How to Soundproof an Exposed Ceiling

If the main issue is footsteps, dragging furniture, or objects dropping, that’s impact noise. If it’s voices, music, barking, or TV, that’s airborne noise. You’ll often deal with both, but one is usually dominant.

For impact noise through an exposed ceiling, you essentially have two real options: isolate the ceiling below using RSIC clips, or treat the floor above with a recycled rubber underlayment.

If you’re isolating the ceiling, start with RSIC-1® Resilient Sound Isolation Clips, which are installed to the framing and used with hat channel and drywall as part of building a soundproof ceiling system.

If treating the floor above is easier, use our floor noise reduction approach to lay down UnderBlock Rubber Underlayment.

For airborne noise, there are three fundamentals:

1. Fill the cavity with insulation – this is a basic improvement for all soundproof assemblies.
2. Add density – more drywall means more mass. You can optionally add another layer with Green Glue between layers.
3. Seal cracks and penetrations – seal around ceiling penetrations and sealing the perimeter with acoustical sealant caulk.

Once a ceiling is closed in, it may be more reflective. If sound quality matters, acoustically treat the ceiling.