New Home Floor Plans - Master Bedroom Location
We were recently asked this question: "I like this floor plan, but am concerned about noise between the living and bedroom areas. What are my options?"
As an increasing number of families are considering one story and main floor master bedroom homes, the end result is that master bedrooms are moving closer to living spaces. Not a problem in most cases. There's easy access for midnight snacks, no stairs to climb... But what if spouses have very different habits?
Noise inside the master bedroom can be a major concern if one spouse works night shifts while the other works days. Noise is also a consideration when one spouse is a night owl while the other is an early bird! Here are some options to provide everyone with the best quality of sleep possible.
1. Add some insulation.
Interior walls of a home are not normally insulated. The first, and least expensive, option would be to install R-13 insulation in the walls between the sleeping and living areas. This will reduce sound levels, but will not eliminate sound.
2. Increase wall size.
Secondly, the interior walls can be expanded from a 2x4 framing system to a 2x6 framing system, and R19 insulation can be installed. This is a middle ground from both a cost and sound barrier perspective.
3. Use top-of-the-line foam to fill it all in.
A third option is to install a solid foam insulation in the barrier walls. Polyisocyanurate spray foam is a newer technology being used in upper end Green Homes. Because it is a spray foam insulation, it expands to cover every crack and crevice, creating the most effective sound barrier. Additional caulking can also be used to cover any small gaps between framing materials.
4. Or try one of these other options.
Insulation is not the only way to reduce sound transmission, it is simply the most cost effective, however the installation of party walls, and/or dual layer drywall with sound channel are also common options for sound control. There are far more elaborate systems which will completely deaden sound but most are excessive for bedroom noise transmision.
Raleigh New Home Resources:
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