HOW TO SOUNDPROOF A ROOM 

It is usually impractical to completely soundproof a room within a domestic property but if the following advice is taken, reasonable levels of sound proofing can be achieved which will reduce any noise nuisance from your neighbours.

WINDOWS

If light through the windows is desired, they should be triple glazed with different thicknesses of glass at staggered intervals and installed so as to be completely sealed. If light is not an issue, the window reveal can ideally be bricked up. As this is a fairly permanent option, it may be preferred to infill with a more easily removable alternative when required.

In this case we would suggest two layers of our high density Acoustic Plasterboard is fitted into the reveal, one immediately behind the other and tight to the glazing. The remaining void should be filled with our Acousticel M20AD and another two layers of Acoustic Plasterboard fixed over the top sandwiching the M20AD insulation.

This could be made as a removable plug to be inserted whenever required, but it must be an airtight fit when installed so may require draught proofing seals. If the window is large, this type of acoustic plug may be too heavy to handle so a compromise may have to be sought. For more info on window soundproofing click here

WALLS

Party walls and any other walls as may be required should be soundproofed before anywhere else and can be upgraded with our Acousticel M20AD recycled rubber product. However, it must be noted that modern properties with cavity walls and built with more lightweight materials may allow flanking noise around party walls.

Our SoundBlocker Quilt or Acoustic Mineral Wool insulation in the cavity of a stud wall helps reduce this problem but the only effective solution is to insulate any juxtaposed cavity walls with our M20AD. For additional wall info click here

CEILINGS

If there is sufficient ceiling height, the best method of soundproofing is to incorporate a new suspended ceiling beneath the existing and supported on new joists suspended from wall mounted hangers and not touching the original ceiling.

Our SoundBlocker Quilt or Acoustic Mineral Wool (AMW) can be fitted between the joists and the underside clad with two layers of our Acoustic Plasterboard fixed with our Resilient Bars.
In many cases this is impractical so a good alternative is to use our Resilient Bar system supported on battens. For more info on ceiling soundproofing click here

FLOORS

If the room to be insulated is on the first floor, the ceiling below must first be soundproofed with our Resilient Bar system. Acoustic mineral wool should be installed between the joists and if the floor is of the square edged variety, it can be overlaid with SBM5 to seal up the joints. A floating floor using Acousticel R10 as the resilient layer with a new t&g floor installed on top should now be installed. For more info on floor soundproofing click here

DOORS

Normal domestic doors are too light and ill fitting to provide effective sound insulation. If more sound insulation is required, they can be replaced with heavier fire doors, fitted so as to be airtight when closed which will entail the fitting of an acoustic threshold. A good seal can be achieved using our Acoustic Seals or Acoustic Doorsets. Mortice locks and open holes through the door should be avoided.

DOUBLE DOOR ENTRY

A double door entry system will be more effective at reducing noise breaking through. This entails two heavy fire doors fitted so one opens outwards and the other opens inwards. Both should be fitted so as to be acoustically sealed when closed as previously described. A good seal can be achieved using our Acoustic Seals or Acoustic Doorsets.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Before installing soundproofing as described above, your room would have had a very poor insulation value which would no doubt, be very disturbing for your neighbours.
The newly soundproofed room will substantially reduce noise nuisance to other rooms but it must be appreciated that loud noise will still be heard, particularly low frequency sounds as produced by drums.

REVERBERATION

Now the room has been soundproofed, you will want to reduce the reverberation or echo within it. Reverberation amplifies any noise originally produced so the sound has to be absorbed to reduce this. To achieve this we recommend Echosorption Plus a very efficient sound absorber is used to line the upper walls and ceiling. This will reduce the reverberation and also the amount of noise breaking out of the room.