Month: August 2015

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Soundproofing a Bedroom Wall From a Noisy Air Conditioner

Every time a noisy air-conditioning unit sits on the other side of your bedroom wall, the sound might be a bit too loud. In case the humming, squeaking and knocking of your air conditioner keeps you up at night, you will find things you can do, short of replacing the unit, then to minimize the noise. If you’re really determined, you can effectively soundproof the entire room.

Media Matters

Sound waves travel through several media, including atmosphere and solid objects. In the case of atmosphere, any openings in the wall between you and the atmosphere conditioner let in sound. Reverberation, or echo, is critical, also. With mass, or even solid objects, the less dense an object is — your outside wall, like — the more it transfers sound. You might have discovered that masonry houses generally are far more soundproof than frame constructions.

Noisy Air

Sealing openings around doors and windows not just blocks air leaks, it blocks sound. Caulk openings, inside and out. Windows and outside doors should shut tightly, so replace faulty locks and weatherstripping. Fill holes and cracks in exterior masonry, and interior masonry and plaster. Use acoustical caulk or foam backer rod to seal the gap between the floor and the baseboard, and precut foam pads to insulate electrical outlet covers. Even a tightly sealed window may be a large source of infiltration. Sound cannot travel through a vacuum, so look at replacing windows with vacuumed-sealed double glazing. Many manufacturers offer specially made, sound-reducing window versions. Do not caulk closed an escape window.

Softscaping

Any air conditioning sounds which enter the bedroom echo hard surfaces, magnifying the acoustical impact. Wall-to-wall carpet makes a large cut in sound reverberation. Hanging soft furnishings on the wall is an age-old way of insulating against both sound and hissing. Hang tribal rugs, tapestries and quilts to beautify and quiet the bedroom. Heavy curtains you may shut at nighttime play their role, also, as does a large, upholstered headboard and upholstered seating.

Mass Is Key

An effective way to dampen noise is to add bulk between you and the atmosphere conditioner. Insert sound-deadening density by installing a layer of acoustical masonry to your inside surface of this outside wall. You might need to remove afterward replace trim moldings from the procedure. After you complete the drywall and reinstall the woodwork, caulk the gaps. For superior soundproofing, use acoustical caulk between the old wall and the new drywall to decrease the transfer of sound waves to the panel. Heavy, solid-core doors additionally are far more soundproof than hollow-core doors, as are solid-wood window frames.

Whole-Room Soundproofing

If you still can not get peace, repeat soundproofing steps on all the walls along with the ceiling. Insulate electrical outlets, switches and overhead junction boxes with acoustical wrap. The undertaking can get complicated, so consider having a licensed contractor perform the job. As an example, you’ll also need to remove all of the moldings, recut them, and then reinstall them above the new drywall. Electrical boxes also must be reinstalled on top of the new drywall.

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How to Install Glass Tile Accents

The process for installing glass accent tiles isn’t noticeably different from other sorts of tiles, however, the easily scratched surface, inclination to chip through cutting and the transparent quality of glass shingles mean that a few special considerations are necessary. The affordability and broad variety of glass tiles makes them value the additional effort.

Narrow the Options

Consider what level of use the glass tiles will need to endure. Eliminate tiles that scratch easily if you will install them in places subject to a lot of wear and tear or require constant cleaning, like flooring or countertops. Choose a finish and look, like shiny, matte, clear, iridescent or solid, as well as size and shape. Compare the depth of the glass accent tiles into the surrounding tiles. Installation will be simpler if they’re exactly the same depth, but it is possible to build up the thin-set supporting the narrower tiles if necessary. If the surrounding shingles have been already installed, don’t pick glass tiles thicker than people around them.

Lay Out a Layout

Glass tiles commonly come in sheets using mesh backing, but it is possible to cut the mesh and use tiles individually to create your own design. Compare the size of the mesh components to your planned design to determine whether it may save time or money to adjust the size of your design to the size of the mesh. If you are creating a custom design using individual tiles or tiny sections of a mesh-backed grouping, lay the design from the planned space to be certain it fits and looks how you intended. Sometimes mesh will reveal through the rear of glass shingles, especially if they’re colorless; clear and paper-faced shingles may be more appropriate. Paper-faced tiles have a paper coating on the very front, and that you remove after putting the tile. This paper makes it difficult to see the design before placement, but eliminates the issue of mesh showing through clear glass.

Making the Cut

Wear safety equipment like heavy leather gloves and eye protection when cutting glass tiles. Use a tile cutter made especially for cutting glass for tiles that are 2 inches or smaller. For larger tiles use a wet saw. Cut partway through from the bottom, turn the tile over, and complete the cut in the top. Sand the edges as necessary to remove any remaining sharp edges.

Thin-set and Tile Thickness

Choose a white thin-set or brick for transparent glass tiles, unless you want a darker color to show through the glass. Use the thin-set into the backing and after that smooth out it, removing any texture or bubbles, which will demonstrate through tiles that are clear. In the event the glass accent tiles are far slimmer compared to the surrounding tiles, construct up the thin-set in order that the glass tiles are flush with the adjacent surface.

The proper Grout

Epoxy grout is excellent for use with glass tiles. It won’t scrape the surface, expands and contracts as required and is strong and durable. Select a shade that improves the glass shingles and doesn’t compete with or divert from them. White or ivory works nicely with most accent tiles. Avoid sanded grout, which can scratch a few delicate glass shingles.