How to Build Soundproof Walls

Soundproof Wall

Introduction: Most homeowners expect their rooms to be reasonably quiet. However, unless special care is taken by the builder the homeowner is likely to hear anything from the snores in the adjacent room to the play activity of small children. You can sound proof the walls to block this noise.

Sound travels in waves and flows very much like water or airflow. Any gap or opening in the wall that could let in a draft as well as noise. Modern homes are built with larger and larger rooms providing more open kitchens and living spaces. As a result there's a greater chance that the noise level within the house will increase.

Installing sound dampening acoustic batt insulation into the home's interior walls during construction is the best method for soundproofing walls to prevent noise traveling through them from room to room.

The most convenient and inexpensive way to reduce noise that travels from room to room is to install acoustic batt insulation. You can also reduce noise in the house by installing thicker carpets and padding, choosing quieter home appliances, and by installing a double-layer of 5/8 inch gypsum board on the walls.

Installation of acoustic batt insulation is pretty much identical to standard batt insulation installation but special attention must be given when installing it to prevent noise from traveling from room to room.

Here are a few tips on how to build soundproof walls:

Be sure that the sound proof insulation fits snugly into place, and that it fills the wall cavity. Gaps or holes will allow sound to travel through it.
Staple the insulation to the inside of the wall studs using the flanges on the outer edge of the batt.
Carefully cut the insulation to fit around electrical boxes, pipes, and other obstructions.
Make sure the acoustic insulation does not get wet before installing.

The Wonderful Sounds of Silence:

Partitions like walls or floors are rated on how well they reduce sound or noise levels using a scale known as the Sound Transmission Class (STC). The better the material and the more the noise is dampened the higher the rating.

The rating directly reflects the number of decibels (dB) a partition reduces. Normal conversation is about 60 dB. A standard interior wall with 3/8 inch gypsum board has an STC of about 35. This means if someone is speaking at a normal level in the next room you would hear about 25 dB of noise, or just over a whisper.

Another way to reduce the noise that travels between rooms is to increase the STC over 60 dB by installing a double-layer of 5/8" gypsum board and using 2x6 inch studs so you can add 6 inches of acoustic batt insulation. While this will pretty much eliminate the chance of being able to hear someone speaking in the next room, this approach is normally beyond the scope of conventional interior wall construction and will cost more.

Soundproofing walls is not difficult but it will cost a little more constructing standard walls. The sound of quiet may be well worth it.

See more DIY Home Improvement Projects

For more DIY information Check out these Resources

A Great DIY Guide