Idea: Nearly Free Soundproofing

[dzhiurgis]

Firstly, I guess this idea would apply to builders or just people who want to simply save.
So the idea came when I've seen some newer cars using felt for isolating noise coming from the engine.
Well felt is not cheap, but what you can use is just an old carpet (obviously organic).
Obviously there are considerations about fire retardancy and possibility of inviting some bugs to live aboard, but I guess that can be fixed by some chemical treatment.
I guess it shouldn't be too hard to find an old carpet in someones house which is ready to be thrown away, or sustainably recycled
I checked one site, and found that noise reduction coefficient for a carpet might be up to 0.5, where as special materials vary from 0.8 to 1.2.
What is your take?

[denverd0n]

I think that overcoming the fire-retardancy issues would be more headache than it's worth. Not to mention any issues related to exposure to gas and oil fumes. Better, easier, and probably cheaper to just buy a sound suppressing material that was made specifically for engine compartments.

[TeddyDiver]

And if sound felt is too expensive how about surplus russian army winter coat.. It's felt too..

[dzhiurgis]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

And if sound felt is too expensive how about surplus russian army winter coat.. It's felt too..

You would need to kill lot's of soldiers though

It's not just about price. It's about reusing the old materials.
Although fire retarding sprays are like £$€10. Not sure how much the special made materials cost.

[sarafina]

old carpet is nasty stuff, and the mold and mildew issue isn't one I want to deal with. Adding more chemicals to it in the close quarters doesn't interest me either.

We will be installing 3/8" cork panels next week throughout the boat. Pretty mold proof, breathes naturally, provides sound and temp insulation, naturally fire retardant.

I have high hopes for it. The small tests we have done so far have been encouraging!

At a buck a square foot its not free, but not a bank breaker either.

[Cheechako]

new felt carpet pad is very cheap. I still dont like it in an engine compartment though!

[captainKJ]

Originally Posted by sarafina

old carpet is nasty stuff, and the mold and mildew issue isn't one I want to deal with. Adding more chemicals to it in the close quarters doesn't interest me either.

We will be installing 3/8" cork panels next week throughout the boat. Pretty mold proof, breathes naturally, provides sound and temp insulation, naturally fire retardant.

I have high hopes for it. The small tests we have done so far have been encouraging!

At a buck a square foot its not free, but not a bank breaker either.

would not cork absorb water???? thats what they use in wine bottles and is expands when wet

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by captainKJ

would not cork absorb water???? thats what they use in wine bottles and is expands when wet

And yet... it seems to keep the wine on the inside

[Sailor g]

Originally Posted by xymotic

And yet... it seems to keep the wine on the inside

Not on my boat. The wine seems to disappear

[captainKJ]

Originally Posted by xymotic

And yet... it seems to keep the wine on the inside

it does that by absorbing liquid. have you ever smelled the wet part of a wine cork?????wait till you get one that is 10 years old with fungus on it. it also does not always work,,,if not kept wet the cord will dry out and let air go past it. My concern on a sailboat is if there is ever a leak you would need to replace all the cork to get the mold out.

[capn_billl]

For an engine compartment I would use blocks of pumice, (or simlular material). Fireproof, lightweight, and good sound blocking. Doesn't deteriorate, etc...

[sarafina]

When ya look at that wine cork typically only the surface exposed to the wine is compromised at all, the rest of the material is fine. And that is after being in contact CONSTANTLY with liquid for years. Water on a boat for years? You would have bigger problems than the cork wall covering ; -)

Look at a pair of old Birkenstocks. That's some tough old cork for ya that's been wet and grungy and sweaty for years? Still hanging in there. Fishnet floats are made of cork. I think it's going to be fine, or I wouldn't try it.

Cork is sturdy stuff. It's basically flexible wood, bark, from a very tanic oak tree. It flexes and can be shaped easily to fit the odd shapes in a boat.

If it doesn't work oh well, rubber cement application can be cleaned up pretty easily.

[smik13]

sarafina, Let us know about the cork. I have carpet and I want to replace it. I've had a hard time deciding what material to use. A friend of mine says to leave the carpet and just clean it. But that carpet is itchy!!

[Katiusha]

Originally Posted by sarafina

When ya look at that wine cork typically only the surface exposed to the wine is compromised at all, the rest of the material is fine. And that is after being in contact CONSTANTLY with liquid for years. Water on a boat for years? You would have bigger problems than the cork wall covering ; -)

Look at a pair of old Birkenstocks. That's some tough old cork for ya that's been wet and grungy and sweaty for years? Still hanging in there. Fishnet floats are made of cork. I think it's going to be fine, or I wouldn't try it.

Cork is sturdy stuff. It's basically flexible wood, bark, from a very tanic oak tree. It flexes and can be shaped easily to fit the odd shapes in a boat.

If it doesn't work oh well, rubber cement application can be cleaned up pretty easily.

The only problem we found with cork was that it absorbs oils. In some cases you can get it out with a dishwashing liquid, but not all that we tested.

[hummingway]

Great idea Sara. Cork is naturally water repellant. Any wood product will absorb liquid to some degree or other but bark is meant to repel external forces that might damage the tree and absorbs water much less then the end grain of your teak sole.

How are you planning on finishing it?