Auralex Acoustics showcases its range of acoustical isolation products for construction, providing contractors with comprehensive solutions for room isolation in both new construction and remodeling.
Five products in particular are essential tools for contractors to achieve the most solid acoustical isolation performance: Mineral Fiber Insulation, SheetBlok Sound Isolation Barrier, RC-8 Resilient Channel, U-Boat Floor Floaters and StopGap Acoustical Sealant.
The best way to tighten up a room’s sound, and make it more soundproof in the process, is to design it right, build it tight and make the partitions as dense as possible.
That’s where Auralex’s specialized Mineral Fiber sound insulation comes in.
It’s far denser than “the pink stuff” and is specifically designed for acoustical usage. It yields much better bass trapping, overall absorption, thermal characteristics, moisture absorption and sound transmission loss (isolation) than other products on the market.
SheetBlok Sound Isolation Barrier is a dense, limp-mass vinyl material that is an effective barrier for stopping the transmission of sound through walls, ceilings and floors. It is most effective when used as a component in a multi-layered construction scheme. SheetBlok helps in decoupling (i.e. floating) floors and walls and, while it’s not normally considered a finish product per se, it is paintable with latex paint.
Auralex’s RC-8 Resilient Channel is a specially-formed, sturdy metal device that, when used to hang drywall (instead of just attaching the drywall to the studs or joists), greatly improves the sound transmission characteristics of the wall or ceiling system. RC-8 should be installed horizontally at the bottom and top of your wall, then every 2-feet or less in between. Up to (2) layers of 5/8-inch drywall and a layer of SheetBlok may be hung on RC-8, even on a ceiling. RC-8 is available in 8-foot lengths that are ground shippable.
Made of a specially-formulated rubber compound, U-Boat Floor Floaters are Auralex’s proprietary U-shaped channels used to support framing members and float (isolate and decouple) them from the surrounding structure. With the help of U-Boats, a floated room features greatly improved transmission loss (isolation) and low frequency definition (translated: a tight, floated room will always sound better!). U-Boats are the industry’s most affordable floating solution and are much easier to use than those “pucks” that have been used in the past.
StopGap Acoustical Sealant is a highly elastic, water-based sealant used for reducing sound transmission at the perimeter of wall systems or around electrical box cutouts to achieve specified STC/MTC values. The surface dries to a tough film but the sealant remains flexible and stays pliable for up to 5 times longer than alternative brands. And unlike other products, StopGap has no residual run-off. StopGap is paintable and nonstaining, and meets ASTM C-834 standards for flame retardancy. StopGap comes in a large, 29 oz caulking tube and therefore requires a larger than normal-sized caulking gun, which can be purchased at any local hardware store. Coverage per 29 oz. cartridge is approximately 89 ft. with a 3/8-inch bead applied.