Here you will find soundproofing articles explaining the basics of noise control and soundproofing issues. Understanding how to soundproofing wall, ceiling, floor, rooms in hotels, offices and homes require knowledge in best construction practices to use. Here we have posted additional articles describing the best soundproofing methods and material to use in your project.
List of weight for typical building supplies used during the construction of your walls, ceilings, and floors. This is important to look at since you will see that getting the mass can simply be done by buying local materials. 5/8″ gypsum is our suggested drywall since it is so heavy at 2.5 lbs per square foot.
Don’t let a few soundproofing terms slow you down. This Glossary of Acoustic Terms will help you. Included in the glossary are definitions for various soundproofing words, as well as detailed descriptions of sound isolation concepts.
“Is acoustic lab testing really objective? If a company is paying for the test, don’t they just get the test results they want?” Very reasonable questions. While some very competent, material testing can be informally conducted by a manufacturer’s own lab, no one outside of that company will give any credibility to such data. It’s not […]
Break Down of Constrained Layer Damping: Damping is the conversion of energy over time and distance. We are relying on the panel flexing when hit with a sound wave. This includes wall panel movement as a wave (bending wave) that is traveling laterally in the wall through the drywall (whatever). This flexing of the two […]
We hear terms like Mass Law, Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV), Massive Drywall, and one could conclude that mass is the only thing we’re after to soundproof a room. This is only partly true. This website has a very good discussion going regarding this topic. House Repair Talk Forum Essentially mass is not the only factor […]
Foams are superior from a thermal perspective, but not a sound isolation perspective. This might surprise some here, but when using insulation IN a wall or ceiling, it doesn’t get any better than standard thermal insulation in a low / medium density, especially to control low frequencies. This could be fiberglass or medium density mineral […]
This is a great question. With “sound proof” drywall available at big box stores and drywall distributors anyone would be nuts to not at least consider these products. In fact, this topic was just brought up here: AVS Forum Discussion First, let’s consider that any pre-damped drywall is simply two sheets of standard drywall or […]
This is a very common question. There are several manufacturer’s of quality pre-damped drywall marketed for sound isolation. So is this a good product or a good idea? The short answer is “yes” to both. Any pre-damped drywall (there are many manufacturers) is simply layers of standard board that you can buy at Home Depot(drywall […]
It’s a common question. Should I use one of several sound board products to help with soundproofing? The various sound board products are marketed under many different names. In general they are made from waste material from the lumber industry. That’s a good thing. They are light weight and a bit spongy, and that seems […]
These ducts fit nicely in a room’s soffit. There are times when a soffit muffler isn’t practical. In these cases, a Dead Vent might be more appropriate: The Dead Vent can be installed outside of the sound room, perhaps in a closet or utility room. Between the Soffit Muffler and the Dead Vent, most ventilation […]
If you’re building a soundproof room, it’s often in the basement. In that instance, more times than not the stairwell becomes an issue. Many people want to use the stairwell wall as the back wall of their new room. Others want to use the space under the stairs for an equipment rack (that’s what I […]
Specialty rooms generating a great deal of bass create special challenges in room design. Generally, the most difficult aspect of high-level isolation is controlling the low frequencies (bass). Keep in mind that STC doesn’t measure bass, as it does not consider frequencies below 125Hz, and we’re obviously dealing with rooms that put out a great […]
A concrete slab is generally an asset for airborne sound isolation. The large mass (weight) provides for a great deal of sound isolation from vibrations entering or leaving the room. The slab does have an airborne sound weakness at its Coincidence Point (frequency). A floated plywood floor is often used to guard the slab against […]
How to properly transition from a floor to a wall while maintaining soundproofing performance. The use of Soundproofing Floor Underlayment, Acoustical Sealant, Acoustical Backrod, Green Glue Soundproofing Compound and Sound Isolation Clips are required in this assembly diagram. Don’t forget Putty Pads for the outlets. All penetrations need to be sealed for maximum results.
Above is a ceiling to wall assembly illustrating how a ceiling and the wall drywall layers should intersect to provide a good seal. Note that we want solid drywall to drywall contact. Don’t try and leave a gap. The illustration shows a gap that is 1/32 of an inch. Most drywall installers do not hang […]
The best answer is to save your money and not treat the walls. A dropped (suspended) ceiling does very little to soundproof. The tiles are lightweight, and not nearly massive enough to stop serious sound. The 4 Elements of Soundproofing. The tiles are not designed to be soundproof. They are designed to lower the echo […]
If you’re building a room in a basement, you’ll have some walls that are built next to the foundation. We’re not worried about sound leaking through the foundation into the surrounding soil. We’re worried about sound traveling straight up into the floor joists. If you were to build no wall against the foundation, your ceiling […]
I wouldn’t and don’t spec resilient channel. The fact is there is no single standard for its construction. Some is 20 gauge, some 25, some in between. Some are slotted for flex, some are solid, some have holes. The design of the channel is not standardized. Not something we can count on. Also, it is […]