Room Soundproofing 101

We employ room soundproofing measures for a number of reasons. Sometimes we do it to provide doctor patient confidentiality. Sometimes it’s to create a serene atmosphere where we can unwind after a hard day’s work. Whatever the reason, there are some room soundproofing basics that are applied in all instances. 

Before diving into soundproofing pipes and ducts, it’s important to know the sound isolation definition and its importance.

Why Room Soundproofing is Important

Taking soundproofing measures goes beyond just enjoying a little peace and quiet. It can keep our medical information safe and make living in close quarters considerably more bearable. Sound isolation is the means by which we keep sounds from traveling from one space to the next. It doesn’t matter whether we’re trying to keep inside sounds in or outside sounds out. There are some very important reasons we do this.

First, room soundproofing is invaluable in any type of medical setting. Soundproofing therapist offices allows us to maintain doctor patient confidentiality. It allows us to open up without fear of someone hearing. That’s a big part of a successful session. The same can be said about a general practitioner’s office. If we feel like others can hear our problems, we are less likely to be completely honest about what we’re experiencing.

Another place where room soundproofing is essential is in the home. We need some solid rest and relaxation to recoup after long days. That’s not something we always get in communal living situations. 

A soundproof dorm lets students focus on their studies and get a good night’s sleep before big tests. A soundproof apartment allows children to play without waking the next door neighbor who works nights. Making our barriers more resistant to sound passage does us all a world of good.

Room Soundproofing Basics

Sound waves can cause all kinds of problems. Too much noise exposure can cause attention and focus issues, raise stress levels, and lead to physical ailments. If the sound is loud enough, it can even cause permanent hearing loss. We need to avoid too much exposure for our health. Let’s look at the basics that go into every soundproofing project.

Seal Gaps

If you leave your windows and doors open, you hear everything that’s happening on the other side. That’s because there’s nothing to stop the sounds from entering. It doesn’t always take an open door or window to cause noise. If the gaps around the perimeters aren’t sealed, you can still have a lot of sound entering. Seal them up to quiet your place.

Add Mass

If noise is still passing through your walls, windows, and doors, it means they don’t have enough mass. Lightweight barricades don’t stand a chance against loud sounds. If you want them to stop sound waves, adding mass is a must. It’s a key component in any room soundproofing plan.

Damping or Decoupling Surfaces

Even walls with a lot of mass can transfer vibrations from one side to the other. This will create unwanted sound. The way to reduce the transmission of those vibrations is to damp or decouple the hard surfaces.

Damping is the process of transforming sound energy into heat energy. Since energy cannot be created or destroyed, we need to transform it into something else. By adding sound damping materials, we can allow vibrational energy to fizzle out into the wall as heat.

Decoupling is the process of separating hard surfaces from one another. As vibrations pass through surfaces, they move from one to the next through contact points. By separating the surfaces, we stop sound waves from passing from one surface to the next. In room soundproofing, this effectively prevents vibrations from passing through walls and floors.

Absorb Sounds

Aside from simply blocking sounds, a good soundproofing plan involves absorption as well. Any time you’ve got sound waves inside the room, they reflect and amplify. That noise can annoy you and your family, and can make its way to the neighbors and bother them too.

Creating Your Own Room Soundproofing Plan

When the time comes that you decide to do something about unwanted noise, you’ll need a plan. Here is how to address each soundproofing basic in most rooms. 

Seal the Gaps

The primary place we see gaps that allow sound waves to pass into rooms is the window and door perimeters. This can be due to aging or improperly hung windows and doors. Sealing those gaps with quality caulking will block much of that unwanted noise. 

For the gaps around the doors themselves, you can utilize a door seal kit to seal them up. They are easy to mount and incredibly effective. The best ones have automatic door sweeps to seal the gap at the bottom. These automatically raise and lower for easy opening and closing with a tight seal when closed.

How to Make a Window Soundproof

If you’ve sealed the gaps around your window and you’re still getting sound passage, you’ve got options. One option is a new double or triple glazed window. The extra panes and gaps block a ton of sound. If you can’t swing new windows, window inserts are a great alternative. They allow you to retain your current windows while giving them the sound and thermal properties of new ones. To take these windows over the top, pair them with acoustical curtains. They absorb any waves that are left over and double as dense blackout curtains.

Add Mass to Walls

When talking about how to soundproof walls, a big part of that involves adding mass. The method by which we accomplish this depends on whether you’re working with new construction or a remodel. Some of the methods we use on new construction can apply to remodels, but they may involve opening up walls.

New Construction

If you’ve got the walls opened up, you’re going to be able to add the most mass. Standard wall insulation is great at keeping heat from escaping, but not at blocking sound. Consider using noise deadening insulation that’s rated for both sound and heat. This type of insulation adds a good amount of mass to your walls. It also offers the same thermal benefits you’d expect with great insulation.

Remodels

If you don’t want to open your walls up, you can still add a good deal of mass. The amount will depend on your budget and the strength of your studs. An easy and affordable way to add that mass is to roll out mass loaded vinyl (MLV) on your walls. You can likely do it yourself, and the materials aren’t too expensive. If you’ve got the structural integrity to support it, adding drywall on top of that MLV adds even more mass. Just affix drywall sheets on top of the MLV, and finish it however you like.

Absorption Through Acoustical Treatments

Sound absorption goes hand in hand with sound blocking. Acoustical treatments absorb some sound waves before they even reach the exterior walls. They also keep the sound levels down, meaning you’ve got less sound to block. There are many different types of acoustic panels designed for treating all the problem areas in any space.

Hanging sound panels in the right spots is the key to getting the most out of them. You’ll want to examine the placement of your sound system and seating plan to determine those spots. Talking to someone who knows a lot about these reflection points will ensure you get it right.

Damping and Decoupling

If you have the luxury of opening up your walls, decoupling will go a long way. Separating your studs from the drywall removes the pathway for vibrations to traverse the wall.

When learning how to build a room within a room, decoupling is the most important aspect we need to understand. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to accomplish without a variety of tools and strong carpentry skills. Whether you feel comfortable with construction or need help, reaching out to professionals is the best way to get started.

If you want to do something simple yourself, damping is much easier than decoupling. Often, all it takes is adding green glue between surfaces to stop vibrations in their tracks.

Solving Specific Problems

Not every sound issue requires a full room soundproofing solution. Sometimes we have a specific contributor that creates a good amount of our unwanted noise. For these types of issues, a targeted solution may be all you need.

How to Reduce Noise from Outside Traffic

If you live on a busy road, you likely deal with a handful of traffic noise. Most traffic sound can be dealt with by shoring up your windows and doors. Start by sealing the gaps. Window inserts work great too. Pair them with a set of acoustical curtains, and you’ll forget that road is even there.

How to Reduce Refrigerator Noise

Refrigerators are a marvel of the modern world, but can get noisy if they’ve got a few miles on them. Sometimes, all it takes is thoroughly cleaning your compressor and fan. If that’s not enough, you’ll need to add soundproofing materials. If your refrigerator is causing a lot of vibrational noise, try vibration isolation pads underneath. They’ll prevent vibrations from traveling and reduce the amount of noise. 

How to Make Stairs Less Noisy

Of all the places that deal with heavy foot traffic, none deal with more than the stairs. They take heavy footfalls, and most staircases eventually make noise. If you’ve started noticing more squeaks, you can easily silence them. Screwing each tread into the stringer rather than nailing it prevents movement when the wood expands and contracts. If you’ve got the ability, adding a bead of green glue between parts of the stairwell can reduce sound further.

How to Soundproof Metal Ceilings

Room soundproofing can be a little trickier when you have metal ceilings. Metal is a hard, smooth surface that reflects and amplifies sounds within the space. It does add style to the decor, though, and it’s worth using if you know how to tackle sound issues.

If you want a metal ceiling but don’t want the associated noisiness, consider microperforated panels. Microperf panels have tiny holes drilled in them to allow sound waves in but not out. They can also be backed with sound absorption materials. This makes them substantially more effective at absorbing sound and allows you to use metal in your ceiling design.

How to Soundproof Air Conditioners

If air conditioner noise has got you down, there are some things you can do. For outdoor air conditioners, one of the most effective things you can do is build a small fence around it. Keeping sound waves from hitting your exterior walls may eliminate the need for more involved soundproofing.

If you’re dealing with a window unit, it’s a little more complicated. You don’t want to build anything that blocks your windows. In this case, acoustical curtains can go a long way. Hanging these heavy curtains on your windows block both sound and nearly all light. If you’d prefer to let the light shine in, you can use a white noise machine for soundproofing window units.

Talk With Professionals

The best way to ensure your room soundproofing project goes smoothly is to work with the pros. We know everything there is to know about how to reduce sound through doors, walls, and windows. We can also show you where your main problem areas lie. This is an imperative part of effectively soundproofing spaces without breaking the bank. If you’re ready to put your own room soundproofing plan together, we’d love to hear from you.