What is the cost of sound-proofing a room?

[Humpy]

While that would probably be virtually 100% soundproof, a couple layers of soundproof drywall and some roxul insulation will do the trick. Even better is two separate walls with a void in between. Yes they will be connected at the ground and ceiling but it still provides a decent buffer. Something loud enough will still travel through but talking and general noise probably wont.

If you could find a material that will absorb sound and convert it 100% to heat, that could actually work very well too.

I think that material exists in rigid fiberglass insulation but it would have to be something like 80' thick to absorb 20hz at below ear damaging levels.

I was the GC on a music studio build where each room was built on individual 12" thick slabs floated on Sorbothane pucks. The only other connections between rooms were convoluted lengths of flexible duct and wiring that took an indirect route through another room first. I don't know if this would help with the OP's bathroom problem though, I think a medicinal solution may be more appropriate.

 

[skyking]

Wall and ceiling uncoupling is relatively inexpensive for pretty good results. Floors and doors are a pain.
New wall construction is cheap, with 2x6 plates and alternating 2x4 studs. No stud for one wall is used on the other. That alone will reduce transmission a great deal.

 

[Greenman]

The simplest answer for real sound proofing is 8" of concrete, floor, walls, and ceiling. Almost sound proof.

 

[Imp]

I wonder how well a thin layer of foam for leveling laminate flooring works...

 

[Dubb]

So far I haven't seen a response in this threat that approaches anything I'd call fully informed.

So:

1) Most architects and engineers won't give you an optimal design. You'll get a lot of "this is what we've always done" and "this is the only way to do it."
2) Most contractors won't get the installation right. Come to think of it, I've never seen an acoustically sensitive environment that was built 100% correctly the first time. Somebody always misses something.
3) What people consider "sound proof" is highly relative and noise is often a source of lawsuits for architects, engineers, and contractors.

 

[Dubb]

The simplest answer for real sound proofing is 8" of concrete, floor, walls, and ceiling. Almost sound proof.

you're forgetting about IIC...

 

[Dubb]

Wall and ceiling uncoupling is relatively inexpensive for pretty good results. Floors and doors are a pain.
New wall construction is cheap, with 2x6 plates and alternating 2x4 studs. No stud for one wall is used on the other. That alone will reduce transmission a great deal.

Staggered studs can help a bit, but there are usually better ways to spend that money. The problem is the plates.

 

[Dari]

All this is way beyond what I imagined. Not worth it, IMHO. But I really enjoyed the conversation.