John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum

I proposed to my landlord that we turn the cinder block garage into a studio. I suggested a standard wood frame and drywall. He however suggested something less permanent and sent me to this site http://www.insofast.com/

Has anybody used this stuff before? The garage is a standalone structure in a rural area - so noise isn't going to be a big problem. I just want to put up some drywall with a couple db reduction from the outside.

It looks like that stuff is only meant for thermal isolation, since acoustics isn't even mentioned, the panels are only 2" thick, and they are made from closed-cell polystyrene foam, which has zero acoustical properties. So as long as you don't expect any acoustical benefit at all from those panels, and are ONLY doing this for thermal insulation, that will work. But not if you were hoping to get some isolation or acoustic treatment value. They will not do anything at all for that.

But then the question comes: Why? You will still need to add drywall to those panels, and then you have to add the real acoustic treatment to the room, but will those "built-in co-polymer studs" be able to take the weight of that? The certainly don't look very substantial, form the web page!

Plus, you'd be totally on your own with that: I've never heard of any research into the acoustic properties of walls filled with styrofom, instead of proper insulation. There's no telling what that wall might do, acoustically. It won't have any isolation value, but who knows how it will react? Will it resonate? If so, at what frequency? How badly? Etc. You'll be the guinea pig who finds out!!!


Why does he think it is "less permanent"??? You still have to attach it to the existing walls, you still have to put drywall on top, you still have to mud and tape and do all the other things that you'd normally do to a wall. The only real advantage seems to be that it goes up faster than normal framing, but apart from that the end wall will be just as permanent, and just as hard to take out. And if you did take it out, what would you do with it? It doesn't seem to be re-usable. Take out a stud wall, and all the wood is reusable, but take out that wall, and you are left with nothing but a pile of plastic.

So I don't understand his comment on this being "less permanent". Maybe you can get him to elaborate on that?


- Stuart -

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I want this studio to amaze people. "That'll do" doesn't amaze people.

I'm not familiar with that product either ...

but, I seem to recall that 'styrofom' can actually AMPLIFY the sound.

NOW .... I have NO scientific data that can back that! This conversation came up
many years ago. The gist of the conversation was observing the rubbing of a Styrofoam cup,
or the squeezing of StyrofoamStyrofoam packing material ... just how loud those things can be.

Again ... just relaying some heresy.

Of course ... Soundman2020 has already provided the educated insight.

Was that intentional?

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Brian
As you slide down the bannister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way...

As is the case with any surface if organics (food), moisture and air are added, mold can grow on it. But it is far far less likely than a surface that is made of mold food, like SIPS.

As far as wood framing, I will post on the SIP page and get people spun up. But today's average wood framed house will not last anywhere near as long as yours.

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