Thin Wall System Installation Guide

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BE SURE TO READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY BEFORE COMMENCING ANY WORK

NOTE. THESE INSTRUCTIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED OTHERWISE INCORRECT INSTALLATION COULD OCCUR WHICH MAY HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE PERFORMANCE!

Detail of a party wall soundproofed with the Thin Wall System

Step 1.

Ensure all of the products we have supplied for this work are dry and stored correctly before commencing.  The Acoustic Plasterboard must be stored flat as should the M20AD.  All of the products ideally should be at normal room temperature before work begins.  If the work is being conducted in an unheated room and it is cold, this will affect the drying time of the adhesive and must be allowed for.  Installation must never commence in damp conditions or conditions that can encourage condensation!

Step 2.

Ensure the wall to be treated is flat and even and remove skirting boards.  If it has been ‘wet’ plastered, tap it to check the plaster has not ‘blown’  This is when the plaster is coming away from the wall and will sound hollow.  It may also ‘give’ when pressure is put on it.  If blown plaster is found it should be chipped off, replaced and allowed to thoroughly dry before any further work commences.  Also see notes at the end of these instructions.

Step 3.

Remove any electrical fittings.  (A qualified electrician should do this).  Any holes remaining from removed electrical fittings should be infilled with sand/cement and finished flush with the wall.  If any electrical fittings are required on the finished wall, the wiring should be adjusted to compensate for this by the electrician before the hole is filled in.

Step 4.

If the wall contains a fireplace, for best results this should be bricked up and plaster skimmed ready for the application of the soundproofing materials.  Walls containing chimney breasts should also be sound insulated in exactly the same way as the walls.

Step 5.

Before commencing with the installation of any soundproofing onto walls, flanking noise skirting around the sound insulation can reduce effectiveness so to obtain the best result, it is advised the void between the joists in timber suspended floors is filled with AMW type Acoustic Mineral Wool immediately adjacent to the party wall.  In addition, the floor overlaid with a double layer of 2mm SBM5 Soundproofing Mat.  The ceiling above should also have AMW in the void or if a loft is above, then the required amount of fibreglass insulation.  In all cases, the ceiling should have an additional layer of high density Acoustic Plasterboard screwed up with 1mm SoundBlocker Membrane sandwiched between the layers.  Once you are satisfied the floor and ceiling have been properly sound insulated, commencement for soundproofing the wall can begin.

Step 6.

Glue the M20AD panels to the wall starting from the floor and working along finishing each row before moving on the next row.  Use our supplied special aerosol contact adhesive to bond the panels to the wall.  The adhesive has an adjustable nozzle so it is usually better to select the widest spray pattern by turning the nozzle so it aligns with the symbol and usually marked H at one o’clock to the nozzle.  The other settings are M and L for medium and low spray pattern.  (See application instructions on side of can).  Spray the M20AD one panel at a time then spray the corresponding area of wall and bond the panel immediately to the wall taking care to position it correctly.  Continue in this manner across the entire wall surface wall to wall and floor to ceiling.  It is not necessary to leave a gap with this product.  When cutting a panel use a jigsaw then use the offcut to start the next row.  Simply cut a slit in the panel where electrical wiring has to come through.

Step 7.

Glue the first layer of Acoustic Plasterboard to the M20AD panels using the same adhesive and in the same manner by spraying the panel first then the corresponding area of wall and bonding them immediately together taking care to position the panel correctly first time.  When fixing these panels, be sure to keep a small gap all around the perimeter between the panels and floor, ceiling and juxtaposed walls.  Thin packing pieces can be used at floor level to achieve this and can be removed afterwards.  Cut a small hole in any panel for wiring and ensure positioning of the hole is correct before before gluing up the panel and sticking it to the wall.

Step 8.

When the first layer of plasterboard has been fixed the second layer can be bonded in the same manner but use the offcut from the first layer to start the second layer and be sure to keep the same gap around the edges.

Step 9.

Holes for electrical fittings can now be cut out of the plasterboard back to the M20AD but not through it.  A shallow back box should be glued into the hole against the M20AD using a proprietary construction adhesive such as Gripfill.

Step 10.

If taper edged plasterboard has been used the joints can simply be finished with an appropriate filler but if not, the wall will have to be plaster skimmed.  If this is the case, ensure the gap around the perimeter of the wall is maintained and not filled in with the plaster.  When the plaster skim has dried, infill the gap with our flexible Acoustic Sealant, smooth off, allow to dry then decorate.

NOTES

Any electrical fittings should be removed prior to work commencing by a qualified electrician and refitted by the same.  Any holes necessary for wiring should be sealed with our Acoustic Sealant.

Skirting boards can be replaced using a good adhesive.  It is advisable not to use mechanical fixings.

In the case of timber suspended floors and ceilings, noise can sometimes flank around an insulated wall through these areas.  Often, if the joists next to the separating wall are filled with AMW acoustic mineral wool it stops this problem.  As a last resort however, increase the mass of the ceiling by adding an additional layer of Acoustic Plasterboard and/or add at least two layers of our SBM5 soundproofing mat on top of the floor.

Fittings can be attached to the wall using purpose made plasterboard fixings such as Self-drive plasterboard fixings.

JOB’S DONE!

Cross section of party wall soundproofed with the Thin Wall soundproofing system and acoustic plasterboard

If you have any difficulty with the installation or require any additional advice, please contact our Technical department on 0845 363 7131

The contractor shall be responsible for the examination and acceptance of all conditions and project suitability prior to the acoustic tile installation.