| It's kind of nice being in the "do it yourself kind of | | | | would be perfect for under carpet and pad. The |
| business" like soundproofing. In today's world taking the | | | | American Impact Standard would also be effective |
| family out on a Friday night for dinner and a movie | | | | under the carpet and pad, but is more suited for |
| might cost you more than your monthly mortgage | | | | hardwood and ceramic tile floors due to its sheer |
| payment. That is why many families are opting for | | | | mass. |
| their very own home Theater. If you have a spare | | | | Other concerns that you might have with your home |
| room or an empty space in your basement or attic, | | | | theater would be doors and windows. Let's talk about |
| you have a potential Home Theater. | | | | doors for a minute; if you are trying to keep the movie |
| It used to be that the best way to build a home | | | | in the home theater, then a hollow core door could be |
| theater or a home studio was to construct new wall | | | | your worst enemy. Most modern bedroom doors are |
| within the existing room and then build what we call a | | | | hollow core and do little in the way of soundproofing. |
| "Room within a room." Though this method of | | | | Your best bet would be to go to Home Depot or |
| soundproofing is still quite effective, it is costly and eats | | | | Lowe's and purchase a solid core MDF or solid wood |
| up a lot of wall space in your already cramped theater | | | | door. You could ad an automatic drop down transom |
| room. | | | | seal to the bottom of the door and also a door |
| A better suggestion is to work with your existing walls | | | | perimeter seal kit to seals around the door where it |
| by applying a new layer of drywall to the existing walls | | | | closes into the jam. A real soundproof door could cost |
| and ceiling but applying a layer of a product called | | | | thousands, with a little time and careful planning; you |
| Green Glue on the new drywall and sandwich it in | | | | can get the same results at ¼ the cost. |
| between the existing wall and the new drywall. If you | | | | The last thing we need to talk about are the windows |
| do this to all the walls and the ceiling you are well on | | | | in your home theater. If neighbors are a concern, then I |
| your way to a great soundproof home theater. Now if | | | | would suggest building window plugs with the 2" |
| your home theater is on a second floor, the ceiling now | | | | America Mat closed cell vinyl nitrile foam mat. For |
| becomes less of a concern and now the floors | | | | example, if your window were 3' X 3', you would cut |
| become more of an issue. Floors can be | | | | the foam to 3'1" X 3' 1" thus giving the window plug and |
| soundproofed in many different ways depending on | | | | extra ½" around it's entire perimeter. This extra ½" |
| what the finished floor is going to be installed. If you are | | | | will help to hold the window plug tightly into the window |
| planning on having carpet and pad for the finished floor | | | | frame much like a cork in a bottle. If the window is 4' |
| in your theater, then a soundproof floor underlay would | | | | or more on either dimension, it is suggested that the |
| be in order. Something like American Impactless | | | | window plug be glued to a backer board, something |
| soundproof floor underlay or American Impact | | | | like wood paneling or Luaan. These wood panels can |
| Standard underlay. These are both recycled rubber | | | | be found at home Depot or Lowe's. |
| products that would lie atop of the wood or concrete | | | | Well, I think we have covered every aspect of building |
| sub floor to stop the airborne sounds of the home | | | | your very own home theater; next time we will discuss |
| theater from traveling down to the people below. | | | | acoustical treatments for your theater, until then, Dr. |
| The Impactless is a less dense rubber underlay and | | | | Bob.... Out!! |