Hey there, so I’m in a bit of a pickle and could really use some advice. I hired this contractor to soundproof a bedroom because I wanted to keep the noise from leaking out to the rest of the house. We had a game plan in place where he was going to beef up the interior walls with Sonopan, add an extra layer of drywall, and seal everything with acoustic sealant. Sounds good, right?
Well, things started going south during the installation process. First off, when cutting holes for the power outlets, the Sonopan ripped in two. I asked him to replace it, and he just pieced it back together and carried on. Then, when it came time to use the acoustic sealant, he flat out refused, saying it was too messy and sticky. I tried to explain the importance of it, but he dismissed me, asking if I trusted the manufacturers more than him. It was a whole thing.
Fast forward to now, he’s done with the taping and mudding, and I tested playing music in the treated room and the untreated room. Guess what? The music was actually louder in the room that was supposed to be soundproof. What a nightmare. The treated room is pretty empty, just a bed and a couple of random things lying around, while the other room is fully furnished. Could that be the reason for the sound leakage?
I’m starting to think that the lack of acoustic sealant between the seams is the culprit here. Can I undo what he did, add the sealant, and redo the whole thing? Should I speak up now or wait until I’ve furnished the room? I mean, I did block the door with towels during the test, and I plan to install a door sweep and weather strip later on, but who knows if that will be enough.
I’m feeling pretty lost and unsure about what to do next. Any suggestions or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening.