Noisy workshop

[Thrashsmith]

Hi all, I've recently relocated to a large Atcost barn type workshop, 18m x 9m with very high ceilings. Breeze block to around 9ft high, then the old corrugated cement board above that.
It's echoey & loud. Drop a bar of steel on the floor & it echos, tap an anvil & it echos...
Can anyone suggest any cheap & quick fixes to help deaden the noise a bit?
Far off long term aim is to have a bit of a mezz floor down one end, but that's a few years away in cash flow!!
Cheers

 

[voipio]

Putting stuff, pretty much any stuff, in the workshop area will help to reduce the sound, especially if the materials themselves are sound absorbing, or create complex echoes (i.e. not flat surfaces). Think cardboard boxes, rough wood, rolls of carpet, soft flooring, straw bales, foam, vehicles, furniture, bags of stuff e.g. coke for the forge. Even steel stockholding on shelves or in racking, will make the echoes "messy" and less of a problem.

Lining the walls with insulating material will also dampen the sound reflections. Putting up partitions, and welding curtains, too. People and clothing will help (think coathooks and overalls).

 

[Beanwood]

Hi all, I've recently relocated to a large Atcost barn type workshop, 18m x 9m with very high ceilings. Breeze block to around 9ft high, then the old corrugated cement board above that.
It's echoey & loud. Drop a bar of steel on the floor & it echos, tap an anvil & it echos...
Can anyone suggest any cheap & quick fixes to help deaden the noise a bit?
Far off long term aim is to have a bit of a mezz floor down one end, but that's a few years away in cash flow!!
Cheers

Give us the address and I’m sure several of us that are local can help find useful treasures that need to be stored and would absorb sound- whilst having the additional benefit of freeing up our own workshop space
Heck out of goodwill we may not even charge for the service!

 

[redlig]

This mornings effort plus it will be topped up this pm with a pile of sound absorbing wet wood /chipboard etc .Pm your address and I can redirect Mondays route . It would be nice to think it would go to a loving new home.
I can guarantee it's noise reduction properties as SWMBO has become strangely silent this morning.

 

[Mark 2]

Shag pile.

 

[RonMig]

Fast, Effective & Cheap solution =
Noise-Cancelling Headphones which bluetooth to your phone for tunes & calls.
like these-
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=anker+q20i+headphones

other makes are available...

 

[RWD3M]

 

[Bullet2012]

I can send SWMBO, nothing can be heard above the racket she makes, especially if she thinks you are listening to her drivel.

 

[Farside]

This mornings effort plus it will be topped up this pm with a pile of sound absorbing wet wood /chipboard etc .Pm your address and I can redirect Mondays route . It would be nice to think it would go to a loving new home.
I can guarantee it's noise reduction properties as SWMBO has become strangely silent this morning.

View attachment 464988

There's some good stuff in there!

 

[Arc Tourist]

Don't know the cost, but something fire retardant would seem to be in order to cover your insurance. Consider looking into spray on insulation for the areas you deem a problem. Perhaps there is a DIY type of mix that can be put on through a rented sprayer ?

 

[redlig]

There's some good stuff in there!

Believe me if there was anything worth saving I would have found it.Point of honour ,nothing escapes the Redlig sorting system.

 

[redlig]

Shag pile.

So you've met her as well then.

 

[Erie Fred]

How about strips of carpeting hung along the ceiling ?

For example, 2' wide x 12' long scraps or used pieces, hung vertically.
The 12' length is against the ceiling, they hang down 2'.

Maybe space these every 4'.

 

[Hitch]

View attachment 465002

You'd need a lot of them to cover the walls.

 

[redlig]

You'd need a lot of them to cover the walls.

Not if they are 20ft high and 6 ft dia. who can tell from the photo ?

 

[gaz1]

Hi all, I've recently relocated to a large Atcost barn type workshop, 18m x 9m with very high ceilings. Breeze block to around 9ft high, then the old corrugated cement board above that.
It's echoey & loud. Drop a bar of steel on the floor & it echos, tap an anvil & it echos...
Can anyone suggest any cheap & quick fixes to help deaden the noise a bit?
Far off long term aim is to have a bit of a mezz floor down one end, but that's a few years away in cash flow!!
Cheers

put walls up and only insulate where the noisey stuff will be

sounds silly but moving blanckets dull the sound from echoing