A condo property manager in Winnipeg got in touch with me to ask for help with a noise problem. Residents were complaining that the building’s multi-purpose room got so noisy that some guests would leave events early and others wouldn’t come at all. They were particularly worried that senior residents with hearing loss were feeling excluded and were missing out on social opportunities.

When I called the property manager back, one of the first questions I asked was “Why did you decide to call me?” I like to ask this question because often, people get in touch with me after trying to solve their noise problem some other way, and it’s helpful to know what they’ve already tried.

The property manager told me that the condo board had first asked an acoustic panel manufacturer to propose a solution but they didn’t like feeling locked in to only one product option. Then they asked a local contractor to propose a solution. The contractor said they could install an acoustic ceiling tile grid, but this idea was impractical because it would require lowering the already low ceiling height, not to mention expensive because it would require installing new sprinkler pipes and electrical wiring.

Listening to the property manager reminded me of why I can be a big help to property owners, and it teed up a great conversation that led to us working together.

I am Independent

As an independent consultant, I have no loyalty to any product supplier or contractor. I identify the most practical design and the most appropriate products to meet your needs and your budget.

If you reach out to a product manufacturer, they may provide you with free design assistance but they will only ever sell you their own product, so you may end up paying a lot more than you would comparing a few different bids.

In Canada there is a competitive marketplace for acoustical products, with many options to choose from at a big range of price points, so you should never feel limited to one company. But it can be confusing to navigate all of the options, which is where I come in. I will help you define a common specification and narrow down the range of products that meet that specification so that you can reach out to product suppliers for a quote with confidence.

I Have No Incentive to “Upsell”

Because I don’t receive any commission from acoustical product suppliers, I have no incentive to recommend you install more of a product than you need to solve your problem. It would be easy to recommend covering an entire ceiling or wall with sound-absorbing finishes to be ‘safe’ or ‘conservative’ but my goal is to find a right-sized solution at the right budget to achieve the level of quiet and calm you want.

Beyond stretching the budget, overdoing it on installing sound-absorbing finishes can actually make a space sound too quiet, a problem I plan to write about in a future post.

I Can Save You Money

Paying for my help at the start of a project adds upfront cost to your budget, but I can help you save money by right-sizing the design concept and directing you to budget-friendly products.

My first client in Winnipeg asked for my help after spending a lot of money ordering acoustic panels from Amazon that were expensive and didn’t make his shop any quieter. I could tell right away by looking at the panels why they didn’t work, but I could understand why my client bought them. The product page on Amazon was flashy and made all sorts of acoustical claims, but the company provided no lab test data, which I always look for and review before approving a product.

Because my client had already spent his budget for the shop’s interior design, I helped him develop a simple DIY solution that he could work on himself with materials from a hardware store. A DIY solution is not for everyone, but it fit his values, his skills and his very small remaining budget.

I Understand How Things Get Built

Before becoming an acoustical consultant, I studied architecture and worked at a few architecture firms. During my career as an acoustical consultant I’ve collaborated with many architects and spent lots of time on construction sites. I even led the design of two small-scale outdoor acoustic shells and helped build them.

All this experience means I understand the realities of how things actually get built. I will never propose a solution that makes sense on paper but not in physical space. From the start of our conversation, I will do my best to understand your project site and real-world constraints.

It also means I take a holistic design outlook. Recommending products that perform acoustically is critical, but I also care about aesthetics and take time to consider how acoustical products can be elegantly coordinated with other architectural components, lighting and other building systems.

Get in Touch

Let me know how I can help you solve your acoustical problem. Schedule a chat with me by filling in my inquiry form or by emailing me at willem@fromthesoundup.com.