Anyone who lived in a multi-family apartment building long ago knows: soundproofing wasn't a priority back then! Is there a way to fix the situation? Yes, to a large extent. Here's my experience (and the results at the end of the article).
I bought a two-story 1950s triplex over 10 years ago, well aware that the soundproofing was lacking. Two side-by-side apartments sit upstairs, above the 1,000-square-foot ground floor where I live with my partner and son. Over the years, several tenants have come and gone—some discreet, others… less so.
At times, I, the owner, did not feel at home because the noise invaded my space.
In 2019, I had cellulose fiber blown between the ground floor ceiling and the upstairs floor. The company said the product would reduce airborne noise (music, voices, TV) by about 30%, but it didn't really reduce impact noise (tenants' footsteps). As a result, I didn't notice a big difference... I still felt like someone was stepping on my head.
In 2023, I decided to fulfill a dream I'd had for many years: renovating the entire ground floor, including knocking down a few walls. It was the perfect opportunity to tackle, once and for all, the elephant in the room (or rather, the elephants that seemed to live upstairs): the soundproofing problem. But to largely solve the problem, I also had to renovate both apartments... It was all or nothing. I was all in.
The perfect soundproofing millefeuille
The successive expiry of my tenants' leases determined the schedule for the work. The plan: I would renovate the two apartments one after the other, and then we would move in while the ground floor was being renovated.
Upstairs, much to my regret, I had to remove all the original hardwood floors (which thankfully found buyers on Marketplace). Once the subfloor boards were stripped, we were able to replace the old nails with a multitude of modern screws. Hallelujah: it stopped creaking!
Photo credit: Julie Deslauriers
Next step: instead of the plywood panels traditionally screwed onto the subfloor boards (the layer called the "screed"), I installed Fermacell wood fiber insulation floor panels , which an advisor at Emard Couvre-Planchers had recommended to me. These panels, which are environmentally friendly and easy to install, provide better soundproofing (my priority), as well as better thermal insulation and fire protection.
Photo credit: Fermacell
Photo credit: Julie Deslauriers
For the final layer on top, I chose wood-look vinyl flooring from Beaulieu Canada (a Quebec company) because it also absorbs some of the impact noise. The work upstairs was finished, and all the soundproofing layers were optimized.
Photo credit: Julie Deslauriers
The work on the ground floor ceiling remained. The solution available to us to improve soundproofing: resilient bars, which absorb vibrations and, installed under the original ceiling, create a thin layer of air that reduces noise. (Important note: the floor-to-ceiling height of our home, 8 feet 6 inches, allowed us to lower the ceiling and sacrifice a few inches. Make sure you respect the North American standard of 8 feet of floor-to-ceiling height before starting any work.) SONOpan green sound-absorbing panels, produced in Louiseville, were attached to the resilient bars, then a layer of gypsum (an architect would have recommended two) sealed everything.
Photo credit: Julie Deslauriers
From top to bottom, here's my recipe for the perfect soundproofing millefeuille: vinyl flooring, Fermacell wood fiber insulation flooring, a subfloor that's screwed down rather than nailed down, a layer of cellulose fiber between the two floors, SONOpan panels, resilient bars, and gypsum.
I estimate that the noise from upstairs has been reduced by at least 75%—a completely personal, non-scientific assessment… But I no longer feel like I'm being walked on. And I finally feel at home.
Photo credit: Julie Deslauriers
Opening photo credit: Julie Deslauriers
Julie Deslauriers is an actress, stylist, interior design columnist, and eco-friendly mom. You've probably seen her on Chambres en Ville or other shows. Alongside her acting career, Julie has developed another passion: interior design.
We are excited about our brand new editorial collaboration and her valuable advice. You can follow her on Instagram @lejuliebazar .
Stay tuned for more decorating tips from Julie!
