Below is a detailed step-by-step process that we typically take to bring a drywalling project from start to finish. The timeline provided is only approximate and differs between projects, especially for larger homes.
We start by placing pieces of fibreglass or mineral wool-based batt insulation between studs or joists. For cavities with wiring, plumbing, outlets, or simply odd-shaped, we cut the insulations to fit without compressing them, so no R-value is lost.
Once the batt insulation is installed, we staple the plastic poly vapour barrier membrane into the studs of exterior walls. Tuck tape is applied to seams, electrical outlets, and moisture barriers to ensure a good seal. An acoustic seal is sometimes used as well on surfaces where tuck tape does not stick well.
An insulation contractor like us has the knowledge and equipment to minimize exposure to fibreglass particles, which can cause skin irritation and respiratory issues. We can also help choose the insulation with the appropriate R-value and ensure the vapour barrier has a tight seal, both of which maximize your home’s thermal efficiency.
While batt insulation provides a certain level of soundproofing, there are other methods to achieve additional acoustic performance.
Resilient channels suspend the drywall panels from the joists or studs they are installed on, and therefore effectively dampen and reduce vibration and sound transmission.
If you want even better soundproofing, especially if you are building a home theatre, home studio, or secondary suite, one option is to frame an additional second wall decoupled from the first wall with a small gap in-between.