Soundproofing a small closet

[lisag326]

I had a contractor install a soundproof wall over my existing bedroom wall and he did a good job, but charged a ton of money for work. He did a crappy job in the closet and I can hear everything the next door neighbor is saying and it drives my crazy. The contractor put an extra layer of sheetrock over the existing closet wall and it did absolutely nothing. He the plastered it and it looks fine but doesn't work. Are there some materials I can buy myself to soundproof the closet, without getting another contractor in to do the job?

Thanks,
Lisa 

[Randy S]

Did he leave the original drywall up? are the cavities filled with insulation?
and are all 4 walls and ceiling plaster?

[lisag326]

He did leave original dry wall up and the cavities are not filled with insulation in the closet. He just added a layer of drywall over the existing wall and then plastered the drywall. 

[Randy S]

Thats why it isnt working... he has created a triple leaf system with hollow cavities... even if we add mass loaded vinyl to the wall there is no way to know how much more reduction you will see...
The correct approach is to go back and start over, by removing the existing drywall, insulate both cavities then a final layer of drywall and / or Mass loaded vinyl..
anything you add now is like rolling the dice and hoping it works..

[lisag326]

I see what you are saying. I spent so much money on the original wall, I don't think I can afford to take off and start over in closet. What if we started from the existing wall, since there is an extra layer of sheetrock over the existing wall? Any chance it would work if we then built a wall over existing wall? What kind of costs are we looking at for this type of work?   

[Randy S]

At this point with your system, I have no way of assessing the value of reduction.
Kind of like trying to soundproof a hollow door, results WILL vary..
If you want to try and apply mass loaded vinyl to the existing wall you can, but understand when I encounter current triple leaf systems I try to avoid doing a "band-aid" approach because i dont know what is going to be the end result.
I will be back in the office in 30 minutes.. you can call me direct if you would like to.

Randy S.

760-752-3030 ext 104

[johnbergstromslc]

I see what you are saying. I spent so much money on the original wall, I don't think I can afford to take off and start over in closet. What if we started from the existing wall, since there is an extra layer of sheetrock over the existing wall? Any chance it would work if we then built a wall over existing wall? What kind of costs are we looking at for this type of work?   

It's false economy to leave up a defective soundwall and hope any additions will fix the problem.  Don't cheap out - do a complete tear off and do it right.  As for not being able to afford a few sheets of drywall and insulation, I don't buy that.  You're either lazy or scared of that level of demo, but the noise problem won't be fixed unless you get over it and dive in.