How to Use Cellulose to Soundproof Walls

Soundproof walls using cellulose.

Walls provide privacy and a division of space. When a room is improperly insulated, however, you lose your privacy due to poor sound disruption. You can easily improve the soundproofing in a room by inserting cellulose insulation in the walls. It is an environmentally friendly insulation, made from recycled newspapers. You install it with an insulation machine, which can be rented at most home improvement stores. Some stores will give you a deal on the machine rental if you buy the insulation there as well.

Things You'll Need

• Insulation machine
• Stud finder
• Pencil
• Power drill
• Safety goggles
• Masks
• Helper
• Cellulose insulation
• Spackle

Instructions

1. Locate the window nearest the wall to be insulated. Place the insulation machine outside of the house right beneath this window. The machine makes a big mess while operating, so having it outside keeps the mess out of the house.

2. Feed the insulation machine hose through the window. The machine has a large hopper or feeder basket into which you put the insulation, and on the other side there is a hose through which the insulation comes out.

3. Prepare the holes for the insulation to be injected into. The number of beams in the wall will determine the number of holes you will need.

4. Use a stud finder to locate each vertical beam in the wall and mark them with a pencil. You will need to make a single hole in between every stud.

5. Make holes in the wall with a power drill. The holes should be big enough to accommodate the nozzle at the end of the insulation hose but not much bigger. Situate the holes at least 4 inches but no more than 6 inches below the ceiling.

6. Put on safety goggles and a mask and have your helper do the same.

7. Insert the nozzle of the hose into the first hole on the wall and hold it in place.

8. Have a helper connect the insulation machine to a power outlet, fill the hopper with cellulose insulation and turn on the machine. The helper will have to remain next to the machine to keep refilling the hopper.

9. Turn off the machine when the insulation in the wall reaches the nozzle. Remove the nozzle and insert it into the next hole. Repeat this process until all of the holes in the wall are filled.

10. Seal each hole with spackling compound and let it dry for a few hours. Paint over the Spackle with whatever finish you have on the wall already.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint the wall with a textured finish, such as stucco, for even more sound deflection.

• Make sure all loose insulation is cleared away to prevent people inhaling it after the soundproofing is finished.

References

• Ask Tool Talk: Insulating a Bathroom Wall