How to To Use Homasote Board (440 SoundBarrier) To Sound Proof A Room

Homasote board is often used as a bulletin board material. However, Homasote board also has a real soundproofing application. The compressed paper board is used to create sound barrier insulation between rooms and floors.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Homasote Board < around $25 for a 4' x 8' sheet
• Can of Expanding Liquid Foam

1. Buy Homasote 440 SoundBarrier at a local hardware store, or big box hardware store like Home Depot.

2. If you are still building a wall, and haven't put drywall on yet, use the Homasote as a sandwich layer between the drywall and the joists after you install a high R-Value fiberglass insulation in the wall.

3. If the room is already constructed, you can put Homasote over the layer of drywall on your walls with drywall screws. Then screw another layer of drywall over the Homasote, creating a drywall/homasote/drywall sandwich.

4. For ceilings, follow the same principles. For a drop ceiling, place R-19 fiberglass insulation between the joists, and then screw Homasote to the ceiling to "hold" in the insulation and create a sound barrier between floors. Then, place the drop ceiling as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• For maximum soundproofing, fill in gaps and cracks in your cuts around studs and joists with Great Stuff or similar liquid foam sealer.
• Care must be taken when using Homasote board to prevent fire danger. The product is flammable, and the flammability issue is why Homasote isn't more widely used. That is why you should cover Homasote with drywall or ceiling material and never leave it as an exposed surface. Never use the board in a kitchen or shop area where there you ever expect there to be open flame. Don't use the material in children's bedrooms.