How to Soundproof Your House

Soundproofing your house can greatly enhance the overall indoor environment. Most of the time, soundproofing can be achieved without spending an arm and a leg. Many tools and materials help make this possible, depending on your soundproofing needs. Soundproofing can incorporate two approaches. Noise reduction involves stopping sound before it arrives at a listener's ears. Noise absorption involves changing various characteristics of each room to create a quieter and more soundproof interior.

Things You'll Need

• Drywall
• Silicone caulk
• Screws
• Acoustic panels
• Carpets
• Upholstered furniture

Instructions

1. Add extra drywall to your walls. Apply a layer of silicone caulk to all the studded surfaces. Attach the drywall with screws. Apply a second layer of drywall using the same process to maximize sound reduction.

2. Add one to two layers of drywall to your ceiling utilizing the same steps outlined in Step 1. Alternately, you can floor the attic space above the ceiling with a layer of drywall to maximize floor-to-floor sound reduction.

3. Attach acoustic panels at different points on your walls to create additional noise absorption. Screw the panels where sound is most likely to bounce off the walls. Leave a small space between each panel and the wall to maximize sound reduction.

4. Place carpet at various points on the floors to prevent unnecessary noise reflection off the floor.

5. Introduce upholstered furniture that does not reflect sound.

References

• Soundproofing101.com: Soundproofing Made Simple