Choosing the Right Soundproofing Materials for a Home Project

March 20th, 2012 Home

There are a number of reasons for why you might want to consider soundproofing a portion of your home. Common examples of rooms that homeowners like to soundproof include home recording studios, libraries, home offices, home theatres, and media rooms. Whatever your home soundproofing needs, you can be sure to find a variety of suitable products on the market for the job. So, which is the right soundproofing product for you? Here is a guide to the different soundproofing materials available to you, as well as how to choose the right product for your particular home project:

Cost, labor, and time. These are the three things you need to consider when choosing your soundproofing material. Set your priorities, because you can’t have all three. Basically, if cost is your top concern, you can expect to spend more on time and labor, and vice versa.

Transmission and acoustics. Remember that soundproofing is about two things: transmission (or, keeping noise out) and acoustics (or, how sound is reflected inside a room). Some soundproofing materials are all about transmission, while others are more about acoustics. You might need to use some of each type.

Mass loaded vinyl. You may lay this material over your subfloor to lessen the sound of movement in high traffic areas, or you may use it inside your walls as a great sound barrier. Ideally, mass loaded vinyl should be attached directly to wall studs, but if you can’t install it at that point in your home’s construction, you may also line your drywall with it and then paint over it to disguise it.

Soundproofing drywall. Kill two birds with one stone by using soundproofing drywall like QuietRock. Simply install this specialty drywall in place of standard drywall and, voila, your room is relatively soundproof. Soundproofing drywall behaves in the exact same way as standard drywall when it comes to scoring and snapping it; therefore, installing soundproofing drywall is no different from installing standard drywall – it’s just more expensive.

Sound damping glue. This is one of the least expensive routes you can take, but it is also more labor intensive. For this method, you will have to use a double layer of drywall. Simply apply the sound damping glue between the two layers during installation.

Acoustics. There are some easy ways for you to improve the acoustics of your room, and they generally come in the form of wall covers. Basically, anything that absorbs sound can be used for your room’s acoustics. Think foam padding, egg crates, bass tracks, and acoustic panels.

Of course, you may use just one of these techniques or a combination of many in order to achieve the soundproofing you desire. Just follow these tips to make the best choices for your home project.

About the Author: Wilton Less loves working on home improvement projects and is currently remodeling his entire basement, using green glue to create a soundproof video game room for his kids!