Finished basement ceiling insulation?

[pete6032]

A previous owner of my home finished the basement and installed a permanent drywall ceiling. However there is no insulation in the basement ceiling and I can hear every little thing that happens on the main floor. Is there any way to go back and put insulation in the ceiling now?

 

[mindless1]

Sure, take drywall down or cut access holes for spray-in. There's some debate about whether it's acceptable to use spray-in where there's wiring, can be a pain later to service that, and in some situations can damage wiring. Also a light housing or fan, etc, may not be sealed so you have an expanding insulation mess.

Insulation may not be enough, depends on the noise sources and level of quiet you need. Many noise/sources resonate through the floors and walls anyway, can be felt, not just heard. This is especially true of impact forces upon anything attached to wall frames (doors and windows for example) or sitting on hard floors.

 

[herm0016]

a hole in each end of a stud bay and use blown in cellulose may help a bit.

I would recommend against spray foam. you will never be able to repair plumbing or electrical that is foamed in without huge mess and expense. Blown in products are easy to move around or even fish a new wire through.

the downside is blown in products are fairly low density so they will do less for sound than something like rock wool or spray foam.

 

[Greenman]

Drill and fill will do the job, though if you ever have to access anything in the ceiling there will be an astonishing mess.
Understand that it will only dampen the sound. Much of the sound transmission is through the ridged material and insulation won't change that.

 

[skyking]

^
That.
You can go to a whole lot of effort, but the results won't be that stellar if you don't decouple sheetrock from the joists above.
Just know that going in. I'm not saying don't try but don't have very high expectations.