To understand how to soundproof a room, it is first necessary to understand a little about "sound." Sound is composed of waves that travel through a medium. Some mediums, or materials, are more resistant to sound than others. Air, for example, offers little resistance and is therefore a major contributor to unwanted noise in a room. To soundproof a room, however, more is needed than just blocking the flow of sound through air.
Another source of unwanted noise in a room can come from vibrations. A vibration occurs when a sound wave travels back and forth from one object to another. This can happen, for example, when a sound wave strikes one wall in a room, bounces off that wall, and transfers its energy to the opposite wall. That vibration can create an annoying noise problem.
The best way to prevent the noise problem altogether is to construct the room with building materials that dampen noise. Preplanning in this way is not always a possibility, however, especially for renters. The effort to soundproof, then, centers on how to buffer unwanted noise after the walls have been put in place.
If money is a concern or time is limited, a less drastic, inexpensive approach to soundproofing is needed. Dampening noise can be accomplished by actions as simple as laying down carpet or hanging drapes. Although these solutions won't eliminate all unwanted noise, both are relatively inexpensive and simple.
Another way to soundproof a room is to decorate it with rough-surfaced furnishings. Rough surfaces absorb sound, unlike smooth surfaces, which allow sound waves to travel back and forth. Applying an acoustic spray texture or other rough material to the ceiling, for example, can help soundproof a noisy room.
Walls can also be treated to help make a room soundproof. This usually involves tacking on some sort of heavy material that will block sound waves. The material can range from carpeting to blankets to manufactured paneling -- even cardboard egg cartons are an option.
Doorways and windows can also be sources of noise. A nearby draft of air can travel through leaks around a door or window, thereby allowing unwanted sound to enter a room. Rooms with doorway-related problems can be more soundproof if weatherstrips are applied to the gaps around the doorway or by buying a solid door. Window-related noise can be reduced by purchasing vinyl-framed or double-paned windows. If a cheaper solution is necessary, then the old standby of hanging drapes may suffice.
If the person owns the home, he may want to know if a sound problem may be caused by inadequate insulation, gaps in the insulation, or even a hole in the attic! A qualified contractor can be consulted on all these issues, and although it may not be inexpensive to put in new insulation, it may lower the noise, as well as the homeowner's energy bills!
Many possibilities exist for making a room more soundproof, including buying manufactured materials designed specifically to reduce noise. Money, time, and necessity are all factors to consider before tackling a noise problem.
Some Comments
Comment > 1
I was thinking about using those camping foamies as well. Do you think they'd work to soundproof a den with no windows that a drumset's in? Very loud.
Comment > 2
Use the blue foam mats that you lie under you when you go camping. it's cheaper and they will work like a charm!
Comment > 3
I have a serious problem from the noise of my neighbours and it's affecting my life a lot for the past three years and I am going through hell.
The banging of the doors on the apartment upstairs and banging downstairs drives me nuts, since it seems the building is passing banging sounds from everywhere.
i need a cheap and a paint solution for the walls and the ceilings. it will save my life and family.
Please, if someone or anyone has the solution, I am waiting. thanks
Comment > 4
Does anyone have any good ideas on the best way to reduce noise inside a patient room, like noises coming from another patient/visitors, hospital staff, equipment, monitors, etc.?
Coomment > 5
I agree with the first comment; soundproofing is not an easy task.
To get the best results there are so many different criteria to be fulfilled. I have my room done up with two layers of QuietRock and QuietGlue and sealed every corner with seal and putty and the results are good.
Comment > 6
Honestly, it's not rocket science to soundproof a room. if its a smallish size of room you can do such things as have a thick, hard door, reinforce your walls and have carpet/rugs on the floor.
i have a recording studio in my house and that's what i used to soundproof it, and for those who are thinking why have i got a recording studio, it's because i am in a band and practice and record in my house.
Unless its for online it's done in a spare room that hardly gets used. but there are a lot of ways of doing it. that is probably the cheapest and easiest way of doing it. just research online or look for books on it in shops or in your public library.
Comment > 7
My wife is really loud and we live in an apartment. Sometimes we can hear our neighbor trying to listen in. One time I sneezed and he said "God Bless you," so clearly that it was as if he was lying next to me in bed. I am tired of whispering and my wife is tired of having to be quiet
Comment > 8
I live in a well made apartment complex and the latest neighbors downstairs... I must say that if you walked by when their windows were open anyone would say "Hey!" It's like being next to the guy with full sound system on in a car and you feel trapped.
Once their windows are closed, rarely can you hear it outside but upstairs -- thunder, surround sound, driving me nuts. the management has said several times, "Gee your building has the slab flooring," as if this should take care of it.
I am searching so i can tell them why slab flooring is not enough to stop their sound from filling the upstairs. I can't find anything. I am moving but they are about to build another complex and i really would like to be able to help them to learn why the slab is not working -- or not enough.
Comment > 9
I am an amateur robot builder living with five people in a three bedroom duplex, and about once a day somebody complains about my noises from using tools or testing vocal functions/alarms or movement tests. I am on the top floor and most times have someone downstairs and sometimes sharing one wall upstairs. Some of the robots have legs and walk noisily (just testing) because i have hardwood. I put a rug down and it helps some but my room is bigger than the rug and the robots are out of my direct control because I am testing more than one at the same time, so they often scrabble on the wood. I thought, make the robots themselves out of soft materials that are sound proof and thought it could have stealth applications but that's not the direction I'm going in with this. There is no garage.
Comment > 10
Im going crazy, i have a set of laptop speakers that run with a subwoofer and it seems that even when the bass is turned right down i still annoy the other people in my house. I listen to a lot of bass heavy dance music and i need a solution to this! The place is rented and the room I am in is on the first floor of a three story house, and i have house mates on four sides; above, below and on two sides. There is a fire door that keeps a lot of the noise in on the one side though and i have double glazing which is a bonus so that side's not so much of an issue. I think the bass is mainly being carried in the floor (even though i have raised it off the floor already.). Would putting the sub in some kind of sound dampened box on legs make any difference? or maybe sound proofing the wardrobe? Oh yeah, and I'm skint lol so cheapish materials are the only option really. Please, someone with some real music knowledge, advise! :)
Content Source : Wisegeek
