I'm building a cupboard sort of affair for the washing machine and
tumble dryer. They will be sitting on the floor but over them will be a
worktop and to hide them (because they'll be in a main living area)
will be a roller door, kind of like a bread bin or burea <sic?>. My
question, what is the best way to reduce noise level? My original idea
was chipboard, used in basic loft flooring, on top of the carpet then a
thick cork tile and underlay on that.
Any ideas or suggestions would be most welcome.
TR
> I'm no expert on this and from my experience with a sound problem
> before, where I was surrounded by a bunch of PhD (none experts on
> sound), I got more ideas than solutions.
>
> Try something like alt.sci.physics.acoustics.
>
> Perhaps look for sound absorbing materials on google. This comapany
> sells materials
>
> http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/
>
> and they have a help page
>
> http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/whats_your_problem/problem.htm
>
> where you can ask one of their staff for adivce. You don't have to use
> the materials they suggest necessarily, since they might be expensive.
>
> But you might be able to work out most suitable materials.
>
> I've seen one like this
>
> http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/noise_barrier/bardec.htm?d=14
>
> which had lead in it, making it very heavy indeed. That seems to go
> against the logic of a material that is fiberous and so able to move and
> turn sound into heat.
>
> You might be better putting some bots bolts into the ground, to stop the
> machine moving. I've found washing machines can tend to do that. My
> diesel generator does, so that is screwed down.
>
> I suspect this is a complex problem, and you really need the adice of
> someone that really works in that area.
>
> BTW, I would be reluctant to have a wasing machine on decent carpet, as
> the occasional spill seems quite likely in my experience. I have mine in
> the garage. Assuming you have a garden, you will no doubt take the
> washing outside for drying. In that case, locating it outside might be
> sensible. Mine is in the garage.
>
Thank you for your advice. All taken into account. Sadly we can't bolt
it to the ground and as much as I would love to relocate elsewhere we
can't. We live in a small flat above a shop. Single level. 1 bedroom, 1
storage room, main living/dining room, 1 kitchen and a bathroom. Apart
from the kitchen, the living/dining room is the only other place. Not
worried about the carpet, it belongs to landlord and he's been advised
on what we're doing.
Many Thanks
TrailRat wrote:
> I'm building a cupboard sort of affair for the washing machine and
> tumble dryer. They will be sitting on the floor but over them will be a
> worktop and to hide them (because they'll be in a main living area)
> will be a roller door, kind of like a bread bin or burea <sic?>. My
> question, what is the best way to reduce noise level? My original idea
> was chipboard, used in basic loft flooring, on top of the carpet then a
> thick cork tile and underlay on that.
>
> Any ideas or suggestions would be most welcome.
>
> TR
>
I'm no expert on this and from my experience with a sound problem
before, where I was surrounded by a bunch of PhD (none experts on
sound), I got more ideas than solutions.
Try something like alt.sci.physics.acoustics.
Perhaps look for sound absorbing materials on google. This comapany
sells materials
http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/
and they have a help page
http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/whats_your_problem/problem.htm
where you can ask one of their staff for adivce. You don't have to use
the materials they suggest necessarily, since they might be expensive.
But you might be able to work out most suitable materials.
I've seen one like this
http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/noise_barrier/bardec.htm?d=14
which had lead in it, making it very heavy indeed. That seems to go
against the logic of a material that is fiberous and so able to move and
turn sound into heat.
You might be better putting some bots bolts into the ground, to stop the
machine moving. I've found washing machines can tend to do that. My
diesel generator does, so that is screwed down.
I suspect this is a complex problem, and you really need the adice of
someone that really works in that area.
BTW, I would be reluctant to have a wasing machine on decent carpet, as
the occasional spill seems quite likely in my experience. I have mine in
the garage. Assuming you have a garden, you will no doubt take the
washing outside for drying. In that case, locating it outside might be
sensible. Mine is in the garage.
--
Dave K
http://www.southminster-branch-line.org.uk/
Please note my email address changes periodically to avoid spam.
It is always of the form: month-year@domain. Hitting reply will work
for a couple of months only. Later set it manually. The month is
always written in 3 letters (e.g. Jan, not January etc)
On 8 Jan 2006 02:51:32 -0800, "TrailRat" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Any ideas or suggestions would be most welcome.
Washing machine noise is largely low frequency vibration, not sound
transmited through the air. Stop worrying about cupboards and worry
more about the floor it's sitting on. Really it needs to sit on poured
concrete. If not, sit it on something that's decoupled from the rest of
the building structure as much as possible.
Also try alt.home.repair
On 8 Jan 2006 02:51:32 -0800, "TrailRat" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>I'm building a cupboard sort of affair for the washing machine and
>tumble dryer. They will be sitting on the floor but over them will be a
>worktop and to hide them (because they'll be in a main living area)
>will be a roller door, kind of like a bread bin or burea <sic?>. My
>question, what is the best way to reduce noise level? My original idea
>was chipboard, used in basic loft flooring, on top of the carpet then a
>thick cork tile and underlay on that.
>
>Any ideas or suggestions would be most welcome.
>
>TR