Step One: Not So Fast Buster!

The simple part was supposed to be the framing of the wall. Since we aren't reinventing the wheel here, or more aptly: we aren't making a load-bearing wall, we thought this part would be zippy. Affix some 1 x 2's the to wall and PRESTO! We are ready to get into the real soundproofing problem-solving.

Um, no.

So here was our problem. Affixing wood to plaster, mortar, and brick is not as easy as it might seem. We tried e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. We tried the second lowest calibre cartridges (browns, for those in the know) for our cartridge hammer. Some nails would go in, some would stick out a 1/4 to 1/2/ inch from the wood. We ramped it up to the next calibre cartridges, the greens, and they either worked perfectly, blew right through the wood, or split it. More often they split the wood. We tried drilling with our brand spankin' new percussion drill (what a heavy monster!) then screwing our masonry screws with lock washers, and they all pulled out. Yes, we used the right bit with the accompanying screws. In the end, we pulled off about one third of our work and started over. Whether it was the brick, the calibre of cartridge, or the size of the wood pieces that accounted for the problems, we don't know. In the end, a job that should have taken a couple of hours took us all day, and we still have one section to finish. Luckily we had Grandma there to watch the baby for us so the two of us could work through it all. Thanks Grandma!

Here is what a properly nailed board should look like:

Nice and flush, no splitting. Except, here is what a lot of them looked like:

Now, I know all you handy people out there are saying: "If only they'd done _____!" Well, we didn't have that magic trick in our carpet bag, so after some muttered curses and musings, and a phone call to my dad in Alberta, we finally got the wall to look like this:

So next up (after we finish off the last wee bit of wall) we install the Sonopanel and resilient channel. Can I even hope that those parts will go smoothly?

On another aside: We are replacing our hollow old doors from the 50's on the second floor with six panel solid wood doors with original or vintage hardware. D managed to find two doors on Craigslist for $5 a piece that would almost fit two of the three doors (we'll have to cut them in length slightly). Then, on that same night coming home, he discovered another six panel door on the side of the road out for garbage pick up - SCORE! And miraculously, it is the right size too, with a little trimming off the length. So here they wait for some sanding and repainting. All for ten bucks!