Insulating bathrooms

12 years ago

We built a custom home this year with a builder who we thought was reputable. We asked at several design meetings to make sure that the bathrooms would be "sound proof" or at least very well protected from noise. Especially the half bath used when we entertain (it is embarrassing to hear everyone's private business) and our en-suite master bathroom (one of us gets up very early and the other spouse does not want to be awoken). We now know no insulating was done at all. So the sound travels upstairs from the half bath, and through the walls. What can be done? Is it normal for builders to skip this step? How can it be fixed? We feel it is their responsibility (house is still in warranty period it is only 3 months old) since we specifically asked for this issue to be addressed during design. Thank you!

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User

12 years ago

For proper sound attenuation walls should always be insulated. When we remodel we automatically insulate all bathroom walls as it provides "quietness" for little money. They can and should come back and do this.

Additionally your doors should be solid core this is a must have when noise is a concern.

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Comments (6)

qam999
12 years ago
Yes, they should fix this. I agree with you totally that it is a major quality-of-life issue and have had to work on it in my own houses.

Just one question: Are you positive sound is coming through walls? Could it be coming through a shared ventilation or heating duct? They can act like sound pipes and if so, the best solution is just to have completely separate ducts.

I'd consider borrowing or renting a soundmeter and doing some simple tests.
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sbb1230
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you! Pretty sure it is the walls/doors. We can hear the bathroom fan from the half bath through the floor upstairs in our master. The fan is very quiet in the half bath but not when it travels through the floor to our room. The master bathroom is in our bedroom and you can hear everything, even through 2 doors (the toilet area is its own area)! Thanks for the idea on the soundmeter.
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ASVInteriors
12 years ago
That is horrible. We went through a similar renovation where the bathroom walls face out to the living room. Thankfully no sound can be heard. But I personally oversaw the installation and tested. It seems to me the problem is that acoustic insulation is one of the first layers added... Before tiling, waterproofing etc. so it will not be an inconsequential intervention. I hope you find a solution. Best of luck and keep us posted.
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User
12 years ago
The contractor needs to get back there and fix it, do you have it in the contract? If so they are on the hook to get the insulation in there!
sbb1230 thanked User
sbb1230
Original Author
12 years ago
Sorry for the delay. Yes in the contract it states under insulation, and sub heading interior walls-upstairs bedroom and bathroom (there are 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms up there and it does not say just one or the other, just upstairs bedroom and bathroom walls). Of the walls up there, only 3 were insulated and they say that lives up to the contract. The contract also states that the written contract will be followed over the drawing if there is a discrepancy. When I pointed this out to him, he maintains that we never mentioned sound concerns and that the 3 walls were done b/c that is what they normally do and that is enough to satisfy the contract. He said they like to do the family bath to help with sound, but why would he not do the master bath then?? Or the walls around the laundry room which is also upstairs and connected to 2 of the bedrooms?? Photos of the insulation phase were not posted till 3 months after we moved in, so we are frustrated to be dealing with this now.