Soundproofing Materials For Ceiling: What Are They?

Ceiling soundproofing devices are designed to cut down on two types of noise: impact noise and airborne noise. They are commonly used in homes and businesses to create a peaceful environment that helps reduce the stress levels of its occupants.

Types Of Ceiling Noise

The sound of impact noise is a kind of sound like footsteps or chairs that are pulled across the floor above them. It travels through the structure and reverberates it’s way down to you. Airborne noise is like voices and music. It travels through open spaces within the building, causing vibrations to be transmitted through the structure. The final type of sound is flanking noise, which typically comes from the outdoor environment and is often preventable by soundproofing your ceiling.

Reducing Sound Level That Penetrates Through The Ceiling

• Absorption

Creating your own noise-absorbing drop ceilings is fairly simple, as long as you have the right materials. Fiberglass, mineral wood, or foam can do the job nicely.

• Damping

Chemical compounds are able to convert sound energy and sunlight into heat.

• Decoupling

Bring down the noise levels in your building by installing a drywall ceiling. This process will require a construction project and some improvements will be made to your current system, but overall it should be effective.

• Mass

Some people try to incorporate new layers of material for airborne sounds to pass through before they make it to you, like an additional sheet or two of drywall.

Single Layer of Drywall

The ceiling will collect any noise that passes through the drywall. The thickness of the drywall is not needed to be effective at soundproofing.

Soundproof drywalls have a thicker surface area than normal ones, giving excellent soundproofing. However, they are more costly due to manufacturing processes and materials used in their construction.

$10 is the average cost for drywall in a typical home that is not soundproofed. Drywall that is soundproofing typically costs around $40 per sheet. While it can be pricey, most homeowners prefer not to compromise their home’s soundproofing capabilities and choose this option instead.

If you’re planning to soundproof an ordinary drywall ceiling, you can either fill the space with a suitable material such as fiberglass or mineral wool or rockwool. The mineral wool and rockwool options are also quite suitable.

Double Layer of Drywall

At 38STC, the noise-reducing ceiling is dense and highly porous. It’s made up of a fiberglass skin with two layers of drywall. The thicker layer keeps impact noise to a minimum while the fabric fibers create extra mass, which helps to reduce more high frequency airborne sounds.

Acoustic Panels

Acoustic panels have been found to be one of the most effective ways of reducing the transmission of noise in a number of different settings. They are known to work well in both residential and industrial settings, providing peace and quiet while also offering occupants a sense of relief from the constant clamor.

Acoustic Tiles

Acoustic tiles are becoming more and more popular for soundproofing both drywall and dropped ceilings. They’re made from a combination of fiberglass and a reflective layer that helps them be more effective than other acoustic solutions like sound-absorbing matting. The tiles are screwed in place using metal or a clip. There is a space in the corner of the tiles so that there is an opening in your ceiling drywall.

This alternative is more suitable for drywall ceilings because they are easier to install. Once the panels are affixed to the ceiling, screws or nails can be used to further secure them in place.

Acoustic Foam

Acoustic foam works effectively to reduce sound with a similar ease. The installation process for these acoustic tiles is much easier than their foam counterparts and can be more economical too. It’s important to note that their appearance may not be ideal as the foam type looks like a cluster of tiny bubble shapes. However, you can make them more pleasing if time is arranged in a pattern. Alternate vertical and horizontal positioning to increase visual appeal.

Acoustic foam is typically sold in panels that range from one square foot to one hundred square feet. You can apply construction adhesive to the back of the panels and nail them into place or use construction adhesive with a caulking gun to secure them.

Final Remarks

It is possible to reduce the level of sound that penetrates through the ceiling. It is necessary to determine in what way the sound penetrates, and also to choose a way to block it. We hope you will be able to use the information we have collected in this article to your advantage. Happy soundproofing!