Basement sound proof

When sound proofing a basement ceiling you have to understand STC rating (sound transmission class). Sonopan only has an stc rating of 27. The best method is rockwool batts, resilient channel, sonopan then 5/8 drywall. This method will get you around 60 stc rating. Applying only sonopan is just a waste of time and money.

No — Sonopan / “sona pad” sheets alone are not enough to properly soundproof a basement ceiling. What your contractor did is basic sound reduction, not real soundproofing.

Its better to use 3 layer of sound proofing while you want to be more efficient . Soundproof rockwool insulation, Reclines Chanel and 5/8 ceiling which cover 90% of issues.

Start with hat track Sonoma sheets and dry wall staggering the joints to improve sound proof transfer is the best procedure l know of.

Sona pad / Sonopan sheets help with sound reduction, but they do not fully soundproof a basement ceiling on their own. What your contractor installed is a basic noise reduction system, which can reduce footsteps and some airborne noise, but it will not block sound completely. For proper basement soundproofing, a combination of methods is usually required: Mineral wool or acoustic insulation between joists Resilient channel or sound isolation clips to decouple the drywall from the structure Double-layer drywall (often with sound-dampening compound like Green Glue) Proper sealing of gaps, penetrations, and ductwork If only Sonopan and drywall were installed directly to the joists, it’s considered partial sound control, not full soundproofing. Whether this is “ok” depends on your expectations. If you wanted reduced noise, it’s acceptable. If you wanted true soundproofing, additional work would be required.

No it’s not enough to make the basement soundproof you will need to insulate the ceiling before sons pad

I’ve been looking into it, and I’m a bit worried that just the SONOpan and one layer of drywall won’t be enough to stop the noise from upstairs. If the drywall is screwed directly into the wood joists, the vibrations and footsteps will still travel right through. To make it actually soundproof, it usually needs mineral wool insulation inside the ceiling and "resilient channels" to keep the drywall from touching the wood. I just wanted to make sure you don't have to redo it after. Thanks