Sound insulation is a method of reducing the amount of sound reaching a particular point such as a room. Sound comes from either internal or external elements of a room.
Examples are; an operating machine in your neighborhood, a busy highway, a construction site, or a home theater system.
Sound also gets into a room through spaces around the:
- Windows
- Doors
- Ceilings
- Walls
- Floors
These building components hence require proofing from sound in areas where you need to block out excess noise.
Types of Sound Insulation Materials
The use of soundproof materials depends on the site and the type of space you need to proof. For example; commercial soundproofing can use block panels at specific points where sound insulation is required.
Therefore, the different types of materials suit various elements of a building. Here are the commonly used soundproof materials.
Insulation Panels
Panels are mainly used to insulate existing walls, floors, and ceilings. Drywall panels offer a source of mass that is an essential proofing property. Dampened drywall incorporates a sound-blocking layer for extra insulation.
You can apply a dampening compound on two sheets of drywall to create a dampened one. Also, you can soundproof a room using sound boards in floors as a spacing layer.
However, they don’t provide maximum insulation from sound but are useful where extra proofing mass is not required.
Mass Loaded Vinyl
This material is dense and highly flexible with excellent sound insulation properties. It is helpful in filling gaps, wrapping metal columns and pipes, or where a flexible sound barrier is required.
Also, MLV is a good commercial soundproof material due to its durability and quality features in sound insulation.
Seals
Seals help to soundproof a room by preventing sound from passing through closed doors and windows. They are airtight hence little, or no noise goes beyond the frame surface of wall openings.
Seals are made of rubber or foam and placed on the edges of the door as well as the frame to fill in gaps between the opening and the frame.
Seals can be good sound insulators for recording studio soundproofing rooms to block noise from reaching the other rooms and prevent external noise that may affect the recording quality.
Acoustical Sealants
These are sealing substances that are essential for sealing seams in other sound-blocking materials.
They prevent sound leakage from cracks, crevices, and openings in building components such as walls. Therefore, they have to be placed correctly to ensure the efficiency of sound-deadening materials.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Sound Insulation Materials
Purpose of the Room
The use of a room highly determines the type of equipment to be used for blocking out the noise. For example, a home recording studio may require the use of more than one sound insulating material.
You may need to soundproof existing walls using panels and add seals on doors and windows for extra insulation. For rooms on multiple floors, mass loaded vinyl applies to the floors to prevent sound from reaching rooms on other floors.
The Size of the Room
Room soundproofing depends on the size. The sound is evenly distributed in large spaces due to an increased surface area. Therefore, minimal soundproofing may be required.
Large music halls and theaters soundproof walls using panels to contain the sound and enhance audibility within the space.
Sound insulation in a small home recording studio may need multiple sound insulation strategies to ensure the noise is contained within the room.
Seals and mass loaded vinyl can be useful to soundproof walls in such areas that need quality proofing.
External Sound Factors
Where you live will determine which materials to use to soundproof your house from the noise that comes from the neighborhood.
For example, if you live near an industry with high-pitch operating machines, you may need to soundproof your external walls.
This may be a complex project as you may need to construct soundproof walls or add extra proofing material to existing walls.
In addition, you can install sound-resistant doors and windows or use seals on your doors to block out the noise.
The Benefit of Sound Insulation
Room soundproofing provides privacy since the sound does not travel to adjacent areas. In a case where you have a home studio, insulation will ensure external noises do not reach the place to ensure quality production of audio.
When you hire a professional to soundproof a room, you can be sure the results will enhance sound quality. Also, the results will be appealing thanks to the variety of panel designs and styles.
Conclusion
Soundproofing can apply in different ways depending on the size and purpose of the room. There is a range of sound blocking materials specifically suited for various regions of a room.
When planning on proofing a room from sound, consider contacting a professional to ensure quality and effective soundproof equipment.