On Site with a Soundproofing Crew
Soundproofing an existing stairwell involves some special constraints. Removing the skirt board for the stair treads is beyond the scope of this job. So the crew has to leave the skirt board, and the drywall behind it, in place — where it will continue to transmit vibrations through the wall. It’s important to inform clients that some sound may still be heard through this solid point of contact with the neighboring unit. This wall could have been soundproofed more effectively, and far less expensively, had the work been done during the original construction instead of as a retrofit, says contractor Joseph Drago.