Mass-Loaded Vinyl Barriers Might Help Block Noise From Above

Q. We recently moved into a condominium. We hear a great deal of noise from the unit above us, including footsteps and various appliances. Is there anything we can do about this?

Space-age materials such as mass-loaded vinyl barrier, or MLV, make it simpler and more effective to block unwanted noises in buildings, but it is still a very complex undertaking. Sound control is best achieved when buildings are being constructed, and retrofit projects sometimes get poor results.

MLV is a dense, heavy, flexible sheet material that can be used as underlayment for floors to reduce some kinds of noise transmission through ceilings. It can also be used as a pad under carpets with good effect. I have also seen it stated that the barrier can be used in suspended ceilings (laid on the ceiling panels above the grid) to muffle noise, but I have doubts about this application the grid would have to be very strong to support MLV, which can weigh up to 2 pounds per square foot.

Other factors also come into play that can complicate retrofit soundproofing. Heating and air-conditioning ducts, plumbing pipes and electrical outlets are just a few possible sources of sound transmission.

In a condominium, you will almost certainly need the cooperation of the condo association and the owner above to accomplish any effective results, so you should probably start by discussing the problem with them and with neighbors who might have the same problem. For more information on MLV and sound control, visit the Web site soundproof ing.org/infopages/flooring.htm.

Q. Our house, built in the 1960s, has hardwood floors. Lately, we have been finding tiny piles of fine dust on some of the floor boards, sometimes with a dead beetle nearby. There are tiny holes in the boards. Will refinishing stop this?

Your floor is infested with powder-post beetles, possibly brought on by excessive moisture in the wood. If the floor's finish is badly worn, providing easy access for beetles seeking to lay eggs, refinishing might help prevent new attacks. But it won't help eliminate the larvae already in the wood.

Your best bet is to contact a licensed exterminator experienced with treating powder-post beetles. Fumigation is sometimes required to clear up attacks of these beetles, and the materials used are available only to trained exterminators. A thorough examination of your floor and subfloor is needed to determine the proper treatment.

QUICK TIP: Uninsulated attic hatches and pull-down stairs can be a major source of heat loss in winter and hot-air infiltration in summer. Flat hatches are fairly simple to insulate just staple or glue some insulation to the top but the configuration of pull-down stairs makes effectively insulating them more difficult. Excellent guidance, complete with drawings, is available at the Web site south face.org. Enter "attic access insulation" in the search space, and then click on the third link that appears (labeled "attic access") to view the text and drawings.

Write to Gene Austin at doit861@aol.com or 1730 Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422.

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