Restore Peace In Your Home: How To Soundproof Walls And Floors

Noise pollution is a nuisance, especially at home, workplaces, and other areas that require utmost silence. Most of us are most comfortable in quiet offices, hotels, and restaurants. For this reason, architects and property developers consider soundproofing as a critical aspect of every project. Most offices and residentials have their walls and floors soundproofed to ensure sound waves aren’t amplified or transmitted to adjacent rooms or hallways. This is particularly crucial for properties in potentially noisy neighborhoods, as well as those close to a busy road, highway, or even train lines.

There are plenty of soundproofing methods one can explore and employ in their home. If building from scratch, there are a number of soundproofing methods that can be installed during construction. Other options allow one to retrofit into existing buildings with almost similar or even better soundproofing. Whether you live next to a train line or have a noisy neighbor, you can restore peace and sanity in your home using the various available but suitable soundproofing methods. To soundproof your home, make sure that you have the right equipment such as the right sound metre. Also, learn the difference between type 1 and type 2 sound metres. Below are some of the ways you can soundproof your home.

1. Dissociate Walls

This is one of the most effective ways of preventing sound transmission from one room/house to another. Decoupling walls entails separating the two structures such that they vibrate independently. This method is very effective in curbing structure-bone sound transmission from one space to another. There are several ways to approach this; first, you can choose to use staggered stud walls or double stud walls. Hat channels and buoyant sound isolation clips are installed between these walls to improve sound wave isolation. Talk to your engineer to see if this option is feasible for your specific application and setting.

2. Sound Damping

In this method, specialized materials are used to help reduce and absorb sound waves. Sound dampening is applicable for both new builds and existing structures. It entails installing dead walls to help absorb and reduce sound transmission as much as possible. The engineers create a cavity wall between rooms and spaces to isolate sound. For homes build in the early 1900s, sound-absorbing materials can be added to walls to facilitate sound damping. Cavity wall insulation comes in handy in both sound and heat insulation. Mineral wool, fiberglass, and polystyrene beads are commonly preferred for sound dampening. This method is cost-effective and can see your energy bills come down significantly.

3. Use Items/Products That Absorb Sound

This is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to keep noise out. Installing/using products known to absorb the sound can greatly help prevent sound echo and reverberation, improving sound insulation in the long run. Hard walls, floors, and surfaces, especially those made from marble, quartz, glass, concrete, and granite are the worst culprits for amplifying and reflecting sound waves. Installing a thick rug over the concrete floor, or even switching to wooden/tiled floors, heavy window curtains, and fabric window treatments will go a long way in absorbing sound. You are spoiled for choice here.

4. Double Wall Mass Per Unit Area

Although mass might not be a definite answer to soundproofing, it plays a crucial role in reducing sound transmission. According to research, doubling your wall mass per unit area can greatly improve sound isolation and insulation. Studies show that thicker walls reduce sound transmission by at least 15%, which is noticeable if you live in a noisy neighborhood. With fewer sound waves passing through, your home will feel quieter than if you had standard-sized wall thickness. Proper planning and budgeting are however key to making this happen. You should thus plan and budget accordingly to achieve the desired sound insulation without compromising room aesthetics.