Putting In Small Window

[Action Figga]

Hello, Ive began building a vocal booth in my room. The walls have two layers of beams.. as : sheetrock-beam-plywood-beam- sheetrock. This is about 9 inches thick.. Im trying to find the best solution as to how to construct two 3 x 3 plexi glass windows, with air space. By construct I mean the best ways to insulate it, as well as how to hold it in the wall with a quality appearence. Would it be better to utilize the windows as far apart as possible? if so how ??? What supplies do I need??? any help would be appreciated

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

[QUOTEHello, Ive began building a vocal booth in my room.[/QUOTE]

Hi, welcome to the board. Ok, when you say you are "building a vocal booth" in your "room"...what do you mean by "building". In other words, are you "building a FREESTANDING NEW STRUCTURE" within an existing room? Or are you MODIFYING the existing walls of this room to improve the TRANSMISSION LOSS of the existing walls, or what?

The walls have two layers of beams.. as : sheetrock-beam-plywood-beam- sheetrock. This is about 9 inches thick..

Is this the way the walls are EXISTING, or are you ADDING something(ie second set of studs and drywall or plywood? Please be clear. Have you already done this or is this just a plan? If it is JUST A PLAN...HOLD YOUR HORSES!!! You do NOT want to build it this way. Unless this wall is ALREADY built this way, you would be making a very big mistake, as this would be whats known as a TRIPLE LEAF, which you do NOT WANT! And also..when you say "This is about 9 inches thick..", is this just the plan, or it actually exists already with a dimension of "about 9"?

If it already exists, are the studs in both walls 2x4, and if so, are both sets of studs touching the PLYWOOD shiething in the middle of these two walls?

Is this what it looks like?



If so, I have some things to tell you, so please get back to me if you want REAL help. Thanx

fitZ

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

One further bit of explanation. IF, this is an existing wall, and you are NOT building a FREESTANDING "booth" within the room, and this WALL is actually one of the "booth" boundarys, then in order to maximize the potential TRANSMISSION LOSS of this assembly, you MUST do some things that will keep it from being a TRIPLE LEAF ASSEMBLY, which is actually WORSE, than a TWO LEAF assembly. I can tell you how, but I need the info I asked for above.
fitZ

[Myriad_Rocker]

Also, I'd use laminate glass and not plexi.

[CMunch]

Isn`t that wall construction gonna create problems?

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Also, I'd use laminate glass and not plexi.

I wouldn't. Reason being, IF, he wants the transmission loss of the window, to match what I WAS going to suggest, which is a TWO leaf wall, with 2 layers of 5/8" drywall on each leaf, then the glass would have to be ONE pane of 3/4" and ONE pane of 1/2" glass. This glass would be expensive enough. However, finding or even ordering it in LAMINATED form would be...lets just say...OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive.

However, this all has to do with the existing structure vs how much isolation he REALLY needs, can afford, and be willing to go the lengths it takes to get there. Which MOST HR enthusiasts are NOT.

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Isn`t that wall construction gonna create problems?

It depends on the transmission loss target. If you don't have one...well, no, it won't.

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hey, KNOCK KNOCK....anyone there? You already have some input..where are you?

[Myriad_Rocker]

Originally Posted by RICK FITZPATRICK

I wouldn't. Reason being, IF, he wants the transmission loss of the window, to match what I WAS going to suggest, which is a TWO leaf wall, with 2 layers of 5/8" drywall on each leaf, then the glass would have to be ONE pane of 3/4" and ONE pane of 1/2" glass. This glass would be expensive enough. However, finding or even ordering it in LAMINATED form would be...lets just say...OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive.

However, this all has to do with the existing structure vs how much isolation he REALLY needs, can afford, and be willing to go the lengths it takes to get there. Which MOST HR enthusiasts are NOT.

In Rod's book, "Build It Like The Pros", he says to avoid plexi. I forget why exactly.

So, laminate glass that is thick enough to create mass equal to the wall would be that expensive? hmmm...I wouldn't have thought so. Makes me wonder about my plans.

[CMunch]

This definately the wrong way to put in a window.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxdnJjN-UCM

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

So, laminate glass that is thick enough to create mass equal to the wall would be that expensive? hmmm...I wouldn't have thought so. Makes me wonder about my plans.

It was Rod who told me that the glass mass to match a two leaf wall with double layers of 5?8" drywall, would have to be a pane of 3/4" and a pane of 1/2". He never mentioned "laminated", as I'm sure that not only is price a factor, but breakage of these thickness is very difficult.

Here is a section through this wall with window assembly. However, there are three or four solution options to this type wall. The one in section here is using the booth side of the wall as an "inside out" wall, whereby you would remove the drywall from the booth side, RE-install 2 layers of drywall in the STUD CAVITYS, fill the cavitys with insulation, cover with fabric. Apply another layer of 5/8" drywall to the opposite wall face. That gives a TWO LEAF double layer wall assembly with an absorption layer on the booth side. Of course, to post all the details now would be a waste of time untill we know what Cmunch's conditions are, not to mention..well, budget, skills, other wall/floor/door/ceiling conditions are, as well is he renting or owning, etc etc

[Myriad_Rocker]

Originally Posted by RICK FITZPATRICK

It was Rod who told me that the glass mass to match a two leaf wall with double layers of 5?8" drywall, would have to be a pane of 3/4" and a pane of 1/2". He never mentioned "laminated", as I'm sure that not only is price a factor, but breakage of these thickness is very difficult.

The laminate glazing stuff he talks about is in his book. I'll have to read it again. It may be that his stance against plexi was it's non-scratch resistance and tendency to "haze". I think the reason for laminate was because of the separation of the panes in one single sheet of glass. Again, I'll have to review that section of the book one more time.

[Myriad_Rocker]

Okay, here are Rod's exact words from his book about Plexiglass...

"Plexiglass is a plastic sheet manufactured for a wide variety of uses. However, none of those uses includes sound isolation. This material just does not have the qualities you need. Remember that you need mass equal to the mass of the wall sheathing, stiffness to control the lowest frequencies, and a product that is going to hold up well over the lifetime of your studio (hopefully a long time). Plexiglass tends to scratch easily, and it can quickly become tiring to look through once this begins to happen.

So use this product for where it's design - and use glass in your windows and doors."

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Okay, here are Rod's exact words from his book about Plexiglass...

Why are you carrying on about plexiglas? I never ever implied the use of plexi was ok. If anything, here is my words..PAY ATTENTION ...

you said:

Quote:
Also, I'd use laminate glass and not plexi.

I said...

I wouldn't. Reason being, IF, he wants the transmission loss of the window, to match what I WAS going to suggest, which is a TWO leaf wall, with 2 layers of 5/8" drywall on each leaf, then the glass would have to be ONE pane of 3/4" and ONE pane of 1/2" glass.[

Rod said...

you need mass equal to the mass of the wall sheathing

now where did I imply to use "plexi". I said EXACTLY what Rod did, and EVEN quoted the thickness of the glass.

The ONLY thing I was dis-agreeing with...was LAMINATED GLASS...BECAUSE..try to find 3/4" and 1/2 LAMINATED GLASS!!! You can get it...but how deep are your pockets? geeeezus...you wasted your time trying to make me look like an idiot when in reality..YOU WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION. Now, good day sir.

[Myriad_Rocker]

Originally Posted by RICK FITZPATRICK

geeeezus...you wasted your time trying to make me look like an idiot when in reality..YOU WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION. Now, good day sir.

What the hell, man? Seriously, who took a whiz in your cereal this morning? Never once did I imply or lead you to believe that I was trying to make you look like an idiot. Or even prove you wrong, for that matter. Perhaps in your post earlier I thought you were implying the use of plexi because you didn't tell the OP not to use it. I don't claim to know a ton about any of this and I'm quite sure I don't know as much as you. I'm just following the text. I haven't researched how much laminate glass is. But really, there's no reason for you to fly off the handle about this on a damn forum. I think that perhaps you have had a lot of people attack you on here and you immediately take a defensive posture when someone questions what you say. I wasn't trying to instigate an argument. I thought we were DISCUSSING what Rod said. Apparently not, though. So forget it. I'm retiring from this thread. I'll make sure to stay out of your way from now on.

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Perhaps in your post earlier I thought you were implying the use of plexi because you didn't tell the OP not to use it

Perhaps I was paying attention to the fact that YOU ALREADY TOLD HIM NOT TO USE PLEXI.....

Also, I'd use laminate glass and not plexi.

I simply disagreed on the "laminated" issue.

What the hell, man? Seriously, who took a whiz in your cereal this morning? Never once did I imply or lead you to believe that I was trying to make you look like an idiot

Hmmm, I seem to remember this...

Okay, here are Rod's exact words from his book about Plexiglass...

I'd already told you what Rod said to me. This looked like you were trying to prove a point about plexi.. when there was nothing to prove.

Anyway, sorry if I offended you. When somebody goes out of their way to prove something that I wasn't even defending...well, it kinda ruffles my feathers after I'd already dismissed the issue at least twice.

I wasn't trying to instigate an argument.

Fair enough.

I thought we were DISCUSSING what Rod said.

YOU were the only one discussing what Rod said or not. I already told you what ROD SAID TO ME. So what was there to discuss when Plexi wasn't even an issue at this point. Somehow, by my failure to verbally dismiss Plex as a viable choice for a window, you got it in your mind that I was saying Plexi was OK.

Apparently not, though. So forget it. I'm retiring from this thread. I'll make sure to stay out of your way from now on.

Whatever. Thats your perogative. I only defended myself.

[Dogbreath]

I got it as more of letting the OP and others (like me ) know the reasons behind why plexiglass is not a good idea.

No beef...just info.

C'mon, both of ya...I'll buy yas a beer.

[CMunch]

Originally Posted by Dogbreath

I got it as more of letting the OP and others (like me ) know the reasons behind why plexiglass is not a good idea.

No beef...just info.

C'mon, both of ya...I'll buy yas a beer.

Sorry bud cleaned ya out last nite,left ye half a kebab and a pavement pizza in the dogs bed tho.

[Dogbreath]

damn...

I see ya left the DIET beer tho.

[gethypedmusic]

Whats even worse is that through all that... the guy who posted the thread never even came back. Haha. But you guys are genius at this stuff and oh so helpful. I had the same question that guy did.... So if you could continue this thread on to help me? Im going to take some pictures and post them and tell you guys what i would like and i would LOVE suggestions : )

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

So if you could continue this thread on to help me?

I'd suggest starting your own thread. We're here to help.

I had the same question that guy did...

Thats cool. Except I hope you DON"T have the same type wall construction. It makes a BIG difference.
fitZ