A condo owner called me to tell this story. She has a problem with toilet flushing noise from the apartment above her, which wake her up at night.
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She has already soundproofed the ceiling in her washroom, but the plumbing noise is just as bad, as illustrated in this example video.
Botched flushing noise remediation
This is how she told me the flushing noise remediation was done:
Figure 1 - Wrong pipe insulation
Figure 2 - Green board (ineffective)
The condo owner paid a hefty sum to remediate the plumbing noise, which did not fix the noise problem. She was very distressed when I told her that to fix the noise properly, she would have to start over and pay for a new renovation.
Many clients in similar situations ask whether additional materials can be added to the ceiling to resolve the noise issue. In most cases, such “patch” solutions provide only marginal improvement because the underlying problem — inadequate isolation or untreated flanking paths — remains unaddressed. For this reason, I do not recommend or undertake partial or improvised fixes.
Effective sound isolation must be incorporated into the construction design from the outset, in accordance with proper acoustic principles. Only a correctly engineered system can achieve a satisfactory and lasting reduction in noise transmission..
What is wrong with the soundproofing job?
Here is a partial list of the errors:
What to do to remediate the flushing noise?
Some of the steps that must be done are:
Proper soundproofing, when designed and implemented correctly from the start, is not significantly more expensive than a poorly executed installation. The difference lies in expertise, not in materials. Engaging a qualified soundproofing or acoustical consultant before construction or renovation ensures that design decisions, material selections, and installation methods align with proven noise control principles.
The consultant’s fee represents only a small fraction of the total project cost, yet it can determine the project's ultimate success. Relying solely on general contractor advice often leads to ineffective results, costly rework, and ongoing noise complaints that could have been avoided through professional acoustic planning.
For examples of other soundproofing jobs botched by contractors, check this article for duplex soundproofing and this article for office soundproofing.
If you suffer a similar flushing noise, or any other noise or soundproofing problem, get a quote for consultation from the author.
