I used Green Glue in our historic home reno last year, and honestly, it did help with bass rumble—but don't expect miracles. Given the cost and messy application, I'd weigh carefully if your noise issue really warrants it. Anyone tried QuietRock drywall instead?
"Given the cost and messy application, I'd weigh carefully if your noise issue really warrants it."
Totally agree with this. I've worked on a few investment properties where noise reduction was a big selling point, and Green Glue does help a bit, especially with low-frequency sounds—but it's definitely not magic. QuietRock drywall, on the other hand, can be pretty effective if installed correctly. It has built-in damping layers, so you skip that messy glue step altogether. But keep in mind it's heavier and pricier per sheet compared to regular drywall.
One property I renovated was near a busy intersection; we used QuietRock in the bedrooms facing traffic. It noticeably cut down on general street noise, voices, and even some of the deeper engine rumble. Still not 100% silence (nothing is!), but tenants appreciated the improvement. If your neighbors' insulation upgrade has you curious, maybe try QuietRock in just one room first to test the waters...and avoid breaking your budget prematurely.
QuietRock does help, but it's not always worth the premium. I've done a couple renos myself and here's my quick take:
- Green Glue: messy, cheaper, decent for bass-heavy noise (think neighbor's subwoofer).
- QuietRock: cleaner install, good all-around noise reduction, but pricey and heavy as heck.
Honestly, if your neighbors just did insulation alone...ehh. It'll help a little with voices or TV sounds, but don't expect miracles. Better insulation helps thermally too though, so there's that bonus.
QuietRock definitely has its merits, but from an investment standpoint, I often question if the premium is justified—especially if you're doing multiple units. I've found that combining standard drywall with resilient channels or clips can sometimes achieve comparable results at a lower cost. Curious if anyone's tried this approach and how it stacked up against QuietRock or Green Glue in real-world scenarios?
"I've found that combining standard drywall with resilient channels or clips can sometimes achieve comparable results at a lower cost."
Yeah, I've gone down this road before with a duplex renovation. QuietRock seemed appealing at first, but once I ran the numbers... couldn't justify the extra expense for multiple units. Ended up using standard drywall with resilient channels and insulation batts—pretty happy with how it turned out. Tenants mentioned noticing a big improvement compared to before, especially with voices and normal TV volume. Granted, it won't block everything completely (heavy bass still sneaks through), but for typical neighbor noise, it's plenty effective. Not saying QuietRock or Green Glue aren't worth it in some situations, just didn't see enough difference to warrant the premium on my project.
