How to Soundproof a Room

Do you have noisy neighbors or businesses near your home that annoys the he** out of you? Does the sound of the television keep your school age kids awake at night? Maybe you live close to a very loud stockcar racetrack, as I do. No matter what noises drive you crazy, from outside noise or noises traveling into other rooms of your home there is a solution to block those noises. Soundproofing a wall, whether it is an apartment, condominium, house or your office, is not as hard to do as you may think. Soundproofing a room, home theater or home is best addressed at time of construction but that is not possible for existing buildings. Soundproof material has advanced enough that most people can afford some form of sound dampening.

Soundproofing an existing wall, for example, by adding a second layer of drywall with a small silicone caulking can work wonders to quiet a room. Green Glue is a described by the Green Gluecompany.com, “As one of the top-selling soundproofing solutions in the world, our flagship product is a viscoelastic compound that can be quickly and easily applied between two sheets of drywall, plywood or any commonly used building materials in new construction and remodeling, effectively eliminating up to 90 percent of noise transfer from one room to another”. Green glue is more expensive than the silicone caulking but may very well be worth it. Before you run out and buy a load of drywall and Green Glue, read the next paragraph.

If you are trying to keep outside noises at bay and the offending wall has a window installed, you should address it before you re-drywall. Windows more than likely are the problem on walls with windows, even if you have dual paned windows. The glass used to make windows is thin and block very little noise in your home so replacing the windows with new windows will not solve your problem. The best way to soundproof your windows is by adding a second, soundproofing window on the interior side of the existing window. Soundproof windows are two layers of glass with a PVB layer of plastic sandwiched between. The plastic works to stop vibration and when the new soundproof windows are installed it also has an air space between the old window and the new window to reduce vibration even more.

There are other soundproofing products available to counter noise from sources other than walls and windows. Noise can be dramatically reduced, simply by installing carpet on the floor and acoustic tiles on the ceiling, if these areas are the source of the noises. Noise proofing sealants are used to fill any gaps between a soundproofed wall and floor or ceiling. Joist tape is used to stop squeaks in flooring and sub-flooring.

Soundproofing one or more rooms in your home will give you the peace and quiet you want and deserve. The materials available to make your home a quiet sanctuary are easy to use, not as expensive as it once was and can be accomplished by the average do it yourselfer.

Tip: Renters can soundproof a room by attaching a piece of sheetrock over a window (you will lose the light from that window) with nails or screws, apply a silicone sealer around the edges for a temporary sound barrier.

Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with the suppliers mentioned in this article, other than an interested consumer.

Comments (1)

gilbertbuttos said:

	... Thanks for the point “Soundproofing an existing wall, for example, by adding a second layer of drywall with a small silicone caulking can work wonders to quiet a room.” I am planning to soundproof my room with QuietRock. I found some interesting information on their site: http://www.quietrock.com/quiet...guide.html
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May 20, 2010
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