Soundproofing Bedroom from Toilet Sounds

AirbusA389 on 10/03/2021 - 11:55

Hi, i would like to seek opinions on how to soundproof bedroom from toilet sounds.

The bedroom is downstairs, directly below an en-suite, a separate toilet, and a separate bathroom. This house was built in 1970s, and this bedroom was partitioned in 1981 from the previous 12m (L) x 6m (W) garage (the date was on one of the stud walls). I'm certain that there is zero thermal and sound insulation in the ceiling and in the walls. I have torn down the cement sheet in one wall, installed the insulation, plastered it back up and painted that wall. There is 2 more walls to go and the ceiling to deal with.

The issue here is: The couple living in that room is saying that they could hear every single drop of water (or pee) dripping / flushing / running in the bathrooms / toilets upstairs. Obviously there is no sound insulation in the ceilings. I'm not keen to rip out the bedroom's plasterboard (myself or via a contractor).

What options do I have? Ideally i would like to get something to reduce those lovely toilet sounds…

Home & Garden

Comments

  • rubb3rchick3n on 10/03/2021 - 11:56
    +1

    Just embrace it brother

  • MS Paint on 10/03/2021 - 12:03
    +7

    The sounds are only natural. Everyone makes them. I personally quite enjoy them.

    • pegaxs on 10/03/2021 - 13:59
      +2

      Making them or hearing them?

  • Quantumcat on 10/03/2021 - 12:09
    +1

    Fake added ceiling with sound proofing materials between it and the real ceiling?

    • AirbusA389 on 10/03/2021 - 12:18

      any suggestions for such materials? peel-and-stick would be ideal…

      • Quantumcat on 10/03/2021 - 12:20
        +5

        I think it would be more complex than that as you would need an air gap

      • MS Paint on 10/03/2021 - 12:22
        +4

        peel-and-stick would be ideal…

        What? Lol

        • Sleuth on 11/03/2021 - 15:19

          I think he means those 3M stickies.

  • Frank Murphy on 10/03/2021 - 12:09
    +1

    Ear plugs?

  • Spamazon on 10/03/2021 - 12:20

    Eat less beans.

  • Marcsie on 10/03/2021 - 12:22

    Get them a noise cancelling headphones:)

  • JIMB0 on 10/03/2021 - 12:24

    Rebuild with a suspended concrete slab.

  • SF3 on 10/03/2021 - 12:29
    +1

    That house sounds like it made out of cardboard…

  • EightImmortals on 10/03/2021 - 12:35
    -1

    Wut?

    Are you pooping all day or in the middle of the night?

    If not, then tell them to stop being precious.

  • Seraphin7 on 10/03/2021 - 12:36
    +1

    Got outside for your farts.

  • CyberMurning on 10/03/2021 - 13:02
    +5

    make louder sound in the bedroom !
    2 birds in one stone

  • StraightGuy on 10/03/2021 - 13:18
    +1

    Imodium

  • Keplaffintech on 10/03/2021 - 13:41
    +4

    play poo noises all day so that it becomes background noise and then they wont notice when you really go

    or try a 2nd layer of drywall on the ceiling and suspend it with this stuff: https://foamsealant.com.au/green-glue/

  • JimmyF on 10/03/2021 - 13:43
    +10

    Soundproofing Bedroom from Toilet Sounds
    Obviously there is no sound insulation in the ceilings. I'm not keen to rip out the bedroom's plasterboard (myself or via a contractor).

    There are spray foam companies around that will inject spray foam into the 'wall or ceiling', so you can insulate without any major damage other than a few small holes etc that need patching up. This will reduce the noise.

    Otherwise there is no major 'fix' without damage.

    • MS Paint on 10/03/2021 - 13:51
      +10

      This is the number 1 solution to a number 2 issue

    • bargain huntress on 10/03/2021 - 16:42

      you can also buy it at bunnings

      • JimmyF on 10/03/2021 - 18:35

        We are not talking the stuff in a can here ;)

  • Youfah Mizzum on 10/03/2021 - 14:31
    +2

    This might be more expensive than intended, but you can DIY.

    Rip out the cornices, if there are any.

    Using sheets of Gyprock SoundChek or similar, add it to the ceiling plasterboard using the Green glue from https://foamsealant.com.au/green-glue/ .
    You'll definitely need an extra pair of hands.

    Replace the cornice.

    Paint with sealer & top coat.
    https://www.bunnings.com.au/taubmans-3-in-1-interior-and-ext…

  • arkosh on 10/03/2021 - 15:34
    +4

    Are you hearing noise from the flushing of the toilet, and water in the taps?
    If so, then your best bet would be to take down the ceiling, and wrap the pipes in a loaded vinyl product, such as Soundlag 4525C https://www.pyroteknc.com/products/soundlag/soundlag-4525c/
    For added reduction, you can should insulation batts in the ceiling space. Make sure it's acoustic insulation, as often the spray stuff is only really for thermal performance.

    This is an expensive task, but tricks like adding egg cartons to your walls will not do anything.

  • AustriaBargain on 10/03/2021 - 16:17
    +1

    Install a noisy extractor fan. Better to put up with a fan than satisfied grunts and plops.

  • bargain huntress on 10/03/2021 - 16:46

    there is that stuff they line audio studios with

    audio tiles
    acoustic panels

    i dont think its going to be cheaper than some of the other suggestions though

    and i dont know how your neighbours will feel about it as a decor choice

  • Logical on 10/03/2021 - 23:00
    +1

    you could try getting the 'pumped in' insulation installed into the ceiling space above the room. This will only require small holes to be drilled into the ceiling plasterboard in between the floor joists…

  • saltypete on 11/03/2021 - 08:47
    +2

    It may be worth getting an acoustic engineer. They will have experience in managing issues like this and once they understand the construction of your place they can tell you what will actually work.
    Patches, including heroic efforts with lagging are expensive enough - bit of a bummer if you do them on a punt and they don’t work….

    A cheaper option. I’ll record me in my ensuite and you can play that for them. Believe me, they’ll be happy with whatever they currently have. ☠️💨😎

    • AirbusA389 on 11/03/2021 - 10:09
      +1

      your recording might actually work to address their grievances…. =)

      even with the acoustic engineer, we might be looking at gutting the plasterboard walls and ceilings to gain access to the pipes, and do whatever necessary. i wonder if renovating the entire house might be most cost effective.. I plan to replace the carpet with engineered wood..

      • saltypete on 12/03/2021 - 10:37

        You may need to do more than that. Noise is vibration and carries where there is a physical connection that allows the vibration to continue.
        That might be tricky, or easy depending on your situation.
        We renovated and put our bedroom next to the kitchen/living room. The partition wall is a thing of wonder. Two separate walls and frames interwoven to minimise space with acoustic insulation for both sides and both sides of the wall with double gyprock. Both ceilings double skinned and our door is a fireproof thing that I can only just lift…
        Works though, our son can be watching a movie and I won’t know until I open the door…

  • LFO on 11/03/2021 - 13:47
    +1

    Fat chance of muffling watery "toilet" sounds.
    It seems sound travels thru everything solid (liquid) and pipes are normally solidly attached to something.

    I recall living in a 7 level block of units/apartments.
    Solid solid concrete floors.
    Thick thick fireproof doors.
    Carpets (cheapish).
    Built solidly in … 1970? 1980?
    At night when someone was peeing in the unit right above it could be heard … probably because of the silence at night.
    No voices were heard.
    No sounds really.
    Just the toilet thingy.

    The curse of the water loo !!!!!

  • Bob Svargis on 11/03/2021 - 14:24
    +1

    I read this as "Soundproofing Toilet from Bedroom Sounds"

    Throw it back at them - tell them you can't focus on pooping properly because of the distracting noises coming from their bedroom.

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