Creating An Isolation Platform

Creating an isolation platform is not only very effective, but can also be quite fun as well. This makes for a nice weekend project with seriously minimal costs depending on what exactly you are trying to isolate. With these heavy sound generators, sound flanking through the floor joists is typically the main problem whether the sound is coming from above or from an adjacent room. Drums, sub-woofers, large speakers, guitar amplifiers, workout equipment, etc., can really transfer sound efficiently through a structure if not isolated properly from the structure.

Decoupling A Large Area: Decoupling remains king even for something as simple as an isolation platform. This can be accomplished in a couple different ways depending on the size of the platform and the amount of weight on top of the platform. Using our joist isolators, known as IsoJoists, you can build a small floor structure out of basic 2" x 4" lumber with the IsoJoists friction fitting to the bottom 2" side of each stud. Tight spacing of 16" on center for framing as well as 16" on center spacing for each IsoJoist is crucial here to avoid creating a floor that raises the low frequency resonance point to a level that causes more problems than it solves. The use of the IsoJoists will be the most effective way to create a decoupled isolation platform or a floating floor. Keep in mind this is typically not necessary over a concrete sub-floor poured over dirt. The dirt will already sufficiently dampen the concrete sub-floor leaving floor treatments largely useless. Remember that the stud cavities of your newly built isolation platform will need to be insulated to reduce high frequency resonance and reduce the degradation from the triple leaf effect. Performance from a floating floor/isolation platform is significant enough that once this project is completed you can then move on to isolating the airborne noise generated by treating adjacent walls, floors, and ceilings depending on overall goals for isolating sound.

Decoupling A Small Area: If you need to isolate something small like a sub-woofer, speaker, or guitar amp then consider creating a small surface platform using two or three layers of 3/4" MDF with Green Glue Compound between each layer. The base should be decoupled using an IMF Unhoused Spring Mount with a max load between 12 lbs to 113 lbs. You would need 4 of these IMF Mounts per platform assuming the size of the platform is not several feet wide or several feet long. You can find the IMF Unhoused Spring Mounts by reviewing the Mason Industries catalog found at the bottom of our resilient sound clip section or by clicking here. Simply adding a sheet of rubber beneath a sub-woofer, speaker, or amp might reduce sound transfer a little bit, but it might also absorb sound from the speaker which in turn would affect the sound performance of the speaker. A rigid material like MDF decoupled with 4 points beneath the speaker would be much more effective without diminishing speaker performance. The IMF Mounts can be left out of the initial design to test performance without the mounts. Serious noise generators will require the extra decoupling to really isolate a significant amount of sound.

Decoupling With Damping: After decoupling a large area by building a floating floor or isolation platform you can add to the performance by incorporating some damping products. Most common is a double layer of sub-floor with Green Glue Compound between layers. Another option is installing a layer, or several layers to use up a full roll, of QuietGround Rubber Underlayment on top of the platform. Either option will perform well with the QuietGround performing better to isolate impact from drum sets and workout equipment.

Option 1 (Floating floor or isolation platform)

• IsoJoists: Used to decouple to create a floating floor.
• Lumber: Frame your floor out of either 2" x 4" or 2" x 6" lumber. Anything taller can lead to instability since the IsoJoists do not fix to the sub-floor or the new joists with additional attachment. You will also need 1/2" or thicker plywood to lay down as the sub-floor.
• Insulation: The joists in your newly framed floating floor or isolation platform will need to be insulated to reduce resonance.

Option 2 (Small dampened platform)

• Green Glue Compound: Clip systems can only perform well if they are sealed well. The ceiling drywall should be cut back 1/4" from the perimeter walls and caulked using a flexible acoustic caulk. Any other gaps remaining in the ceiling after texture must be sealed with an acoustic caulk.
• MDF or Similar: Double or triple layer 3/4" MDF to create a sturdy platform and to provide a properly rigid product to sandwich Green Glue Compound in between each layer.
• IMF Unhoused Spring Mounts: This unusual product is engineered for these types of installations. Purchase this through our Mason Wholesale Catalog found online in our resilient clip section. These mounts will decouple the four corners of your small platform from the floor as much possible.

Possible Additions

• QuietGround Rubber Underlayment: This is a real popular option with our customers that are attempting to isolate drumsets, workout equipment, or something similar is to overlay the newly framed floating floor with rubber. Rubber underlayment is great for absorbing impact noise so a layer or two of QuietGround will be able to provide a significant boost in performance. This has been proven to work based on customer reviews for this specific installation.