Soundproofing a concrete ceiling?

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

I bought my first home in a 1960s apartment building just shy of three months ago. While I love that everything is solid brick/ concrete, I can hear the owners above me. I'm on the ground floor and can hear them watching TV, walking, muffled talking, preparing dinner, the dog moving about etc. I don't think they are louder than the average middle aged couple (I haven't met them yet properly so don't know for sure!) but it is very distracting. Our apartments all have the same layout so my living room is the loudest room (they are always watching tv on it).

The ceiling is also concrete (that in itself is a challenge) so I am seriously considering dropping the ceiling (its currently 2550mm high) and packing the gap with soundproofing material.

So I have a couple of questions:

What is the average amount one loses when dropping the ceiling for soundproofing purposes?
Does soundproofing my ceiling benefit me? Or just my neighbours above?
What sort of costs could I be looking at (I would just want to do two bedrooms and lounge room- combined the space would be around 40 square metres)?

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Soundproofing a concrete ceiling?

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