When people think about room soundproofing, they often think about movies and TV shows that show people putting up egg cartons and foam all over the walls and ceiling for a makeshift studio. Firstly, egg cartons don’t do anything; it’s a weird Hollywood thing that has successfully confused millions of Americans about soundproofing. Secondly, these scenes are usually representing what we’d call an acoustical treatment, and while that can be helpful to reduce reverb and echo in a space, it doesn’t actually block outside noises. When we talk about ceiling soundproofing, we are describing methods to block noise from getting in or out of a space. If you are looking for acoustical treatments that attach to the ceiling, you'll want to jump down to the section on sound control products for a ceiling.

The rest of this section will walk through some key concepts to help customers trying to learn how ceiling soundproofing works. If you are an architect, contractor, or other construction professional, you may want to skip this part and jump right to our recommended floor-ceiling assemblies.

Ceiling Soundproofing: Airborne Noise

The first type of noise is airborne noise, which is sound that travels through the air. For instance, loud talking from a noisy upstairs neighbor, music or TV, a dog barking – these are all sound waves traveling through the air and then heard when they reach your ear. Sound waves move like water; they flow towards the weakest point. That’s why airtight construction is so key – airborne sound waves find the path of least resistance to travel from space to space. Sound waves will travel through the air until they collide with something like the floor in the room above you. Airtight construction forces sound to travel THROUGH a barrier instead of AROUND IT. Without an effective, airtight barrier, you cannot have a soundproof floor-ceiling assembly.

There’s actually a way to measure how effective a ceiling is at blocking airborne noise, it’s called an STC rating (sometimes companies will use a separate metric - Ceiling Attenuation Class or CAC - which is ceiling specific rating). The STC rating measure how well a material or an assembly prevents airborne noise from passing through it. For the rest of the article, we're just going to stick to calling it STC rating because that's how we consistently describe sound barriers across our website.

The higher the STC rating, the better a ceiling is at blocking sound. A ceiling system with a STC less than 25 is considered poor, while a STC of 50 or greater is considered adequate per the building code. An STC of 60+ is high performance. Note that a high STC floor-ceiling assembly can’t do all the work on its own, the walls must also be rated highly or sound will go AROUND your ceiling. Depending on the soundproofing levels you need to hit, a ceiling only treatment may not get you there. If you have questions on your specific situation, be sure to contact one of our Second Skin experts!

On the flip side if you have effective wall soundproofing and door soundproofing, but your ceiling is not soundproofed, the ceiling is the weak link in your soundproofing. Whenever you have a weak point where one barrier is less soundproof than the surrounding area, you have a low resistance path for sound called a flanking path. When sound "flanks" around a barrier, you'll still have unwanted noise.

Ceiling Soundproofing: Impact Noise

Unlike airborne noise which is defined by sound waves traveling through the air, impact noise (also called structural noise) is sound that occurs as a result of one object “impacting” another and the vibrations then radiating through the object or to adjacent objects. Impact noise includes things like people walking (footsteps), a ball bouncing, a chair rolling, or things being dropped on the floor. These noises are often so annoying because they are distinct and jarring – making them very noticeable. The key to reducing impact noise is to prevent the energy from ever entering the building’s structure.

Now you may be wondering, “is there also a way to measure how effective a structure is at blocking impact noise, like there is for airborne noise?”. Well, you’re in luck! Impact Insulation Class, or IIC, is a rating for a floor-ceiling assembly's ability to stop the transmission of impact noise. The rating system for IIC does not convert directly to STC, but the principles are the same and higher numbers are again better. A floor that is just a bare 6" concrete slab would have an IIC rating of 28, while a high-performing floor that transmits very little impact noise will have an IIC of 55 or more.

To achieve a high IIC rating, you have two options - either isolate the floor or ceiling from the rest of the assembly. For a floor soundproofing treatment, we recommend a thick carpet or rubber floor underlayment (if using tile, LVP, LVT, wood, or other hard floor finishes). If you're treating the ceiling, then the only way to stop impact noise is with a sound isolation system - the best of which is the RSIC-1 clip. In home applications, we typically see RSIC-1 clips used when building a home theater, a music practice room, soundproofing a basement ceiling, or any project soundproofing an exposed joist ceiling!

There are so many different types of floor-ceiling assemblies used in America, all depending on what you're building and where you're building it. We are going to hit a wide variety of use cases with a wide variety of assemblies.

18" Web Truss Floor-Ceiling Assembly Soundproofing

Open web wood truss is a really common floor-ceiling assembly used nationwide. There are a variety of regional variations, but we have lots of test data for the various versions of this structure. If you have questions on specific assemblies, please check the catalogs on our product pages or reach out to a Second Skin soundproofing professional.

There are 3 common solutions that all work great, but the specifics of the project may affect our recommendation.

1. UnderBlock™ rubber underlayment - depending on the IIC requirements for the project, we recommend either UnderBlock™ or UnderBlock HD™. UnderBlock™ is extremely cost-effective, while UnderBlock HD™ gives an extra ~5 IICs points, key for open ceiling plan designs.
2. RSIC-1 clips® - RSIC-1 delivers exceptional STC and IIC ratings, are UL rated, and very difficult to mis-install and lose soundproofing performance.
3. RC-1 Boost® - the RC-1 Boost® isolator adds 5 points of IIC with any resilient channel. It's the least expensive way to get a 5 IIC point improvement with resilient channel ($0.30 per sq ft) and perfect for multi-family homes and hotels.

6" Concrete Slab Floor-Ceiling Assembly Soundproofing

Concrete slab (6" or 8") is another common floor-ceiling assembly. The big question with this type of assembly is if there will be a finished ceiling, because a wire hung ceiling below is going to give you much better impact and airborne noise reduction. Our recommendation for concrete slab construction depends on three things:

1. What is the required IIC?
2. What is the finished floor? (tile, LVP, LVT, wood, etc.)
3. Is the ceiling below open or finished?

UnderBlock HD achieves ~5 additional IIC points of the basic UnderBlock, and is better suited to large multi-family homes without finished ceilings.

Another key factor when deciding an IIC is the goals of the owner/builder. Is this a builder just looking hit building code, fill the building, and then flip it? Or is this a builder who wants to minimize tenant turnover as they own the building long-term? Here's some basic guidelines you can use for multi-family:

• Under IIC 50 - frequent complaints, expect increased operating costs
• IIC 50 - hits building code, but still will bother about 1 in 10 tenants
• IIC 55 - minimum level to minimize tenant complaints (95-99% satisfaction)
• IIC 60 - almost no one will complain, no turnover due to impact noise (99-100% satisfaction)

This is your chance to finally put down the broom stick and pick up some peace and quiet! Whether you're dealing with kids upstairs or noisy neighbors above you, we have a solution for you. We've seen every situation under the sun, and are here to help you with that expertise!

Steps to Soundproof a Ceiling

Depending on the where you live and what part of the floor-ceiling assembly you have access to, the approach will vary, but we promise we have a solution that is tailored to you. Here are the general steps to soundproof any ceiling:

1. Soundproof the floor side of the assembly. Treating the floor in the room above you is extremely common, and easy to do whenever new flooring is going in. Our preferred way to soundproof the floor is a long-lasting and cost-effective rubber underlayment.
2. Use sound isolation clips on the ceiling side. If you don't have access to the floor above, using RSIC clips to decouple the ceiling from the floor is the best way to prevent noise from transferring between spaces. The RSIC-1 clip will give you equivalent performance to a rubber underlayment, but you can use it to treat the ceiling side of the assembly.
3. Check for flanking paths. Recessed lights and air ducts are the most common problems we see in a floor-ceiling assembly. Flanking paths like these can easily negate all your efforts by allowing unobstructed paths for sound. Don't make this mistake! One basic thing you can do is seal any gaps with acoustical sealant.

Step One: Soundproof a Ceiling by Soundproofing the Floor

Ironically, the best way to soundproof a ceiling is to actually soundproof the floor above it. Installing a rubber flooring underlayment, like UnderBlock, on the floor above will isolate your finished floor from the building's structure and significantly reduce impact noise transfer. Our recycled rubber underlayments are compatible with just about any type of finished floor, and deliver excellent results.

If you’re working with new construction, extend the underlay under all wall frames so the studs rest on top of the underlayment. Then seal up any gaps around penetrations with acoustic caulk. By isolating the floor from the structure, you can prevent vibrations moving through structures into adjacent rooms and the floor below.

If you’re unable to install new flooring, you can add thick carpet or even heavy rugs to help reduce impact sound transmission. The thicker the carpet the better! Carpet is extremely effective for stopping impact noise, but for aesthetic reasons people often want wood or tile floors. These hard surfaces require a rubber underlayment to hit high enough IIC ratings to prevent impact noise.

Step Two: Soundproofing A Ceiling With RSIC-1 Clips

It’s not always feasible to treat the floor above you, especially if it doesn’t belong to you. If you’re in a condo and don’t own the space directly above you, other than generously gifting your noisy neighbors with some heavy rugs, the only thing you can do directly is to soundproof the ceiling.

The most effective option for ceiling soundproofing is to install the RSIC-1 clip to isolate the ceiling. We also have a RSIC-1 Low Profile clip which is great for spaces with less room to play with. Installing these clips is straightforward: (1) screw them into the joists, (2) snap in 25 ga hat channel, (3) attach 5/8" drywall to the channel. Leave a 1/4" gap around the perimeter and seal that gap with acoustical sealant. "Decoupling" a ceiling from the building's structure is REQUIRED to stop impact noise from transmitting through your ceiling and into your living space. Even basic constructions using this clip will get a floor-ceiling assembly's STC and IIC rating into the 50s. More complex constructions can get ratings well into the 70s.

Step Three: Check for flanking paths and Seal the ceiling

If you're deep into your research, you know that the key to soundproofing is a 100% unbroken sound barrier. So for goodness sake, don't install recessed lighting (canned lights) if you care at all about ceiling soundproofing. These giant holes in your ceiling will make any ceiling soundproof you do ineffective! Air ducts are another flanking path, and can bring noise of their own. We have an entire article on how to deal with noisy air vents if you have unwanted noise coming through the ductwork.

For any of these ceiling treatments, we'd like to re-emphasize that all gaps must be sealed. This means leaving a 1/4" gap around the perimeter of the ceiling and around any penetrations in the ceiling (keeps the ceiling decoupled!), and then sealing those gaps with acoustic caulk. Acoustic sealant is your best friend for any soundproofing project!

You Didn't Say mass loaded vinyl. What About MLV?

Our Luxury Liner mass loaded vinyl is great for a lot of soundproofing needs. We recommend it for wall construction, pipe wrapping, outdoor fences, basically anywhere you need to block sound from transferring through a barrier. It is a highly effective noise blocking material!

We do not recommend MLV for residential ceiling soundproofing projects for two reasons. (1) It doesn't reduce impact noise. (2) It is insanely hard to attach a giant, heavy MLV roll over your head. We do have contractors buy MLV from us for ceiling soundproofing, but they know what they are doing and have the team and the tools to handle the mass loaded vinyl ceiling install. For the typical residential customer, there are more effective and easier methods to soundproof a ceiling. Reach out to one of our soundproofing experts and we will help walk you through your options!

We often talk about how different materials handle sound with varying levels of effectiveness, and ceilings are no exception. Depending on your ceiling types and construction, the paths for sound transfer and the amount of noise making its way into your room will change. Before soundproofing an existing ceiling, let's review some common ceilings and the pros and cons of each.

Drywall Ceiling

Drywall is the most common material used in residential ceiling construction. Drywall (sheetrock, gypsum board, wallboard - it all means the same thing) is made of a gypsum that is wrapped in thick sheets of paper. There are 3 general points to remember when soundproofing a drywall ceiling.

1. Do not install canned lights. We'll say it again. NO CANNED LIGHTS! Cutting holes in the ceiling will greatly reduce the amount of sound blocked.
2. Use 5/8” drywall. The 5/8" thick version of gypsum board has more mass and is the "go to" choice for any soundproofing project. Multiple layers of 5/8" drywall installed with sound isolation clips will give you the best possible performance.
3. Soundproof drywall for extreme noise. Does soundproof drywall work? Yes, it does. We like to use soundproof drywall for extremely high STC/IIC requirements in combination with the RSIC-1 clip.

Dropped Ceiling

Dropped ceilings are a very common issue in commercial buildings. Your typical ceiling tile blocks sound about as well as a piece of cardboard. Because of how the ceiling is suspended, the walls of the room stop short of the true ceiling above the grid. This opening is an easy path for room-to-room to noise and needs to be soundproofed. We wrote entire articles on dropped ceiling soundproofing and office noise reduction where we go into detail on soundproofing a dropped ceiling. The one sentence answer here is that you need to install new ceiling tiles that block noise (BlocknZorbe Ceiling Tiles) or upgrade your current tiles with ceiling tile backers to block airborne noise from passing through.

What About Acoustic Ceiling Tiles?

Acoustic ceiling tiles are highly absorptive ceiling tiles that easily lay into a dropped ceiling grid. They an excellent way to control noise and improve acoustic performance in a room. With few exceptions acoustic ceiling tiles are sound-absorbing materials designed to improve acoustics, not block noise. While they are ineffective at stopping room-to-room noise, they can be very effective at reducing noise in an open office as adding all that absorption into a room can reduce noise by up to 50%.

We offer two types of acoustic ceiling tiles: BlocknZorbe EZ Drop Ceiling Tiles and PolyZorbe EZ Drop Ceiling Tiles. Both are pre-cut to easily lay into an existing ceiling grid.

• PolyZorbe EZ Drop Ceiling Tiles - highly absorptive polyester panels designed as an acoustic ceiling treatment that will improve acoustics in a room, reducing reverb and echo.
• BlocknZorbe EZ Drop Ceiling Tiles - with both an STC rating and NRC rating, these ceiling tiles will actually block noise from traveling up into the ceiling plenum while also improving acoustics.

Every space and situation is unique. One that we run into very frequently is on soundproofing a ceiling in an apartment. While this is very difficult, there are other apartment soundproofing methods you can do. Redfin asked us for our best apartment soundproofing tip. Check out the article we were featured in: Block Out the Noise: 10 Tips For a Soundproof Apartment | Redfin.

Peace and quiet is universal. Whether you want to learn how to soundproof a house, or a multi-level condominium, there is a soundproofing solution for you to keep the noise from raining down through your ceiling. Check out our guide on the cost of soundproofing a ceiling or contact us and our experts can help you find out what you need for your project, and we promise it won’t include that broom you keep nearby to communicate with your upstairs neighbors.