What do you need to know about soundproofing a wall on a budget?
You don’t need to spend much on wall soundproofing to reduce noise, but you can still get quality soundproofing at a low price. Here are four ways to achieve quality wall soundproofing at a low price.
- Determine the wall’s weak points and noise source
To soundproof a room, you need to understand the layout and know where the disruptive noise comes from before you start. The most common reasons people wall soundproofing and businesses are airborne noise and impact noise. Airborne noise travels through the air at middle to high frequency, but structure-borne noise passes through windows, walls, and doors at a lower frequency.
Depending on the type of sound and where it comes from, you may need to use different soundproofing materials. Soundproof curtains might be sufficient if the noise comes mainly through the window. In case of airborne noise, a few acoustic panels might help. Vinyl mats are a strong installation option if you hear low-frequency sound leaking through the walls. The sound source must also be identified so that you can use materials such as green glue and weatherstrip tape to seal the weak spots in the wall.
- Make sure the walls are soundproofed by filling up the space
Space can sometimes be problematic not because of its ability to pick up noise from outside but rather because of its ability to echo that noise within the space. Suppose a room is large or sparsely furnished. In that case, the lack of items filling the space can result in sound reverberating throughout the room, amplifying even small noises and making everything louder. It is easy to solve this problem by furnishing the space with objects that absorb echoed sounds better. It is possible to reduce the influence of reverberation in a room by adding furniture, bookshelves, and wall art, especially if they are placed near or on the walls. This will not prevent exterior noise from entering the room, but it can decrease the reverberation within the space.
- Soundproof walls with insulation, drywall, and acoustic caulk
Creating an airtight wall space with drywall and other materials is the most effective way to soundproof your walls. When installed over insulation, drywall forms a solid sound barrier.
- Add acoustic foam panels as a supplement
Using acoustic panels as an additional layer of sound absorption is a good option if you consider using a combination of methods to improve your soundproofing. In addition to soundproofing the room, acoustic panels can absorb additional airborne noise when paired with other soundproofing methods like drywall. Your sound defense may be enhanced even more by using multiple soundproofing materials.
