Which is better???

Ok, as some of you might know, I have been remodeling a back room of my house. So far I have been able to get some sheetrock up on the ceiling and one wall. I used 1/2" sheetrock on the ceiling and the wall because the wall is an interior wall and had Celotex already on it.

Now my question is for the remaining 2 walls, which are exterior walls, is 1/2" ok or should I use 5/8" sheetrock like I was planning on using?? I was told that 5/8" sheetrock will provide a little better sound deadening for the outside walls. Also, these walls have brand new insulation in them.

Thanks,

5/8" typically has a better fire rating, and it might be quieter...depends somewhat on the care you use to install it.

In genereal the thicker the sheetrock the better soundproof. Architects use multiple layers, sometimes with a resiliant channel (sheet metal Z cross section) to offset a second (or third) sheet.

Most drywallers use 5/8" for ceilings. Heat collects at the top of a room and you don't want it escaping.

Tom

sheetrock

ANY solid material is poor for soundproofing or insulation. The Celotex also is usually installed on the exterior of the wall not the interior. for your purposes there may be little advantage to using 5/8" material.

Just remember that the Celotex is only there because that wall USED to be the outside of the house. When this room was enclosed, they put stucco over the top of the siding. I have taken the stucco and the original siding off. If I removed the Celotex, I would have a couple of issues (notice the thick wooden boards arouind the opening under the house??) . It was just easier to just leave the Celotex up and put new sheetrock on top of it.

Pictures are in order from how the wall looked to start. Then after removing horrible paneling and stucco to reveal the original house siding. Then removing siding to reveal the Celotex. The studs in the first picture are where there used to be a window into the kitchen that was closed up when the kitchen was remodeled in Nov/Dec 2006.

I tell you the printing on that Celotex looks like its from the 1920's. How long have they been making that stuff?