Looking for help with a noisy workshop

[Keith S]

I am in the process of finishing the inside of my 1500sq ft pole barn and I'm discovering it has a noise problem. The walls and ceiling are reflecting noise very well and it worries me that when I start running some loud tools it might become unbearable. The shop is insulated with closed cell foam and fiberglass in the walls and blown in insulation in the ceiling. Both the ceiling and the walls are covered in 7/16" OSB and painted.

I am considering gluing standard drop ceiling tiles to the ceiling in the hopes that them might absorb some of the noise. Obviously I would use fire rated tiles. Any thoughts on if it might work? Any other suggestions other than ear plugs?

Thanks
Keith

 

[jimgood]

You can do all that but you should be wearing hearing protection when using noisy tools anyway.

 

[zendriver]

I wear earplugs or earmuffs, when I do anything anymore even run the lawnmower.

Of course, my hearing is half gone, because I never used them before.

I was gonna say I was stupid for not using hearing protection back then but it wasn't as readily available or promoted, like it is now.

Now I get to say "what's that again", about 20 times a day.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gtae07]

These work wonders for loud tools...

 

[Keith S]

Sorry, let me clarify a bit. I fully intend to wear hearing protection when using loud tools. I just want to know if there are any good suggestion for lowering the noise in general in the shop.

 

[FANTM58]

I would say anything to absorb noise
Mabye carpet, or comfort matts on the floor
And drywall is a pretty good noise insulator
I believe .

 

[FANTM58]

And I will be doing this , installing my aircompressor in a insulated closet.

 

[maxpower_hd]

The more stuff you put in the shop the quieter it will get. Even things like a work bench. Mine is FULL of stuff and it isn't that loud anymore. Empty it gets loud in there.

You could try hanging some cork board, or cork flooring on the walls.

 

[kd7gab]

Depending on your budget, there are plenty of materials available for acoustic damping. If you were to make use of any kind of acoustic foam product, be sure it is class A fire rated. Foam based product are definitely not ideal for a shop space...

Here is a product I've installed in our lab at work (quite loud otherwise): http://www.zeronoise.com/marine_noise_control/acoustic_panels.htm These panels are polypropylene beads and do an impressive job of noise reduction.

One thing I will note, OSB on the ceiling and walls is definitly contributing to your issue. While cheaper than drywall, it will not damp noise like drywall. I experienced this first hand when an old boss decided to save $50 by using OSB... That was one of the worst offices I've ever had to deal with.

 

[ItsNemo]

The more stuff you put in the shop the quieter it will get. Even things like a work bench. Mine is not FULL of stuff and it isn't that loud anymore. Empty it gets loud in there.

You could try hanging some cork board, or cork flooring on the walls.

This.

As you fill up the shop, hang things on the walls, put in benches/cabinets, have vehicles and tools, etc. it will keep the sound from bouncing around so much.

 

[BD1]

With a drop ceiling you could lay insulation on it too.
Research sound panels like they use in auditoriums for noise, you may make something similar .

 

[rieferman]

Most noise dampening items that I can think of seem like dust magnets and needless expense of time and money. I agree that between a shop filled with typical items (which will break up the empty room noise transmission effect) plus hearing protection that you will be fine. I wouldn't do anything.

 

[sberry]

Agree, don't panic, you will find enough to spend it on without creating more.

 

[NUTTSGT]

My garage sounded loud until I started hanging posters and banners on the walls. It made a difference.

 

[Keith S]

Thank you for all the input. I'm going to hold off on any noise reduction plans until I have all my junk, I mean treasures, in the shop and it is up and running.

 

[nh_yota]

Gluing drop ceiling tiles to the existing ceiling won't help much because the tiles are designed to be suspended. Even then, there are different types of drop ceiling tiles with different noise-reducing properties.

Start with a pair of ear muffs or ear plugs and go from there. As others have said, once you start filling up your shop with stuff the sound waves will bounce all around off the various things and cancel themselves out somewhat.

If it's still a problem, look into acoustic panels, such as:
http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/acoustical-panels/

 

[nadogail]

After you get deaf you will no longer need to be concerned with noise reduction.

 

[DalyArcher]

we glued 2'x2' acoustic tile to the cinder block walls of a common area in a youth detention centre once. The ceilings were > 20 feet high and the noise in the common area was nearly unbearable with 30 or 40 little degenerates in there. glued the tiles to the wall from the ceiling down to about the 10 foot mark so the little buggers couldn't rip em off. Made a huge difference.

That said, I agree with the above notion of filling it up with your belongings first and see how it reacts then.

 

[crewchief888]

After you get deaf you will no longer need to be concerned with noise reduction.

huh?

what'd ya say?




i have so much stuff in my garage, it's quiet enough i can hear a bunny fart at 20 paces....

 

[ZRX61]

Moving blankets, the thick blue ones they have at Costco. Hang 3 or 4 of them on the walls.