How loud is your sim room?

[JCross]

I'm considering building an attachment to my house to be used as a sim room, and I'm a little concerned about the noise it will generate. The room would be on the same level as our bedrooms, but not directly adjacent to them. Additionally, it would be fairly close (about 10 feet) from our neighbors house. I'm looking into different sound-proofing options, but I would like to get an idea of exactly how much sound-proofing I will need. If you currently have a sim room, could you give me some feedback on your experiences with noise? For example:

Where is the room located in your house (distance from bedrooms, etc.)?
Do you ever disturb other people in your house?
Can you hit while others are sleeping?
What, if anything, have you done to dampen the noise?
Have you ever received complaints from neighbors?

Really appreciate any and all feedback/advice. Thanks so much!

[csmith10]

It’s loud, even a driver is loud even outdoors, you can deaden the sound from a the screen a bit. I’m in a fully insulated basement and the “thud” can be heard from the third floor. Dogs go up and hide when we are playing.

[Sixmudd]

I'm considering building an attachment to my house to be used as a sim room, and I'm a little concerned about the noise it will generate. The room would be on the same level as our bedrooms, but not directly adjacent to them. Additionally, it would be fairly close (about 10 feet) from our neighbors house. I'm looking into different sound-proofing options, but I would like to get an idea of exactly how much sound-proofing I will need. If you currently have a sim room, could you give me some feedback on your experiences with noise? For example:

Where is the room located in your house (distance from bedrooms, etc.)?
Do you ever disturb other people in your house?
Can you hit while others are sleeping?
What, if anything, have you done to dampen the noise?
Have you ever received complaints from neighbors?

Really appreciate any and all feedback/advice. Thanks so much!

Mine is setup in my basement and the thud (ball hitting into screen) can be heard on the third floor. What’s even louder though is when you hit driver, the sound of the driver hitting the ball. That can make my wife jump especially when she’s not expecting it. I haven’t tried hitting when my wife is sleeping, but I would probably recommend against it. No complaints from neighbors though lol. But even if they did, tough on them.

[intentionally]

My detached garage is right by a condo building. I used acoustic insulation, 2 sheets of acoustic drywall and green glue, as well as adding additional acoustic sealant and weather stripping on doors and windows. Coupled with gym mats, carpet and drapes behind. It’s probably overkill but I didn’t want my neighbors to hate me. If the door is closed you can hardly hear a thing.

[Kaos]

I to am adding a simulator room addition. I have done a lot of research because I will be hitting most of the time at night and the room addition will be under the master bedroom side window and adjacent to the living room. You need to consider STC ratings. Here is a common table of the STC associated with common sound.

25	Normal speech can be understood
30	Loud speech can be understood
35	Loud speech audible but not intelligible
40	Loud speech audible as a murmur
45	Loud speech heard but not audible
50	Loud sounds faintly heard
60+	Good soundproofing; most sounds do not disturb neighbouring residents

I have my contractor shooting for a STC 60 soundproofing with an added external insulated door leading into the room addition. I am going with the CLARKDIETRICH SOUND CLIP (Rubber based clips with resilient channel) together with 5/8" Type C sheetrock (more expensive than Type X, but better soundproofing) and R-19 Insulation 2" x 4" Wood Stud resulting in a 60 STC sound proofing rating. Installation is key with resilient channels (e.g. if the screws go through the channel into the stud you defeat the purpose). The windows and doors are the biggest issue. I am having the external windows and door located away from the bedroom windows to minimize the sound transmission. I'm praying that the steps I'm taking will keep me out of trouble with the wife. It is added cost but divorce is more expensive! lol. Realize though that the 60STC is based on lab tests so you may not achieve 60STC. But, I figure that if I can get more than 55 STC I should be fine. I may have to add some additional sound reduction to the internal entry door, depending on the results. I am also planning, if necessary, to add some thick curtains that can be used to help with the window and sliding door. I am going to wait and see before adding the curtains.

Kaos

[JCross]

Thanks Kaos, this is excellent information. I've been targeting an STC rating of around 55, so it's good to know that I'm in the right ballpark. I know the STC rating scale doesn't consider low frequency sounds, but I'm hoping a good quality impact screen will take care of that part. I would be very interested in hearing how your build goes, since it seems you are in a similar situation to me. Good luck!

[mthunt]

You'll be fine. Just get a quality screen. My kid has 175 ball speed and I can go to sleep with him hitting one level down.

[JCross]

Thanks mthunt. Out of curiosity, what screen are you using? I've heard good things about Carl's premium screen regarding noise, and someone else on this thread mentioned Par2Pro SQ.

[mthunt]

Right now I’m using the Par2Pro SQ and I love it. Super quiet.

[3on3putt]

I'll give you some more hope ....

My sim is in my garage. I play at night after the kids are asleep. They are one floor above the garage but on the opposite side of the house (so not directly above it). No problems waking them up.

For the last few weeks, my 4 year old has been sleeping in the room directly above the garage (long story involving some room changes). At first I was worried I would wake her up but it hasn't been a problem at all. So she is now sleeping directly above where I'm hitting and my wife says our daughter hasn't woken up once from it. I haven't done anything special to soundproof the garage or anything. The only "sound proofing" I do is keep the door that leads into the house closed.

[Kaos]

I currently hit in the garage. The garage is located below the master bedroom. My wife said she can hear every hit clearly. So, I cannot hit when she goes to bed without keeping her up (not good for me). That is why I am doing the addition and having the soundproofing done. You are much better off doing it now then not and finding out after the fact that you should have done it.

Kaos

[Jason Penner]

The only thing loud is driver/woods if you get a quaility screen no thud. Par2pro SQ screen

[Burtgolf]

I have been in the garage for 2 years now and a new neighbor next door moved in about 3 months ago. I just got a visit from him the other night as he was walking by and seen me in there hitting away. He said he can hear it but had no clue what it was and was happy to find out what it was. He said he was thinking someone was using a nail gun and was in no hurry to finish the project and just put a nail in the wall, go have a drink or smoke and put another nail in the wall... HAHAHA .. My little man is in the room directly above where I am hitting from and he says he can hear when I am hitting the driver but not the irons.

[JCross]

Thanks Burt. It helps to have easygoing neighbors haha