Soundproofing isn’t something most homeowners think of on a regular basis. Even business owners don’t generally have to consider soundproofing a room if they are in a quieter office environment.
You never know what can happen, though. A new, noisy neighbor can pop up at any time. The kids may develop an obsession with loud musical instruments. An airport may change it’s flight path. If this happens, you may need to soundproof one or more of the rooms in your home.
Here are five things you should know as you prepare to soundproof parts of your home:
1 – Understanding How Sound Travels
You know how they say that light travels faster than sound? That’s because light travels in a straight line while sound travels in a wavy line. That means a traditional wall or barrier won’t simply stop sound. As the sound attempts to pass through, it causes vibrations that actually allow the sound to go straight through. This is why you need to include special types of soundproofing materials within a structure to stop the vibrations from occurring.
2 – The Primary Soundproofing Elements
There are four main elements to soundproofing a room effectively. These include decoupling, damping, absorption, and mass. Decoupling is when we create a detachment so that the walls don’t touch the studs, breaking the channel the sound wants to travel through. Damping is when we turn open panels into dead panels by stuffing some sort of compound between the two layers of the wall. Absorption is another method for stopping sound and is often achieved by filling a wall with fiberglass or some other material. Adding mass would simply mean we want to create a heavier wall that is harder to pass through.
3 – Your Doors Matter
Before you run out and spend a ton of money on soundproofing materials, remember that the doors you use on each room actually do matter. A lightweight, hollow door will allow sound to pass through whereas a heavier, solid door would block more sound. Older frames with more space around the edge offer opportunities for sound to pass through. Door skirts sealing the edges may block more sound. Make sure you check your doors to make sure they’re sealing properly before you waste time and money on anything else.
4 – Make Sure You Seal Your Perimeters
Are the perimeters around your room sealed? There is a simple way to find out. Turn on the lights in the hallways and rooms surrounding the room you want to soundproof. Close the doors and turn off the lights in the room you want to work on. If you can see light seeping from another room into the room you are in, you have identified a place where sound can pass through as well. Get yourself some acoustical caulk and seal those spaces.
5 – Choose Your Materials Carefully
There are tons of soundproofing materials on the market today but you’ll want to make sure you make the right choice so that you get the best results. Don’t let anyone con you into painting your walls black, hanging rungs, or filling your walls with egg crates. These methods don’t work. Materials like Green Glue, mass loaded vinyl, and fiberglass are likely to have a true effect.
Don’t rush into soundproofing your home for any reason. Do your research, identify the source of the noise, and make sure there aren’t small fixes you can make before you plunge into an all-out sound war!
About the Author: Nolan Neiling is a home improvement specialist who spends a great deal of time on soundproofing projects, window repair, and flooring jobs!
Photo credit: Montecruz Foto