DIY SOUNDPROOFING

DIY Soundproofing is something most of never think about. Sound is something we can’t live without; it lets us know what’s going on around us. And most of the time it’s something we want. But with the new technologies such as the new Hi-Def visual mediums, THX sound systems, not to mention to mention the new 3D audio visual systems now in development. When you start acquiring these little toys, background noise becomes more of a problem.

This is where DIY soundproofing comes in. Want to watch that big game, or listen to that new CD, but you also have to listen to the kids in the other room. Or how about traffic, sirens etc. So how do we take care of this problem?

DIY Soundproofing can fix this. There are several things that you can do to cut down or eliminate unwanted noise. First let’s look at the walls. When they are built, they are using 2x4’s on 16” centers. This makes for great construction, but it also makes the walls great transmitters of noise. The insulation helps a little, but not much. Something you can use is a product called Green Glue. This is a gooey substance that is applied between 2 surfaces such as 2 sheets of sheetrock. You would apply 1 sheet the normal way, and then after you apply the green glue, you apply the 2nd sheet of sheetrock at right angles to the first layer. This is to prevent any seams from lining up.

If you are adding a room, you can also make them 4” thick instead of 2” and alternating the studs. This prevents the sound from being transmitted to the outside through the studs.

Green glue can also be used on the ceiling as well, but the best way there is to create a dead zone by dropping the ceiling (if you have the room) and installing a false ceiling using sound dampening tiles.

And let’s not forget the windows, doors and ventilation system. These are all great transmitters of that unwanted noise. The windows will need to be taped and sealed. Although here, replacement with double pane windows would provide better noise reduction than a single pane window that is just taped. Whichever way you go with the windows, for maximum noise reduction the important thing to remember is to make sure all the cracks are taped up. And if needed, a secondary panel will need to be installed over a standard window to provide maximum soundproofing. The doors need to be looked at also; most standard doors are hollow over a wood frame. You will have better results with a solid core door. And again, don’t forget to seal the cracks around and under the door. The ventilation system is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of soundproofing, and also one of the hardest areas to address. Those vents just love to transmit that unwanted noise. For that you will either need to block the vents altogether or if possible install a flexible ducting like flex duct or a fiberglass type of ducting that doesn’t transmit noise as well as the metal ducts in use now.

So, when you get that big screen or those primo sound systems installed and want to enjoy it without the rest of the world intruding. Whether it is a room in your home, or you are installing a new room just for this purpose, the resources on this page will help you maximize your  DIY soundproofing projects.