Soundproof your ceiling against upstairs neighbour noise in Mallorca

A complete suspended acoustic ceiling (acoustic hangers, 50-70 mm mineral wool and double board) costs €35 to €50/m² installed, VAT not included, per our 2026 rates. Indicative examples calculated from those rates: a 12 m² bedroom between €420 and €600; a 20 m² living room between €700 and €1,000. If the insulation is integrated into a false ceiling already planned within another renovation, the extra cost drops to €10-20/m² (insulation material and anti-vibration suspension). Fixed quote within 24 hours after the visit with measurement.

The typical improvement of a suspended ceiling with acoustic hangers, 50-70 mm mineral wool and double board is 15-20 dB versus the bare slab. Replacing the standard board with high-density acoustic board (Placo Phonique or Knauf Diamant) adds a further 3-5 dB per the manufacturer datasheet. As a reference, the Spanish CTE DB-HR code requires DnT,A of at least 50 dBA between different dwellings, and for every 10 dB gained the ear perceives roughly half the noise: from audible conversation to imperceptible murmur.

The complete system loses 12-15 cm: anti-vibration hanger, cavity with 50-70 mm mineral wool and 12.5-15 mm double board. Before quoting we check the resulting clear height: we recommend keeping at least 2.50 m in main rooms, the usual minimum for habitability certificates. In flats with 2.60-2.70 m ceilings, common in Palma buildings from the 1960s-80s, the system remains viable in bedrooms and living rooms.

No. Sound insulation depends on mass and decoupling: the mass law states that doubling the mass of an element adds about 6 theoretical dB. A foam panel weighs under 1 kg/m² versus roughly 9 kg/m² for a single 12.5 mm plasterboard (manufacturer datasheet), and so-called acoustic paint is under 1 mm thick: neither measurably reduces upstairs-neighbour noise. Foams are for internal absorption (the reverberation of your own room), not for insulation. The real minimal-works alternative is a dry suspended ceiling: 1-3 days, no rubble, with a measurable 15-20 dB improvement.

It reduces it, but honesty first: impact noise (footsteps, chairs, dropped objects) travels through the building structure and the optimal fix is a floating floor in the flat above — the CTE DB-HR caps impact level at L'nT,w of 65 dB maximum. A decoupled suspended ceiling on acoustic hangers noticeably attenuates both airborne and impact noise, and in most neighbour disputes it is enough. But if the initial measurement reveals severe impact noise on a lightweight slab, we tell you before quoting: we would rather lose a job than install a ceiling that does not solve your problem.

From 1 to 3 working days per room. A 12 m² bedroom is normally completed in 1-2 days: day one covers hangers, framing and mineral wool; day two the double board, perimeter sealing with resilient band and joint treatment. After 24-48 hours of joint drying the ceiling is ready to paint. It is dry construction: we work with floor protection and dust extraction, no rubble and no skip.

Placo Phonique (blue high-density board with modified gypsum core) and Knauf Diamant (high-hardness, high-density board): per the Placo and Knauf technical datasheets, they add 3-5 dB versus standard BA13 board in the same system. We install them in a double layer with staggered joints on acoustic hangers, 50-70 mm mineral wool in the cavity and perimeter sealing with resilient band. The exact system is sized after the sound-meter measurement of the initial visit, free across Mallorca.