Is there an easy way to reduce noise transmission?

[JamesAsus]

Trying to reduce sound transmission from our living room to bedroom upstairs.

We have just had the ceiling skimmed so trying to minimise disruption.

Its chipboard floor and plasterboard ceiling, carpet in both rooms. Can i poke small holes in the ceiling and put expanding foam in or is that a bad idea?

 

[Wayners]

No.soundproofing is all or nothing.
There are some carpet underlays that help reduce sound but it doesn't do much.

You need ceiling resilient bars and sound blocking plasterboard ect.

 

[StephenStephen]

Can you lift the carpet in the room above, and is the chipboard glued or screwed?

 

[^woody^]

Expanding foam is worse than a bad idea. OK to seal gaps for draught, but not as a general sound insulant - for that you want a dense, normally heavy material such as Rockwool quilt between the joists.

Materials attached to the floor are not that good either, you need separation.

Upgrade your carpet underly - that is the best and most cost effective unless you want to rip the floor up to insulate.

Don't have laminate or any timber flooring in the rooms where the sound is being made, and consider sound deadening wall linings and curtains etc to stop reflected sound.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Using expanding foam in a confined space may crack or break the plasterboard, definitely not a good idea!

It could also move pipes, causing leaks, and could make cables overheat. Any future plumber or electrician may just walk away!

It would more firmly bond the floor to the ceiling, which could actually increase sound transmission.

If you have the headroom downstairs then you could add another ceiling and the right brackets so it's merely hanging rather than firmly attached.