. Kitchen fitter found it when fitting a kitchen pantry hard up to the wall. He had to feather a filler strip to straighten it up. It wasn't the only issue I've had with the house which was built in 1986. Roof tile valleys dumping water into the cavity wall, drainage issues, building debris & plastic buried in the garden (fairly standard for new build houses of the time & now). "British built" is fast becoming the new "Jerry built" euphemism. Loving your vids.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Colin! Sounds fairly typical sadly! 🙄

[@sreval]

You can use accoustic ceiling tiles around the the reveal between the two windows, when glazing the secondary panel use a foam tape so that the glass does not contact the frame and the the glass should rest on foam tape also, it all helps to interupt the soundwaves.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Good tips! 👍

[@steverathbone1954]

If noise is escaping through the window you could make a removeable wooden frame to fit inside the window frame filled with insulation with thin plywood to both sides and picture on the front, Saw this in a hotel room which had windows in during the day and picture on the wall at night when a disco was in for a function to cut down noise for neighbours

[@stomperthemixer1]

great work Andy stay safe buddy

[@BODGE71]

Good glass combination. We install glass like this on a daily basis. The window looks like its only been in two minutes and you already have a bird strike. And yes, secondary glazing will further reduce the noise levels quite considerably especially if you use laminated glass. standard 6.4mm rather than the acoustic glass will be sufficient.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers - good to know! We get loads of kamikaze pigeons around here! 😂

[@BODGE71]

@@GosforthHandyman they make an almighty thud when they strike

[@thebigmacd]

@@GosforthHandyman there are patterned films you can put on that eliminate bird strikes, they can look kind of cool

[@andyf-d4222]

Great video, Andy. So much detail and insght into the whys and wherefores which is really helpful to those of us who are attempted this. Your music choices are excellent too, would love to know who the jazz pieces are.

[@coyotegrove9206]

Thanks so much for these videos, I’m going to try and build one exactly the same in my garden. I’m very curious about the floor and interior walls, did you use one layer of acoustic board on the walls.? Thanks again great videos

[@itwillbenicewhenitsfinished]

When it’s finished and you find the next building error, at least neighbours will no longer hear you scream!

[@alexbowey2760]

I used to fit fire rated acoustic windows that are gel filled, you can't notice the difference with argon units also dissimilar glass thickness also works

[@GosforthHandyman]

I wonder if I can retro inject gel to the frames? They're defo a weak point. 👍

[@ClarkOVision]

Looking forward to seeing this place finished and maybe a wee demo on the drums would be cool Andy? 🥁

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha I need to re-learn how to play the bloody things! 😂😂

[@wobnoway5692]

Just wondered why not use insulated plaster board around the window. Builder thought i was nuts doing it but has worked perfectly more for insulation but also helps for acoustics.

[@nutter-world]

Another great video, thanks! Looking forward to seeing the finish, especially around the window and any other acoustic treatment.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@normanboyes4983]

Really interesting Andy.😀👍

[@lukepeacham9663]

Excellent video Andy. Very educational and inspiring. Thank you.

[@GosforthHandyman]

No worries! 👍

[@drumsonly44]

Some studios I’ve played in they have two sets of windows with a gap in between, and they have those moisture wicking stones in the gap

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yup - mentioned this in the vid. 👍😁

[@drumsonly44]

@@GosforthHandyman ah must have missed it

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Wow that soundproofing lark looks a right “pane “ 😂 Sorry, couldn’t resist 🤭🧱👍🏽

[@GosforthHandyman]

😂😂 Thanks for that Steve. 👍😁

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

@@GosforthHandyman 😏

[@garvielloken3929]

Love the T shirt

[@ianpearse4480]

Very cool.

[@awantamta]

Looks sound

[@watcherofwatchers]

But does it sound good? :)

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers bud!

[@w.7258]

look forward to an episode of you making bass traps, baffles, diffusers, reflection panels, ceiling clouds, and all that good stuff

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha, no room for any of that! 😁

[@ronandaly96]

How’s the soundproofing in your living room? Has it reduced the barking dogs?

[@GosforthHandyman]

It's a big improvement but the chimney opening is always a weak point.

[@mandyleeson1]

Thorough job as usual, Andy. I’d love to see a sound test around those areas now.

[@BODGE71]

The glass alone should give a noise reduction of around 33, 34dB

[@GosforthHandyman]

The frame itself is the main weak point now. 👍

[@benconvey2897]

Hey Gosforth Hnadyman, great vid! Did you have to buy the glass seperate to the window frame? Is it a specialist frame or just a good quality ordinary one? Did you jsut call a standard UPVC supplier and ask for lami glass spoecifically? Thanks :-)

[@tonymcroberts3252]

Just wondering if you had considered using the Resilient bar system before you had it dot and dabbed.. CCF stock it and they provide a spec on it for ceilings and floor joist but I have actually used it on walls as well.

[@peterandlucyakhurst2699]

A note ok using a resilient bar system, it is imperative to use the correct length screws, otherwise you link the plasterboard to the underlying material. I'd have recommended the use of the resilient bar system on the ceiling on cost considerations as what was done in the previous video did seem to have been fairly involved process.

[@GosforthHandyman]

No real point with a double concrete wall but it's on the ceiling. 👍

[@robthewaywardwoodworker9956]

I gotta build a room like that, so I can look tall! LOL Good stuff, Andy.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Permitted development has a lot to answer for! 😂👍

[@troyboy4345]

Fab video, been looking forward to the update from the man music cave ... At one point I thought you had been moonlighting, doing toothpaste adverts, but that acoustic sealant does get everywhere .... 😅

[@GosforthHandyman]

Lol, you know what it is. Hours of editing and I only noticed that AFTER I'd uploaded the thing!! 😂😂😂

[@jeromeuk]

I can't wait to see this man cave finished, will be great 👌 looking after the family is obviously very important, but looking after your own stuff that nobody else understand is equally important, a necessary balance for sanity 🤣 yes, the walls' squareness is appalling but as it is a box, within a box, within a box once plasterboards are fitted, all these niggles will be forgotten forever.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yup, all the out-of-square-ness is now hidden away. 😂

[@jeromeuk]

@@GosforthHandyman frankly, in a any new build I have been living into, walls were never square and even less so than in old Victorian houses (where I now live into). I think squareness is just a wild dream, despite all the tech that can be deployed today. That's probably beyond human capabilities, but that's not the end of the world either 🤣🤣 All the best Mr Handy 👍

[@wayneberilla1929]

The outer skin of blockwork is slightly below the inner one so the wall ties are sloping to the outside 👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

I don't think that's normal?? 🤔

[@wayneberilla1929]

@@GosforthHandyman been a bricklayer for 40 years it’s common to have the wall ties slightly sloping to the outside, especially now with full fill cavity insulation,

[@GosforthHandyman]

@@wayneberilla1929 By almost an inch ?!?

[@wayneberilla1929]

@@GosforthHandyman no not nearly an inch usually 6 / 7 mm, didn’t realise it was that much, seen some get away with 10mm any more than that is to far 👍

[@ohdfghjkcvbnm2545]

I used sliding shutters, I have also used side shutters that split into 2 again to save space. I have tried numerous times with one window and it will be the leak in the room within a room that will essentially make all your hard work none and void. The second sheet of glass with the air gap and separation ( mounted in the second room inside for arguments sake) will provide more isolation, however the properties of the glass, will not compare to the rest of your room. Hence heavy shutters ( 2 x 4 frames gaps filled with numerous layers of sound platerbord caped with an 18mm mdf) is your imo your only way forward. However, once again, if you don't get the seals spot on it wont work properly. I have also tried 4 sheets of double glazing two on one frame cti together at edges same on other frame and that has worked well. However, the shutters in the way forward.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Shutters would be tricky in this scenario but yeah, had good results in the past with blocking a window with temporary MDF boards.

[@ohdfghjkcvbnm2545]

@@GosforthHandyman Hinge based from the floor to window might have enough room more permanent solution, easily closed. Good luck

[@UberAlphaSirus]

I remember Me and me Dad dropping my Mum of at her night job data inputing at some office up town. I stayed for a few hours for some reason. Must of been about 9yrs old, 30+ years ago. They had a massive glass room full of dot matrix printers on the zig zag paper doing paper backups I presume. Must off been 10 x 10 wide of them, 100 printers. NOISEY AS FECK inside. could hardly hear a thing outside that room. Was floor to ceiling smoked glass, only single glazed. Bloody freezing in there too lol.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha ha - can imagine! 😬😁

[@gordonburns8731]

What about a fire escape window? Isn't that included in Building Regs?

[@GosforthHandyman]

This is building regs exempt and you would just use the door. 👍

[@CraveThatCoin]

Great work. With how perfect you rightly like to be i am suprised you are not doing the dot and dab yourself.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! I can't plaster or dot & dab to save my life - and have good plasterers. 👍

[@isyt1]

You know you can get laser microphones that you point at the outside of windows that turn the tiny vibrations back in to sound to listen to what’s being said inside the room. On that basis I think even with acoustic glazing that you will need secondary glazing to stop the sound leaking out. You could go really fancy and get switchable glass that goes opaque at the push of a button

[@robertpearce8394]

I don't think that Andy will be hosting MI5 meetings.

[@isyt1]

@@robertpearce8394 Haha that’s true mate. But on the other hand he probably didn’t need to go to any of this effort and expense to use his summerhouse for a half hour band practise once a week

[@GosforthHandyman]

It's more sound leaking in that I'm worried about! 😁

[@UberAlphaSirus]

Yup, but laser acoustic listening stuff can pick up a mouse fart in a hurrican. You wouldn't hear it being next to the window. The FM modulation needs f all movement even at infrared frequencys.

[@evelynliebgold1084]

How about air circulation? I'm no handyperson, but making a room totally sound-proof seems to make it air-proof, too. I'd love to hear how you handle this "problem"

[@TONYUK1966]

Just open the window 😁

[@DocteGaby]

Genuine question: what air are you going to breathe once this is all finished and air tight? 😬 can you add sound proof ventilation somehow?

[@GosforthHandyman]

This is TBC. As I'm only in for short stints (1-2 hours at a time) it might not be needed so I'd rather not put extra holes in the wall if it's not needed. 👍

[@DocteGaby]

@@GosforthHandyman what? you mean no crazy long drum sessions?!

[@Bobrogers99]

Exactly the question I had in mind. After a couple of hours in there, the oxygen level will be reduced and the CO2 level will be higher. Not enough to threaten life, but after a session the door will have to be left open and a fan placed in the doorway to bring in fresh air. I wouldn't want to spend the night in there. ;-)

[@Bobrogers99]

A quick random Internet check says that in a room of 1000 cubic feet, carbon dioxide poisoning could begin to affect you in somewhere between 12 hours to four days. A medical expert could come up with better numbers, but it's something to consider.

[@BODGE71]

A mechanical heat recovery system would be the best option but they are expensive and will take up a lot of space. Another option would be ventilators such as Titon's sonair or Siegenia'd aeropac. These ventilators bring air into the building but doesn't take it out. However both are acoustic with a noise reduction approx 50+ dB.

[@paulclemons705]

Hi Andy is the music by E. S. T.?

[@GosforthHandyman]

No, but huge fan of EST. Can hear the likeness!

[@ScottishPaul45]

Interesting as always Andy! Looks like a bird has taken a dunt on that window! 😂

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah, the pigeons are thick as mince. 😂

[@hansdegroot8549]

Interesting video. Thanks for sharing. I guess it does not make sense to mention the company who made the not-plumb door frame you showed at the beginning of the video. They're probably all the same. It's the same in the Netherlands and in Slovakia. I haven't met any building company who is not too hasty and/or , too not-interested over the last 25 years, who are not making basic errors.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Hans! Yeah, they've gone bust now anyway, no surprise!

[@wellstream0126]

Hi I live near North Shields could you recommend a plumber as I have a shower leaking into kitchen below, I’m new to your channel so not sure if this is a job you would tackle 😊

[@GosforthHandyman]

Don't have any local plumber contacts I'm afraid but if anyone else knows of any feel free to comment! 👍

[@hank3368]

Once this studio is operational, will you create some music to overlay your videos?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Doubt I'll have time!

[@stevendunn5430]

How is window attached to property then? Surley that plays a part???

[@stevendunn5430]

wanting too much in my opinion!

[@BODGE71]

You use an acoustic rated foam around the window instead of standard foam.

[@GosforthHandyman]

The window is attached to the outer leaf. 👍

[@BODGE71]

I'm guessing it's attached using torx concrete screws

[@rorymakesstuff]

Curious if you’re planning to tackle ventilation? Also if you knew the AC50 comes in 900ml tubes?! Done something similar in my workshop, it has two doors so I can ventilate while I’m not in there but wondering if I should do a baffled forced ventilation of some kind. I used a lot of 900ml tubes…

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ventilation - TBC as I'll only be in the room for short stints but defo will be addressed. 👍

[@BigALPrice]

what are you going to do once this house is finished?

[@hansdegroot8549]

He's got children. So he'll be building/reconstructing houses for them.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Ha, not sure if this will ever be finished! So many projects still to go. 😁👍

[@ben_the_cat_guy]

So early next year I’m getting a new window in my drum studio. It’s a small converted bedroom so it’s not actually soundproof but I’m having a triple glazed acoustic glass window fitted. I didn’t know I could have both but apparently I can. Hopefully it will make a difference.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Great stuff! If you have the option get an acoustically treated frame as that is my weak point. Not too bad though. 👍

[@UberAlphaSirus]

Ear plugs are cheep ;P.

[@BODGE71]

Double glazing rather than triple glazing will be more effective in a standard uPVC frame. Even better would be double glazing in conjunction with secondary glazing.

[@ben_the_cat_guy]

@@GosforthHandyman yeah I’m unsure about that, I’ll try to find out. The other thing is as at some point it will probably have to go back to being a standard bedroom I can’t exactly have a secondary pane of acoustic glass.

[@ben_the_cat_guy]

@@UberAlphaSirus they are and I have lots. They do nothing to block out noise coming in whilst recording or to attempt to make the neighbours slightly happier

[@alexthompson6529]

Attention to detail here is crazy, didn’t know about the glass! I have heard that dot and dab is a huge no no for soundproofing in general!? As it creates hollow cavities that amplify sound? Maybe it’s not as critical here as you’ve made efforts to not connect the two walls together across the cavity.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Dot & dab - not really recommended for professional studios more since it's difficult to calculate exactly what it's going to do, since the dab locations are somewhat random. But for something like this it's not an issue. Especially with double concrete walls. 👍

[@beautyandthebudget3642]

I have watched every video QuietCo (I've watched loads of resources but find them really informative and know their stuff) have on KZbin and they say dot and tab is the worst technique for soundproofing and acts like a drum? So just wondered about your thoughts in that? I've just done soundproofing in my own house for traffic noise based on their videos and its worked a treat :)

[@GosforthHandyman]

Depends on the individual scenario. Dot & dab can't produce 'extra' sound energy but you could have problems with resonances in some situations (e.g. party walls). In this scenario it's fine though. You'd really need to see some proper A / B tests of dot & dab vs no dot & dab on the same wall. 👍

[@waynekerrr9027]

Can I borrow your tools please ??

[@1x3dil]

Hi sir did you not fancy put the boards on your self and then dry lining the plaster boards , it really is not that difficult to tape and fill the joints to a very high standard . Yes it can look rubbish, but with your skill and attention to detail it can look just as good as plaster and is definitely cheaper . Kind regards as always. 😀👍👍👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Not enough hours. 😁

[@1x3dil]

@@GosforthHandyman Bless you totally understand 😀👍👍👍

[@richardstevenson2727]

👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

👍

[@moiragoldsmith7052]

It is such a shame that builder was a Cowboy! Bless you. 💞😇🙏

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yup - lesson learned! 🙄

[@deanrobson8490]

The noise level is at it's highest during the microphone test when you have it directly adjacent to the hidden drainage holes in the window. That will be the weak spot.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Nah, it's about the same all the way around the edges of the window. 👍

[@deanrobson8490]

@@GosforthHandyman Also good practice to have rtr bar (recycled plastic) placed into the window profile prior to welding when attempting to achieve a decent acoustic value. Do you know what window profile was used by the supplier?

[@Devlyn2004]

Dot and dab apparently is bad for soundproofing

[@GosforthHandyman]

Big topic - in this scenario it's fine.

[@Shaunie2k]

I'm going to guess this is triple-glazed (watching the ad as I type the comment, lets see if I'm right)

[@GosforthHandyman]

Double glazed acoustic glass.

[@Shaunie2k]

@@GosforthHandyman cheers Andy as i say this was before i saw the content was blind guessing. Thanks for more amazing content

[@allanstephenson3083]

Would have been a lot cheaper to pack in with the drums 🥁🪘

[@GosforthHandyman]

Lol you're not wrong. 😂

[@bigkevonbass]

@@GosforthHandyman pack in playing?!?!? No chance!!!

[@leslie.ingley7573]

It not showing the video

[@GosforthHandyman]

OK now?

[@cgavin1]

Ahh yes, a god old cuntry mile.

[@GosforthHandyman]

😁

[@stephenrobb3730]

Video could have been much shorter than that, end up skipping through your videoes trying to find the important / interesting bit

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha, most people want longer videos!

[@lizargh]

have you complained to the builders about their awful work? can you get compensation off them?

[@elisahamilton73]

The only thing I see you've done wrong....no kitten update!!!!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha - coming soon. They're not kittens anymore! 😢😁

[@dunch1988]

Dot and dab is not the best method for soundproofing so I'm told.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Not great for professional studios but more than fine for this. 👍

[@beautyandthebudget3642]

I just commented the same as I also noted from my research it acts like a drum and one of the professional soundproofing companies I admire always rip it out for soundproofing.

[@reddriver2925]

Its not a spirit level ,its an evil spirit !!

[@thomasschafer7268]

Was ein Blödsinn. Für was braucht man Schallschutzglas im Schuppen?