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In article <6p87p8$h1h$1@netnews.upenn.edu>,
Jon Held <heldj@hotmail.com> wrote:
 >Hello! I have a soundproofing question.  My new apartment has a sound problem 
 >- there is an exhaust fan (from a restaurant) near my back door. Much of the 
 >sound winds up in my apt - mostly mid-range "whining".  It's loud, and 
 >frustrating.  I want to insulate the back of the apt (on the outside) with 
 >something.  There is a thin back door, a wall above it which is just 2 layers 
 >of thin plywood, and a skylight on the ceiling nearby.  
 >
 >Which material would be best for blocking the sound-
 >1) Wood
 >2) Styrofoam, or
 >3) Standard white ceiling tiles (Don't know what they're made from - 
 >fiberglass?  I have a few unused ones)
 


 4) Particle board, even better, MDF.
You need WEIGHT, allthough anything is likely to improve conditions.

If the fan is attached to the same structure as yours the wall may be
shaking.

greg


 >
 >Any advice on this question or other tips on soundproofing greatly 
 >appreciated.

Jon Held wrote:
> 
> Hello! I have a soundproofing question.  My new apartment has a sound problem
> - there is an exhaust fan (from a restaurant) near my back door. Much of the
> sound winds up in my apt - mostly mid-range "whining".  It's loud, and
> frustrating.  I want to insulate the back of the apt (on the outside) with
> something.  There is a thin back door, a wall above it which is just 2 layers
> of thin plywood, and a skylight on the ceiling nearby.
> 
> Which material would be best for blocking the sound-
> 1) Wood
> 2) Styrofoam, or
> 3) Standard white ceiling tiles (Don't know what they're made from -
> fiberglass?  I have a few unused ones)
> 
> Any advice on this question or other tips on soundproofing greatly
> appreciated.
> 
> thanks.
> 
> -Jon Held

First suggest you post also to alt.sci.physics.acoustics.

Regarding the blockage of sound, wood is the best of the three materials
you mentioned.  Weight is the primary factor in sound blockage.  You can
then improve blockage by putting the weight in layers separated from one
another with a sound absorbing material (such as fiberglass insulation)
in the cavity between layers.  Styrofoam is acoustically worthless, too
light to block much, and not sound absorptive.  Ceiling panels are
primarly sound absorbers.  The prevent sound that hits them from
reflecting. Fiberglass ceiling panels provide very little sound
blockage.  Most ceiling panels are made of denser mineral fiber and
provide a little more sound blockage.

Now to your problem.  Whatever, you  do, try to figure out the primary
source of the problem first.  Try covering various areas with something
heavy and see what makes the biggest difference.  If no one area stands
out, two or more are probably about equal.  Eliminate all cracks first,
such as around the door.

If the door is very light and not well sealed, it is probably the
primary source of your leakage.  Consider replacing it with a solid core
wood door with good weatherstripping.  Next, close the outside air vent
on the air conditioner.  It is a direct opening to the outside.  How
thin is the plywood above the airconditioner?  Each doubling of its
thickness will produce a clearly noticeable reduction of the sound
coming through it.  Even better would be to put some furring strips to
create a cavity between the layers and put fiberglass in the cavity.  Is
the skylight plastic or glass?  If it is lightweight plastic, can you
cover it with something or install another layer of plastic with a space
of at least 4 inches between layers?

Good luck

Noral Stewart

In <6p87p8$h1h$1@netnews.upenn.edu>, on 07/23/98 
   at 11:08 PM, heldj@hotmail.com (Jon Held) said:

>Hello! I have a soundproofing question.  My new apartment has a sound
>problem  - there is an exhaust fan (from a restaurant) near my back door.
>Much of the  sound winds up in my apt - mostly mid-range "whining".  It's
>loud, and  frustrating.  I want to insulate the back of the apt (on the
>outside) with  something.  There is a thin back door, a wall above it
>which is just 2 layers  of thin plywood, and a skylight on the ceiling
>nearby.  

>Which material would be best for blocking the sound-
>1) Wood
>2) Styrofoam, or
>3) Standard white ceiling tiles (Don't know what they're made from - 
>fiberglass?  I have a few unused ones)

>Any advice on this question or other tips on soundproofing greatly 
>appreciated.

Don't overlook the obvious. If possible, keep the storm windows installed
year round. Install a storm window on the skylight.

Add as much mass as possible in the walls and windows. Multiple Layers
separated by space filled with fiberglass insulation are better than a
single layer.

Sound can also be conducted. If the fan is attached to your building,
you'll have to isolate the fan or your apartment from the building.

-----------------------------------------------------------
nitebird@voicenet.com (Barry Mann)
-----------------------------------------------------------

Jon Held wrote:
> 
> Hello! I have a soundproofing question.  My new apartment has a sound problem
> - there is an exhaust fan (from a restaurant) near my back door. Much of the
> sound winds up in my apt - mostly mid-range "whining".  It's loud, and
> frustrating.  I want to insulate the back of the apt (on the outside) with
> something.  There is a thin back door, a wall above it which is just 2 layers
> of thin plywood, and a skylight on the ceiling nearby.
> 
> Which material would be best for blocking the sound-
> 1) Wood
> 2) Styrofoam, or
> 3) Standard white ceiling tiles (Don't know what they're made from -
> fiberglass?  I have a few unused ones)
> 
> Any advice on this question or other tips on soundproofing greatly
> appreciated.
> 
> thanks.
> 
> -Jon Held

Greg Szekeres made two very good comments.  I only recently learned how
good particle board is an acoustical blocker.  It would be better than
wood if you wanted to add something to the inside of the door or panel
above.  Also, as he said, if the noise source is a part of your
building, the problem could be sound traveling through the structure
>From the source rather than the sound you hear outside penetrating the
structure.

Noral Stewart