Already Know Ceiling Fixes: What about Beneath Upstairs Flooring Fixes?

[Killdozer]

Bought a condo about a year ago and turned out to be a terrible decision.  Bottom floor of a two story building.  Built 1983. Southern California.  I hear ~~everything~~

Long story short (I'll add details if asked) I already investigated what it would take to fix my ceiling:
Remove drywall and insulation, apply STC 51 acoustic draft sealant and vinyl nitrate (foam) to back side of electric boxes and any acoustic holes.  Install STC 45, NRC rated 1.15 sound insulation in stud bays. Install 1/8” Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV), STC 27,   “Floating Wall System”; decoupling sound clips, hat channel, 5/8” drywall, STC 35, and. acoustic draft sealant at perimeters. + paint+finish.
About $30,000 for 1000 square feet.

Considering I'm already a bit under water at this point spending another $30k on this 'piece' is not worth it.

Here's the question:
What are my options for putting something beneath the flooring of the upstairs unit?

Thanks a lot everyone!

[Randy S]

What is the final flooring upstairs?  carpet, wood floor(nail down or glue down)

Do you have can lighting in your ceiling?

[Killdozer]

The bedrooms are carpet.
The rest of the living areas are hardwood floor.
I'm not sure if it's nail or glue down.  Is there an easy way to identify?

I don't have any can lightning in my ceiling.

[Randy S]

for the carpet areas you can use our underlayment beneath the padding and carpet.
http://shop3.mailordercentral.com/supersoundproofing/prodinfo.asp?number=09-00005CC-54F

as for the wood floor, it would either have to come up and a glued down system installed or if nail down a full float floor would need to go in...
glue down would increase floor height by 1/4"
full float would bring it up 1 5/8"

OR cover all floors with carpet and padding with underlayment.

[Killdozer]

Assuming I could get the underlayment everywhere, how well would it work compared to the ceiling fixes I mentioned earlier?

A few questions regarding the wood flooring:
Is it correct to believe the same underlayment would be used under the wood floors as the carpet?
If the wood is glued, can it be reused if pulled up or does it need to be completely replaced?
If nailed, can it be pulled up and reinstalled (without replacement) with the floating method?
Overall, what is the best (as in acoustic performance) method to tackle the wood floors (not modify the ceiling)? 

[Randy S]

Soundproofing from the source is always a better reduction value as opposed to soundproofing from the receiving side.

As for your questions:

NO, the system for carpet is completely different from a wood floor system.

For the questions in regards to the wood floor removal and re use, I would advise you to contact a flooring contractor for this is not my area of expertise.

The best system for soundproofing the floor above would be a full float system, this would address airborne and impact/footfall with the greatest reduction value... short of doing both floor and ceiling.

keep in mind the full float will bring the subfloor height up 1 5/8"  so you most likely would have to modify doors and cabinets.

[Killdozer]

Thanks for the help.

Any recommendations on flooring contractors who are familiar with soundproofing in the Lake Forest area?

[Randy S]

Very rarely do I make recommendations for contractors, it usually back fires...

However, if you find a local guy that you feel comfortable with I would be more than happy to help educate him on the proper installation to make sure your project comes out without any problems and achieve noise reductions....

As I tell our clients " Materials dictate the quality of the system but the installation is 90% of the results"

[Killdozer]

Understandable.

I need to do some more leg work on my end first.

Thanks again.

[Randy S]

Notation:

If you do the "full float" 1 5/8" lift....then YES it could be used for both carpet and wood floor...

The underlayment for carpet can not be used under wood floor (too spongy).