How to Reduce Noise (Soundproofing)

There are number of ways you can reduce the noise level in your home. We will cover some of the basics here.

The best time to soundproof and reduce noise in your home is during the construction phase. However, if you reside in an apartment or you are encountering noise after taking up residency in your house, there are steps you can take to reduce noise in your home.

Many of us do not notice noise until the arrival of a new baby. Every new parent understands the necessity of a quiet sleeping environment for their infant. The naps and bedtime hours are golden. If you live in an apartment building you may have encountered a noisy neighbor and need to soundproof a wall. Maybe that new wood shop you installed in the garage was a great idea, except you forgot to mention to your wife just how loud a table saw can be at 9 p.m. on a Tuesday night.

Hopefully you and your family can find ways to reduce the noise level in your home. A reduction of noise has been shown to decrease stress and improve health. So lets get started on our way to reducing the noise.

Things You'll Need

• Acoustic Ceiling Tiles
• Utility Knife
• Straight Edge (ruler)
• Door Sweep
• Hack Saw
• Insulating Foam
• Electrical Outlet Seals
• Screw Driver
• Hammer

Instructions

1. 

   A workshop or utility room door can transmit a great deal of noise. In our home the laundry room is on the main living level and running the dryer at night with little ones sleeping can be a real challenge. We had to find a way to reduce the noise.

   Most interior doors are hollow core and provide almost no noise reduction. By installing acoustical ceiling tiles on the inside of the door you can reduce the noise level significantly. You will want to purchase 12" x 12" tiles from your local hardware store. Most of these tiles have a pre-fitted edge which makes lining them up simple. You may need to cut some of the tiles along the door edges to get an exact fit. Use a utility knife and a straight edge (ruler) to make a precise cut.

   Use a hot glue gun to attach the tiles to the door. Apply in dabs rather than in large quantities. This will minimize damage to the door. If you are in an apartment, when move out time comes around, you can pull the tiles off. Sand the door and paint. The door will be as good as new.

2. 

   You can also apply a door sweep to the bottom of the door. This will prevent sound from escaping underneath the door. You will need a hack saw to cut the sweep to the proper length. But measure before you go to the hardware store, they may have your exact length.

3. 

   To reduce noise from one room to another, you will want to seal any cracks and air passages. Noise likes to escape through any opening. Electrical outlets are an opening cut directly into the wall. These outlets are a prime place to focus your efforts to reduce noise. Your hardware store should carry a product called Electrical Outlet Seals. These seals fit between your outlet and the plate.

4. 

   Most drywall is not installed flush with the floor surface. If you were to remove the base molding and shoe molding, you would find a 1-2" gap between the bottom of the drywall and the floor surface. This is another area where you can focus your efforts to reduce noise. Carefully remove the base shoe molding (quarter round). Fill the gap with a sprayable insulating foam. Then reinstall the base shoe molding.

5. 

   A more extreme method to reduce noise is to add layers to your existing walls or ceilings. You will need to install and finish new wallboard. You will nail 1/2" Sound Stop over the existing walls. Be sure to nail into the wall studs. The final step is to glue 1/2" wall board over the Sound Stop boards. Use construction adhesive. You may need professional help with this part of the job.

   Sound Stop also makes tackable wall panels. These are easier to install and may be a good option for you. A link to their product web site will be provided in the resource section.

Resources

• Sound Stop