Poker room sound / acoustic dampening (1 Viewer)

[Kam]

Looking for some tips or experience on if any of you have put in noise dampening/ acoustic panels etc in your poker room?

My poker room will be in my garage, in California so no basement unfortunately. Here’s some before pics when empty (space for folding poker table in the middle for game night, bunch of stuff in there now):

Question - since this is a newer wood framed generic track house, there’s almost zero sound dampening, and we’ve got bedrooms directly above the garage. Since we’ll likely be playing late, looking into options to dampen the noise/ prevent as much going through upstairs and waking family up etc.

I got some of these acoustic felt panels to check out for colors and decide if I want to use them (stick on to cover ceiling/wall):

Costco and Home Depot also have these types of easy install acoustic panels (basically mdf coated strips on a large felt pad):

According to Reddit (the source of all truth) sounds like these types of panels only really help reduce reverb/echo in the room, not prevent sound going through upstairs - although it’ll be better than nothing.

After doing some research, I can’t really ‘sound proof’ unless I add mass and layers, which isn’t that practical since I still need this to function as a practical garage 95% of the time. There’s ‘mass loaded vinyl’ that weighs 90lbs a roll, but it starts getting pretty pricey.

So wondering if anyone has any experience, pros/cons or tips to try and help? Most things I find online end up being cheap chinese knockoffs of foam acoustic panels or high end audio studio setups that are far too expensive for what I’m trying to do.

Cheers
Kam

 

[Tonysquander]

Seems like a losing battle. Even with the panels, some noise will get inevitably get through. Download a white noise album to your phones or iPad (or buy a machine) and when a family member needs to sleep on a poker night they can turn on the waves (our go to choice) or some other white noise selection, and they will sleep very well.

 

[SwissChip]

In walls you can incorporate a layer of Idikell.
It‘s some sort of lead sheet that works for noise cancelling.
Not sure if you can apply on/in ceiling?

 

[springbox]

Acoustic panels are more for managing reflections of sound within a space than they are about blocking sound from escaping. As I understand it low frequencies are the biggest concern with noise pollution and reflective panels are too small compared to the wavelengths. I think sealing or filling air gaps (foam/caulk) and adding mass (drywall, plywood, mineral wool insulation) are the most effective steps. Heavy rugs on the walls should help too.

 

[JackJack]

After doing some research, I can’t really ‘sound proof’ unless I add mass and layers, which isn’t that practical since I still need this to function as a practical garage 95% of the time. There’s ‘mass loaded vinyl’ that weighs 90lbs a roll, but it starts getting pretty pricey.

Sadly this is true. Any noise dampening system that works would’ve need to been implemented upon construction of the home, or becomes a very large undertaking.

If you are a DIY person you can save a fortune making your own Vant panels and hanging them with Beau clips, which will help. You can get green glue and put another layer of drywall on the ceiling. You can get clips to disconnect the new layer from the old. But ultimately it will be a lot of work.

If looks are not a huge priority the best way to do this on a budget would be:

4x8 hardboard panels, covered in a thin carpet, hanging from the ceiling and walls with beau clips.

Better but more work and cost would be panels, with foam, wrapped in fabric, and hung with beau clips.

 

[DrStrange]

I suggest Hero actually run a few games before making a decision about noise mitigation.

Unless this game is going to run more like a sports bar or disco, poker is not overwhelmingly loud. Sure, the occasional excited outburst happens but not that often. Let's wait to see if there is really a problem to resolve before fixing it -=- DrStrange

 

[LowerBama1714]

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/insulation/acoustic/i/automotive/oem-tier/

 

[Coyote]

Sound insulation should be the utmost care of every home builder asking for people's money, especially for bedrooms, if parents are supposed to still have sex after having a couple of kids.