Noisey Top Floor

[coco]

Hi all, I live in a 2 storey house and the lounge room is underneath the main bedroom. The size of the lounge room and bedroom is 7mx4m. When you are in the lounge room you can hear people walking upstairs and creaking. Very noisey. Sounds like baby elephants walking around.

The bearers are 450mm apart and the particle board sheets are 900mmx3600mm. I have already taken down the ceiling in the loungeroom. So I have access to the bearers underneath. I am also about to put a floating floor in the upstaris bedroom. Should I rip up all the particle board and place some sort of lining between the bearers and new particle board (if the old stuff is not able to be reused) or do I have to put more bearers in.
Thanks heaps

[Groggy]

The bearers are 450mm apart and the particle board sheets are 900mmx3600mm. I have already taken down the ceiling in the loungeroom. So I have access to the bearers underneath. I am also about to put a floating floor in the upstaris bedroom. Should I rip up all the particle board and place some sort of lining between the bearers and new particle board (if the old stuff is not able to be reused) or do I have to put more bearers in.

Coco, it is a great time to get some insulation in there to help keep things quiet. If you have the opportunity to put some deadening material under the panels then you should take it. 7m is a fair distance and IMHO a likely reason for the floor to 'flex' and make noise; is it adequately supported? If not, now is the time to fix that - you may need a pro to advise you.

[coco]

Hi Groggy, thanks for your response. I had a structural engineer come out about 3 months ago to have a look at the loadbearing beam that comes from the edge of the lounge room and goes to the back wall. He said that it is the wrong size for a load bearing wall. He advised that he was going to write a report but never sent it. I think he felt sorry as I did not receive a bill. He said to put 2 pieces of metal and screw them into the timber bearer to brace the timber.

I don't think this beam has anything to do with the floor boards. But I am no expert that is for sure. Good at pulling things down but not much else. The house was built by a builder so I assumed he would of had the flooring in correctly. So a span of 7m x 4m needs more than just your standard bear.

I have got 3 projects going on at the same time. Tyring to build a retaining wall, pulled the roof down in the loungeroom, dining room and front entrance.

[Tools]

Sounds like you need to stuff the space with rockwool, and then plaster the ceiling on resilient mounts.Look at the websites of the plaster manufacturers and you should find systems for just what you want to do.

Tools

[DJ’s Timber]

The one most important part of the question cannot be answered until your tell us what size are the bearers. Are they up to the job? If the builder put in the wrong size load bearing lintel, did he also undercut on the bearers as well? 450mm apart is standard, as is 3600mm x 900mm flooring

[coco]

The one most important part of the question cannot be answered until your tell us what size are the bearers. Are they up to the job? If the builder put in the wrong size load bearing lintel, did he also undercut on the bearers as well? 450mm apart is standard, as is 3600mm x 900mm flooring

Hi DJ, I measured the bearers and they are 19cm by 4.5cms I took some photos, but I have only just joined today so I will see if I can attach them to this message.
Cheers
Jenny (coco)
Sorry can't get them to attach to this email

[coco]

Sounds like you need to stuff the space with rockwool, and then plaster the ceiling on resilient mounts.Look at the websites of the plaster manufacturers and you should find systems for just what you want to do.

Tools

Hi Tools, thanks for that, I will find out more about rockwool and I was planning on getting a plaster in to do the roof so he might be able to do that when he does the ceiling.
Thanks
Jenny

[DJ’s Timber]

The bearers spanning the 4mt are fine, but if there spanning 7mt they sound a bit undersized to me

[Old Codger]

You need to stop the existing flooring from squeaking before you put the overlay flooring down. This might mean more glue, screws or relaying the chipboard floor. Then insulate the gaps between the joists [ I think when you say bearers you mean joists] Then put new plaster cieling on resilient mounts and steel battens.
Carpet on the upstairs floor would be alot quieter than an overlay floor. The noise called "footfall" on a hard floor is one of the worst noises to try to eliminate.

[Pulse]

Tools is on the money, I've used these under wooden floorboards in a 100 year old place. They make a huge difference. The heavier the ceiling, the better also, try to use 13mm fyrcheck/firestop, and stuff rockwool tight between the joists. Use polypropylene string stapled to the joists to hold the rockwool in.

That will all stop the impact sound but the creaking may need strengthened joists. You could also try re-screwing the yellowtongue or glueing cleats underneath to reduce the squeaks.

Cheers
Pulse