How to Soundproof Your Home or Studio

Soundproofing is a process which aims to prevent sound waves from passing from one space to another. The purpose of soundproofing is to either prevent external noises from coming inside or to prevent internal noises from being heard outside. It can be hard to block all of the sound waves from entering or escaping a room, but reducing the noise transmission by a significant amount can be achieved. 

Interested in soundproofing your home? Whether you are a musician looking to soundproof your studio or you’d like to reduce the noise in your home office, we take a look at the steps you need to take to reduce noise levels. Read below for more information!

Steps For Soundproofing Your Home Office or Music Studio

Taking the steps to reduce the levels of noise in your home is relatively easy. To soundproof your home, you’ll want to look at three main areas, these include, the wall and ceiling area, the floor, and finally, assessing any gaps and cracks in the home. Plus, once it’s done, you won’t need to worry about it down the line. 

Soundproof your walls and ceiling with acoustic blankets or slabs

The most important thing to soundproof is your walls and ceiling area. After all, these areas have the greatest surface area, so there’s a bigger chance of sound waves escaping or entering the space. To soundproof your walls and ceiling you’ll need sound control blankets. The process of installing the material is relatively simple and similar to installing regular insulation. 

To add sound control material to your walls and ceiling you will need to:

1. Clear the area you want to add soundproofing material to.

2. Measure the area carefully (and measure again!) to ensure you purchase the right amount of material.

3.Remove the finishing wallboard or ceiling material to expose the structural frames. If you don’t want to remove the finishing material you can build a stud wall on the existing solid wall.

4. Use acoustic insulation between structural frames to block and absorb sounds that are normally transferred. This is as simple as measuring the slabs to fit the space and pushing them into place. 

Soundproof your floor with an acoustic layer 

You may be wondering why you need to soundproof your floor. The truth is, floors can be noisy, and this is particularly true if your flooring structure is old. If a floor isn’t properly soundproofed, events like footsteps and dropping objects can cause a lot of noise, and trust us, you’ll definitely notice this. To soundproof the floor in your home, you’ll need to lay acoustic floor mats underneath the subfloor. So, if you have a subfloor in place, this can be a time-consuming task. 

The instructions for installing the soundproofing material to your floor include: 

1. To begin, you’ll need to measure the floor area to assess how much material you’ll need.

2. You are then able to remove the finished flooring material (vinyl or laminate).

3. For proper soundproofing, the acoustic floor mat must be laid on a clean, dry and level surface covering the entire floor area.

4. The soundproofing layer needs to be placed between the subfloor and plywood or concrete overlayment to create an isolation layer for sound vibrations and external impact. This creates a solid, flat surface for the finished flooring material. 

Seal all draughts and gaps with sealant 

This is a step which is often overlooked because the benefits of it aren’t properly recognised. If you have lots of small gaps and cracks in your home, this can lead to noise escaping or entering your home. 

There are, however, areas that are prone to developing cracks and having gaps. These include around the window frame, around the skirting boards, and around any doors in your space. Luckily, it’s really easy to fill in the gaps and cracks in your home. Simply, find any gaps you have in your home and fill them in with some sealant or caulk.

Insulation As A Soundproofing Method?

Does insulation have soundproofing properties? This is a question we come across frequently. In simple terms, the answer to this question depends on how much noise reduction you need in your home. 

If you’re looking for noise levels to be damped, then fiberglass insulation or cellulose insulation will work effectively. This is because it does reduce some of the air gaps between walls. However, if you’re looking to reduce noise levels significantly, then insulation won’t do the job. This is because insulation is manufactured with the primary purpose of being thermally efficient and preventing the transmission of cold air into your home. Fiberglass insulation, for example, is not a very dense material. Therefore, the sound waves will simply travel through the insulation and enter or exit the space.

It is therefore recommended to add a soundproofing material alongside insulation, if you need to control the noise levels in your home.

Reasons To Properly Soundproof Your Home

Soundproofing your home is important for many reasons and they depend on what you use your space for. For example, if you’re a musician who is using the space to create music, then high-quality soundproofing will ensure your recordings are of the best quality. It could also be that you work from home and need to soundproof your home office to ensure you aren’t disrupted during calls or periods of concentration. The two main reasons why you need to consider soundproofing your home include:

To prevent external noise - this is critical if you live in an area that has a lot of external sound. This might include if you live on a main road, near a train or tram station, or if you live next door to a primary school. Proper soundproofing will ensure these noises don’t enter your home and disturb you.

To stop internal noise being heard outside - this is particularly important if you’re a musician or need to practice loud musical instruments often. Practicing the drums, for example, can be extremely disruptive for your neighbours. So, having a dedicated room that is properly soundproofed will save a lot of trouble for everyone.

Interested in Soundproofing Your Home?

We hope you have found this post on soundproofing your studio, home office, or room useful. If you’re ready to get to work but still have a few questions about the soundproofing process, then please feel free to contact our team. We will be able to answer any of your questions and offer expert advice.