How To Soundproof A Room
How To Soundproof A Room
Soundproofing a room or space is the act of modifying it to make sound waves unable to pass through it. It’s used to block out outside noises like traffic and neighbours' voices while also preventing inside sounds from escaping outdoors, perfect for a home cinema or any room with loud noises.
If you’re looking to soundproof your room, this article will cover everything from the types of noise you can soundproof – airborne and impact – and how to go about it.
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Key takeaways
Noise Types – There are two types of noise that soundproofing can be used for. Airborne noise is anything that travels through the air, like a dog barking, whereas impact noise is the sound of things like dragging furniture or heavy footsteps, which cause vibrations.
The Four Principles – Proper room soundproofing relies on four main principles:
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Mass – Adding mass makes it harder for sound waves to travel. This can be done through installing acoustic plasterboard onto the walls.
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Decoupling – Creating a gap behind a wall will mean sound waves passing through vibration are interrupted. This can be done by fitting resilient bars.
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Absorption – Absorbent materials can be used to reduce sound from bouncing around a room.
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Sealing – seal any gaps around skirting boards, plug sockets, and cracks to avoid sound escaping through.
DIY vs Structural – You can achieve a positive result using just DIY-friendly fixes like installing acoustic plasterboard and sealing all gaps, but the most impactful changes will be the more thorough, structural ones.
How soundproofing works
To understand how soundproofing works, it’s important to first understand the difference between airborne noise and impact noise.
Airborne sound travels directly through the air and will cover things like the sound of people talking, a loud TV, or a barking dog.
Impact sound travels more as a physical vibration through solid structures. Examples might be a sofa being dragged across the floor, heavy footsteps on a pavement, or the rumble of a washing machine.
These require entirely different methods of soundproofing. It’s also important to note that soundproofing a room is not the same as employing sound absorption in a room, as sound absorption reduces echoes and improves the acoustics of a room but will not prevent noises from entering and exiting the room.
Effective room soundproofing relies on the following four principles:
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Mass – Sound finds it harder to travel through denser materials, so adding mass is one step to soundproofing a room.
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Decoupling – Sound is a vibration that follows a path, so creating a gap in the material behind a wall will create a gap the sound cannot easily jump across.
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Absorption – To reduce sound bouncing around a room, absorbent materials can effectively soak up any loose sound waves.
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Sealing – Fixing any cracks or gaps that sound could leak through is essential.
How to soundproof a room
Walls, floors, and ceilings will all need different actions to be taken to be fully soundproofed.
The core tips for room soundproofing are as follows:
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Add acoustic plasterboard to walls for mass.
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Fill cavities with acoustic mineral wool for absorption.
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Fit resilient bars before plasterboard for decoupling.
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Seal all gaps and perimeters with acoustic sealant.
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Lay acoustic underlay beneath flooring to reduce impact noise.
Methods that add mass, such as acoustic plasterboard, are most effective against airborne sound. Decoupling methods, such as resilient bars and acoustic underlay, are better suited to stopping impact vibration travelling through the structure.
Walls
To soundproof your walls, follow these steps:
Seal every gap – Seal any cracks that sound could leak in or out through. Add acoustic sealant around skirting boards and electrical sockets, sealing any slight gaps. You can also fill cavities with acoustic mineral wool for absorption.
Once this step is done, you can use any of the following methods to soundproof the wall further:
Add new plasterboard layer – Adding mass makes it harder for sound to pass through, so spread a sound-dampening compound over your wall to act as a glue before screwing in a sheet of acoustic plasterboard over the top of it.
Install resilient bars – Fix resilient bars horizontally across your wall frame, and screw your new acoustic plasterboard into the metal bars only. These act as a spring that absorbs vibrations, preventing the sound from travelling through the rest of the house by decoupling the board from the structure.
Build a stud wall – Building a brand new wall can cut off the path of sound. The wall should be built in front of an old wall, with a slight gap between them for decoupling. Pack the inside of the new frame with dense acoustic mineral wool insulation. Finish by screwing two layers of acoustic plasterboard to the new frame.
Adding a plasterboard layer only is a quicker fix, but building a new wall or installing resilient bars will offer more substantial soundproofing for your room.
Floors
Airborne noise travels through the air, while impact noises travel through the ground and structures around it. The right floor solution will target both of these types of sound. Here are some core floor-focused ways you can soundproof your room:
Add acoustic underlay – This acts like a barrier to sound waves and can be used to decouple your floor from the subfloor.
Lay down a rug – This is an effective, non-invasive way to dampen sound in a room.
Place heavy furniture – Bulky furniture covered in fabric can have a similar effect to rugs, absorbing airborne sound in a room.
Add loft insulation – Add this above a ground-floor ceiling to reduce airborne sound.
Seal any gaps – Use door seals and draught excluders to close the gaps under doors, reducing the chance of sound coming in or out.
Ceilings
Understanding how to soundproof a room means understanding how to soundproof floors, walls, and ceilings, respectively.
Fit resilient bars – Fitting resilient bars before plasterboard on a wall decouples the structure and prevents vibrations from the ceiling above from travelling through.
Add loft insulation – Installing loft insulation above a ground floor ceiling helps to soundproof a room against airborne sound.
Soundproofing a ceiling can be far more disruptive than soundproofing a wall, and it may be the case that you need to call in a professional to help with this.
Things to consider before soundproofing
Now that you understand how to soundproof a room, it’s important to acknowledge a few top things to consider before getting started:
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Budget vs results – Cheap soundproofing fixes can help and are generally far quicker, but structural changes will make the biggest difference. The average cost for a basic job can be anywhere from £150 to £900 depending on whether you hire a professional or do it yourself, and the price of a more thorough job can range from £500 to £3000+, though this will offer far more soundproofing.
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Renting vs owning – Some methods require landlord permission or aren’t worth the investment in a rented property.
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Realistic expectations – It’s important to be aware of what is achievable. Soundproofing methods will go a long way in reducing the sound coming in and out of your room, but they will not make it completely silent.
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DIY vs structural work – Sealing and adding mass can be DIY-friendly jobs, while building stud walls and conducting ceiling overhauls will likely require a professional. Wall panelling kits can be a less invasive and, therefore, cheaper way to soundproof your room, with no need for replastering.