Unlike other construction projects, building a sound studio requires painstaking attention to the details. This is because material used in any type of construction project comes with a resonant frequency; by tapping into that frequency, sound begins to resonate. When a client seeks out a professional, like yourself, controlling the sound in that studio is critical to their bottom line.

Absorbing The Sound

Among the biggest misconceptions surrounding the construction of a sound studio is that acoustic foam -- in and of itself -- is capable of soundproofing a room. Acoustic foam is extremely efficient at absorbing reflected (also referred to as ambient) sounds in a room. While you can achieve minimal levels of sound isolation, acoustic foam is not designed to keep sounds contained within a room.

For projects involving either new construction, or a newly built soundproof wall, products such as sound barriersáor high performanceáacoustic panelsáshould be included to achieve the highest levels of noise reduction.

Wall Construction

For most existing structures, the walls will not be thick enough, as is, to provide a sufficient sound barrier. However, when clients complain that their existing walls are so "paper thin" they can hear any and everything happening outside, that's a clear indication that the wall is void of insulation. By simply removing the existing gypsum board, adding soundproof insulation, then replacing the gypsum wall with multiple layers, you'll achieve a much better sound barrier for the room.

Of course, you must take extra precaution to close off all seams in the studio area (using caulk, taping and mudding) to prevent sound from escaping. Airtight construction is critical because like its fellow elements air and water, sound quickly and easily escapes through any gap... even the tiniest ones.

For projects that allow for brand new construction from the ground up, the best way to achieve soundproofing is to create a room within a room. The way to achieve this is simple: The interior walls of the room which will be used as the studio should not connect (or even be adjacent to) any of the exterior walls. Further, you should leave some airspace between the soundproof studio wall and the exterior wall. The soundproofing treatments built into the interior wall will have the benefit of having an additional layer of protection -- and possibly the best sound barrier available.á

Creating a Soundproof Ceiling

The rules for constructing a soundproof ceiling are much the same as it is for the walls. Gypsum board can be layered over the existing ceiling, or if funds are available, an entirely new ceiling can be constructed a bit lower than the existing ceiling. In fact, the new, lowered ceiling can actually rest on top of the newly soundproofed walls you've just completed.

While light fixtures are often mounted within the ceilings at many sound studios, in the soundproof studio room, you will want to minimize the number and size of the light fixture boxes. Again, the goal inside the studio room is to alleviate areas through which sound can escape. In these rooms, if at all possible, utilize floor lamps and wall-mounted light fixtures.

Further, if the studio room is small, consider using noise control panelsáon the ceilings to provide a protective sound barrier.

Floor Construction Tips

Within rooms where every sound matters, the floor construction cannot simply be overlooked, as sound reflects off every material within the room. Products such as floating floorsáandáacoustic isolation pads can help to reduce sound transfer. The acoustic isolation pads are effective for both wood and concrete floors.

There are also a number of budget friendly subfloor solutions that work well with all types of flooring, from wood to carpeting to concrete. In most cases, these acoustic treatments used beneath the flooring in a sound studio will not only reduce noise in the room, they also create moisture barriers, aiding in the prevention of mold and mildew.

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Photo credit: Andrew Stawarz / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0)

With spring right around the corner, many homeowners will be looking to sell their houses. This is considered to be real estate prime selling season, and if you are considering putting your home on the market this is the time to start working on some home improvement projects.

"The key is to invest in some projects that will raise your home's value is to consider projects that appeal to the buyers that will be flooding the market very soon. Here are the top 3 ways to improve property value this spring."

Installing a Sprinkler System

The first thing that people will see when they drive up to your home with a realtor is your front lawn. The curl appeal of your house is like a first impression during a business meeting. In order to have a beautiful full and green lawn, you should invest in a new sprinkler system. The sprinkler system will help to maintain your healthy lawn automatically each day.

Home buyers will definitely appreciate seeing that nice green landscaping and knowing that the entire watering process is done automatically. This home improvement project can increase both the curb appeal and the value of your property.

Installing Energy-Efficient Appliances

The kitchen is where families will spend the majority of time in the house. Outdated appliances can really take away from the appeal of the kitchen, and they definitely will cost the new homeowner in the long run. When you purchase new energy efficient appliances you increase the value of the home immediately.

Each appliance you install will net you twice what you spend to purchase it. Match all the appliances in color and make sure to highlight to the buyers that the entire kitchen appliance package is brand new, energy efficient, and will save them a significant amount in utilities costs this year.

Converting a Spare Room

If you have a game room, home office, or spare room in the house, convert it into a bedroom to improve the value of your home. The bottom line when it comes to valuing a home is that the more bedrooms it has, the more the house is valued at.

Buyers need to feel what it would be like to own a home with that many bedrooms, so don't simply tell them they can convert that home office to a bedroom, do it for them. Paint the room in neutral colors and add some simple bedroom furniture to it. Let them feel the house with more bedrooms, and you will fetch a lot more money for you home in the end.

Invest wisely in your home improvement projects and you will see a nice increase in the value of your home. Make sure your focus is on the return, and not the look or feel of an item. A new swimming pool might appeal to some, but it is not going to get you much in return.

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1. Photo credit: KOMUnews / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

2. Photo credit: William Hook / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

For LEED certification, a building can earn a certain number of points in a number of different areas to show that it has been constructed in an environmentally conscious fashion. LEED credentialing, also known as LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), is a program that certifies a contractor has had a certain amount of training or education in environmentally friendly construction techniques, in addition to other requirements.

Benefits of the LEED AP Program

By becoming LEED AP credentialed, your business will be able to more confidently bid on commercial construction that requires LEED certification. LEED credentialing also shows that you will take a higher standard of care on your projects and you can take pride in a job well done. You can provide better value for your clients through reduced energy costs, tax credits, healthier employees and better public relations. At the same time, you'll have a lower overhead by cutting construction waste while charging a higher premium for your expertise.á

LEED AP also helps you keep up with the latest changes in the industry. As you maintain your accreditation, you'll stay on top of all the changes that are going on while staying at the top of your clients' list of go-to contractors for their next big project. You'll also be a step ahead of the competition because of your specific knowledge in the field.

Your professional reputation will also benefit from LEED AP credentialing. Beyond being able to show that you know how to work with the LEED program through a certified building, it shows that you are very familiar with the entire process and the technologies behind it. If a client's question is outside your area of expertise, you've got contacts within the LEED AP program that can subcontract under you.

The Process of LEED AP Credentialing

For commercial contracting, you'll want to look at the specific LEED AP credential BD+C, which is intended for building designers, architects and commercial contractors. These categories typically include a building's efficiency and environmental impact during the initial new construction and site impact. The credentialing process itself involves a number of different areas where you must show experience or education.

Because LEED certified buildings have features that exceed those of standard building design, it's highly recommended that you work on at least one or two projects before starting the process, though it's no longer required for the credentialing process. To take the exam, you'll need to be at least 18 and you'll need to get 170 points out of 200 on the exam, which is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Arabic and French.

The biggest part of the process is studying for and sitting the exam. The questions fall under task questions, aimed at showing that you have the skills needed to get a building LEED certified, or knowledge tasks, which are intended to show that you have the knowledge to build the documentation for a LEED certified building.áOur ebook includes a number of references that you'll find helpful for LEED AP.á

Now that you've had the opportunity to see how LEED AP credentialing can benefit your business, why not take the next step? Our free LEED AP Credentialing for Commercial Contractors ebook is available for download - just it out below.

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Photo credit: OregonDOT / Foter / CC BYá

BranderGuard / Foter / CC BY

To get your drywall installed properly and potentially avoid making some costly mistakes, you need to master some of the most important tips.

Buy the right materials

• Drywall sheets ? Take into account the size of the area where you need to install drywall so that you may buy the right size and number of sheets needed. If you need drywall for wet areas like the kitchen or bathroom, make sure you go for the mold and moisture resistant drywall.
• Joint Material ? although premixed joint material is easy to work with, after initial use you can?t store it for future use as it dries out over time. Powdered joint material can be used many times over time because it?s always fresh every time you mix it yourself.

Get the right tools

Some tools like a screw gun, different sizes of taping knives (4-12 inches) and pole sanders are specifically more important when installing drywall, but a lot of other general tools like a tape measure, mixing tools and T-square among others will also make your work easier

Measure more than once before cutting

Cutting the sheets only when you are sure of the measurements will avoid wastage. If there is any electrical box you have to measure its height from the floor and its distance from the nearest corner or adjacent board, then transfer the exact measurements to the drywall sheet where you will need to cut out a hole of the same size and shape.

Do the installation together with a friend

You need extra hands to hang the boards especially for the ceilings. Taping and applying mud to more joints especially for a large room can also be done faster if you have someone helping you. Each of you will focus on ensuring you do the job properly and no important step is likely to be overlooked.

Hang the drywall sheets for the ceiling first

Always hang the drywall boards for the ceiling first and then hang walls starting from the upper section going downwards to the floor.

During the entire process of drywall installation, make sure to follow the manufacturer?s specifications for every material you will be using.

Every business, no matter the industry or company size, looks for a competitive edge. This means hiring the best people, designing plans and programs to keep them, take pride and ownership of the products and services you offer, and run your business as efficiently as you can.

When it comes to general contractors, an often-overlooked way to gain a step up on the competition is to build an effective supply chain for construction supplies and tools.

Wallboard Supply Company

• Metal Framing
• Drywall
• Specialty Panels
• Insulation
• Trims
• Drywall Finishing & Plasters
• Weatherization
• Acoustical Ceilings
• Acoustical Products
• Lumber
• Exterior Finishes
• Interior Finishes
• Fasteners & Sealant
• Tools

Each branch is open Monday through Friday from 5:30 AM to 5 PM. Each branch has the ability to deliver and unload on your job site.

Quality is important to Wallboard Supply because our customers expect to give their jobs first quality building materials ? let?s face it, your reputation depends upon the total quality of your delivered jobs.

In addition to top of the line building materials, our staff is top of the line too. Our people know the construction industry and have years of experience. These two factors, expansive high quality inventory, and an experienced, knowledgeable staff help you stay on budget, on schedule and within specifications.

Delivery Service

That is why we make sure that your supplies arrive on time every time. We have a variety of delivery vehicles including boom trucks, which all our truck drivers work. When our trucks arrive at your job site, our people distributeáyour product through the site so it is close to where workers use them. In addition, we schedule deliveries as early as 6 AM at your request; for special circumstances, we offer same day delivery. Order today and we will deliver tomorrow. We make every effort to deliver by 7 AM, but if you need an after-hours delivery, we can do it! We are flexible in our delivery schedules and work with you and offer deliveries any time during the workday.

Your Preferred Vendor

Our clients know working with us is a smart idea, our four state locations now serve projects in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York. Customersáknow that any supplies they need including,

• Fasteners
• Fire treated lumber
• Insulation
• Metal framing
• Drywall
• And more!

Will be delivered on time, on budget and within quality specifications.

Contact Us or Stop By a Showroom

Visit or call us for more information about how we can help your construction business grow and open an account.

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