Soundproofing Materials

Flick Emil Henricus January 24, 2022March 16, 2023

There are a variety of reasons that a room should be soundproofed. Soundproofing allows hobbyists to pursue their interests without disturbing their neighbors, company owners to work in harmony, and for you to even get a decent night’s sleep (more about soundproofing insulation on hometips.com).

Today, there are numerous soundproofing materials available in the market. Some are decent materials that are genuinely helpful for soundproofing at best, and others are of dubious value to homes and companies at worst. Here is a comprehensive guide, to distinguish the best soundproofing materials out there (read about some worst soundproofing advice on silencewiki.com).

Soundproofing Applications

Reducing unnecessary external noise from road traffic, airports, and other rooms inside workplaces, homes, and other residential buildings is important to regulate noise and keep your mind at peace. Here are the structures where soundproofing can be applied/installed.

1. Walls

You can minimize noise from both inside and outside by adding acoustic insulation on a wall (more info about acoustic insulation on rockwool.com). A false wall is sometimes constructed to soundproof a wall. A structure is placed in front of the original wall in the event of a false wall. The insulation layer is first applied to the casing, which is then plasterboarded. The insulation absorbs the noise that passes through the external wall. The echo that does get into the completed wall may have been greatly diminished.

Video Review: How to Soundproof a Wall – 7 Easy DIY Ways!

2. Floor

Sound insulation used under the floor is best for blocking structure-borne noise, but it can also be used to minimize airborne noise (read about structure-borne noise on soundproofdirect.com). Polyethylene is a commonly utilized solid floor insulation material. The room under the floor cover on hollow wooden floors may be filled with an insulation material such as glass wool.
Installing a floating floor, which also has soundproofing features, is another alternative (more info about floating floors on flooringclarity.com). The screed is then sandwiched between the floor’s bearing framework and a sound-absorbing sheet.

Video Review: Soundproof a Floor – 8 Cheap & Easy DIY Ways!

3. Ceiling

If you live in an apartment, the soundproofing of your upstairs neighbor’s floor is reliant on him. You may, however, opt to add sound insulation to the ceiling. A suspended ceiling is a common application in this situation (get to know about suspended ceilings on designingbuildings.co.uk).
A new finishing layer (for instance, plasterboards) is added onto the original ceiling using a wooden or metal brace. Sound insulation is installed between the new finish and the existing ceiling coat by insulation experts. For this reason, glass wool is a common choice.

Video Review: Soundproofing an Existing Ceiling in a Room

Types of Soundproofing Materials

These are the most commonly used soundproofing materials, with various best use cases within each type. Sound Absorbing, Sound Insulation, Sound Dampening, and Decoupling are the four types to which these acoustic materials belong.

1. Acoustic Foam	Also known as Studio Foam, this product has a characteristic wedge or pyramid design that is particularly effective at sound absorption. They can be mounted on the wall as boards, suspended from the ceiling as baffles, or placed in the corners as bass traps.
2. Acoustic Panels/Boards	These are stylish acoustic reinforcement and sound absorption foam products. They are available in a variety of attractive shades, patterns, and textures and can be used both at home and at work.
3. Floor Underlayment	To minimize noise propagation, sound deadening material a hardwood or tile floor necessitates the decoupling of the flooring layer and the subfloor. Underlayment materials such as cork rolls felt, and polymers are widely used.
4. Architectural Soundproofing	Everything used in the construction of a building, such as soundproof glass, soundproof walls, doors, and the decoupling materials used to mount them, falls under this category.
5. Sound Insulation	It consists of mineral wool, rock wool, and fiberglass batts that are built to conform between wall studs. The batts match tightly between studs to provide sound-transmitting airspace.
6. Acoustic Fabrics	Used in theatre curtains, blackout curtains, and studio sheets, acoustic fabrics are stronger and denser than most materials.
7. Acoustic Coatings	Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) is a thick rubber-like component that is used in a variety of applications including automotive soundproofing, equipment, furniture, and an underlayment. The material’s bulk serves as a sound shield.
8. Glass Wool	While glass wool is most commonly used for thermal insulation, it also has outstanding soundproofing properties. A lot of noise can be absorbed due to the large mass. When it comes to soundproofing, glass wool is a better choice than rigid insulation boards, particularly for roofs. However, bear in mind the fiberglass insulation requires more open space.
9. Polyethylene	Polyethylene is extremely useful in the construction of a soundproof floor. It’s tough and inexpensive plastic. This composite is often resistant to moisture and very low or very high temperatures.
10. Other Materials	Aside from glass wool and polyethylene, there are a variety of other materials that can be used to soundproof your home or workplace. Cork and rock wool, for instance, have excellent soundproofing and acoustic qualities. Several considerations influence which material is better for your circumstance. The placement of the insulation (floor, ceiling, or wall), the space available, and your budget, for example, would all influence the material selection.

Soundproofing Prices

Soundproofing works can range from soundproofing a whole room to soundproofing specific areas of the house where noise is an issue. The size of the room and the level of soundproofing you need are the most significant cost considerations. The following are the costs of materials and construction based on the area of the room:

1. Soundproofing a Window

Soundproofing windows can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,500 per window. If the noise is just a minor issue, additional features such as sound-deadening curtains or inserts may be sufficient. In more serious situations, nevertheless, you will need to upgrade the original windows with soundproof windows.

2. Soundproofing Walls

Installing external wall coverings and materials to help mitigate noise within the room or within the wall is the most common way to soundproof an existing wall. Here’s a more comprehensive cost list.

Material	Cost
Hangings and Curtains	Up to $100
Foam Insulation	$1.40 – $3.00 per square foot
Textured Wall Panels	$1.60 – $4.60 per square foot
Acoustic Foam	$10 per 20-inch square
Acoustic Tile	$10 per 20-inch square

3. Dry Walls

The cost of soundproof drywall is about $40 per board (more about soundproof drywall on soundproofingtips.com). Using innovative thin-wall technology, soundproof drywall decreases noise levels without losing floor area. It often surpasses multilayer gypsum walls and is more stable than resilient channels (read about gypsum walls on infobloom.com).

4. Soundproofing a Door

A sound-absorbing sheet with a thick inner coating, that costs $300 to $455 and is suitable for doors and other concrete floors that reflect sound, costs $300 to $455. For $15 to $100 per board, heavy curtains will also block noise that escapes through doors. Noise can be prevented by using foam insulation tape across the door and a rubber door sweeps underneath the door.

5. Sliding Doors

Soundproof sliding glass doors range in price from $1,300 to $4,000. They’re usually made of laminated glass, which can minimize sound levels by up to 75% (more info about laminated glass on guardianglass.com). These doors are also harder to break and provide more insulation.

6. Soundproofing a Floor

The most popular soundproofing method for the floor is carpeting, which can cost upwards of $1,000 per space. Mass-loaded vinyl, which costs between $100 and $200 for a 40-square-foot roll, eliminates noise by applying mass to the surface (get to know about mass-loaded vinyl on soundproofliving.com). Acoustic foam is a multipurpose material that can be applied to a number of structures, even floors.

Video Review: How to Soundproof a Door | DIY Door Soundproofing for under $50

Soundproofing Per Space Costs

1. Soundproofing a House

Soundproofing a current house structure will cost anywhere from $10 to $30 per square foot. Mass-loaded vinyl for the floor and acoustic panels for the other surfaces are the most expensive materials. If you haven’t designed the house already, you should install the second sheet of drywall, robust channels, and extra studs to protect the insulation.

2. Soundproofing a Room

The average cost of soundproofing a room is between $380 and $590. New supplies cost between $170 and $250, labor costs between $190 and $300, and equipment costs between $20 and $40. They may not, however, involve the cost of replacing or altering existing materials or systems.

The nature of the components, the size of the space, and the project’s complexity are the most critical cost variables that you should remember. Usually, materials are purchased by the length of the piece. Foam insulation and linoleum, for instance, are sold in rolls that contain a specific amount of square feet of product. Acoustic foam and tile, on the other hand, are usually purchased by the piece.

3. Soundproofing a Bedroom

For a 10′ x 10′ space, soundproof drywall ranges about $360, which is approximately three times the cost of standard drywall. Bedrooms have a higher demand for soundproofing because they are where you spend most of your time sleeping. One of the most critical factors for eliminating sound in a bedroom is soundproof drywall.

4. Soundproofing a Garage

Insulating the three walls of a one-car garage costs about $640. Insulation already exists in a household and helps to suppress noise to some degree. Garages, on the other hand, seldom provide insulation because it is normally an unwanted expenditure.

Video Review: 10 Cheap & Easy Ways to Soundproof a Garage – DIY

Cheap Soundproofing Alternatives

To make a room more soundproof, you don’t need a large budget, you just have to be resourceful. Although these alternatives aren’t as effective as some of the more costly options, they will help reduce unnecessary noise. All of these approaches are less than $100 and help to absorb sound:

● To reduce incoming noise, use foam insulation film in air pockets across doors, and a rubber door sweeps at the bottom.
● Fill in cracks in the ground, walls, and ceiling with caulk.
● To avoid echoes, use soft furnishings such as beanbags or large cushions.
● To reduce noise, drape thick curtains over windows and cover curtains.
● Place acoustic foam between or against the walls of the space to absorb sound.

Should You Do It Yourself, or Hire a Contractor?

If you do this job yourself or employ a contractor would definitely depend on the amount of sound insulation you need. If you want to pay an additional $2,000 on soundproofing space, you may save $300 on labor by doing it yourself, but you can end up investing more in equipment that contractors typically have on hand.

Installation of insulation, window replacement, spray foam placement between drywall, and wall panel installation can all be performed by a contractor who is knowledgeable of any plumbing or electrical problems. Smaller DIY projects, such as hanging drapes or applying textured color, are still good options.

Can a Room Be Fully Soundproofed?

Soundproofing a room is essentially the way of preventing noise from entering or leaving the room, or both. It is certainly possible to soundproof a room completely since this is precisely what recording studios do. And besides, recording studios should be totally noise-free in order for musicians to achieve their best results.

To completely soundproof a room, however, you’ll need a lot of items and a large budget. The only way to fully soundproof space is to build a smaller room inside of it. This generates a dead air vacuum between the external and internal walls, which effectively blocks sound.

To build this dead air or vacuum, you’ll need to use suspended ceilings, revolving floors, and decoupled walls, among other things. This will involve making a metal (or wood) frame before placing up the walls, roof, and flooring. And you would expect, all of this is costly.

Most people who want to soundproof a room at home won’t have this kind of space, even though they have the required budget. If you have the funds and space, however, these measures are a sure-fire way to achieve the best soundproofing available.

Benefits of Using Soundproofing Materials

1. Privacy	The great part of soundproofing your home is that you won’t have to give up your privacy. It helps you to have a good night’s sleep by suppressing outside noise and still encouraging you to make some noise or have a party without upsetting your neighbors, for instance, a soundproof curtain will make outside noise silent and might make your house decor.
2. Reducing Echo	Echo is the most common issue in big spaces with high ceilings; it causes various wavelengths of detaching sound waves to interact with conversations in a room. Curtains and rugs can help avoid echo forming to some degree, but they are not enough to do the job. Customized acoustic panels and wall tiles can be of great assistance.
3. Increase Productivity	Loud sounds have a tendency to quickly interrupt people and ruin their productivity at work and at home. Having a decent number of soundproofing curtain room dividers in place will go a long way toward increasing work effectiveness and productivity.
4. Improve Sound Quality	If you have a home theater, you can add some indoor acoustic foam panels to provide the highest sound quality. These are also useful for building in music studios, libraries, conference centers, and office meeting decks.
5. Reducing Volume	Many types of locations, whether it’s a meeting room, a lobby room, or a clubhouse, appear to be noisier than the rest due to the higher number of people present at any given time. The use of soundproof materials to decorate the interiors of these establishments will help effectively minimize the level of sound in the room.
6. Decreasing Health Issues	Hearing loss caused by excessive listening to noisy sounds above average thresholds is a very serious health issue today. Soundproofing is an important method of preventing hearing damage. Aside from that, sound has a variety of non-auditory health effects, including sleep disruption, stress, cognitive dysfunction, frustration, and heart disease.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to soundproof a room?

The most cost-effective method of soundproofing a room is to incorporate mass to minimize noise and surfaces to withstand sound waves. Adding mass is more efficient at reducing low frequencies, whereas adding surfaces is better at blocking high frequencies. This means. adding more furniture. Appliances, or filling room space.

Do egg cartons absorb sound?

Sound waves are not fully absorbed by the numerous textural ripples and waves in egg carton-shaped surfaces. Alternatively, they split the sound waves into several frequencies and re-echo them in different directions, drastically reducing the amount of noise and echo in your room.

Does cardboard absorb sound?

Cardboard does not deliberately absorb sound, but when mounted around walls, ceilings, and floors, it greatly reduces the transfer of sounds and echoes. Since sound waves need open space to propagate, something that obstructs this process has the ability to lessen unwanted noise.

Is bubble wrap well for soundproofing?

Bubble wrap is ineffective as a soundproofing material because it lacks sufficient bulk. Bubble wrap’s air pockets can have the tiniest bit of sound suppression, but the maintenance and repair costs make it uneconomical.