Do-It-Yourself Sound Damping & Soundproofing for a Wall

Soundproofing a music room will keep the neightbors from complaining.

Not everyone wants to hear all the sounds that emanate from certain rooms. Whether you are an avid musician with a practice room or just have a teenager who likes to play music or video games at high volume, you can solve the issue yourself. The easiest way to reduce sound pollution indoors is to add material to the walls to buffer the noise.

Things You'll Need

• Damping
• Stud finder
• Silicone caulk
• Drywall
• Drywall screws
• Soundproofing
• 2-by-4 boards
• Power saw
• Square
• Plumb line
• Drill
• 4-inch screws
• 3-inch screws

Instructions

Sound Damping

1. Find the studs in the walls of a room with a stud finder. Mark each stud with a pencil.

2. Cut the tip off a tube of silicone caulk. Squeeze the tube of caulk along each stud, creating a thick bead. This will create an air space between the first drywall panels and the ones you are about to hang. The air space absorbs sound.

3. Hang a second layer of drywall over the original wall. Place the boards so the length is horizontal to the floor. Screw the panels to the studs. Do not use the usually recommended 6- or 7-inch spacing for the screws but instead space them 12 inches apart. The more screws you use, the more sound will escape the room.

4. Cut drywall panels when needed to fit a space on the wall. Use a utility knife to cut the panel, lay the panel over the edge of a table and press down to snap it.

   Application of additional drywall will reduce unwanted sound but not eliminate it. To do that, you need space within the wall itself.

Soundproofing

1. Measure the walls and cut 2-by-4 boards to match the length for the top and bottom plates of the stud walls.

2. Use a stud finder to find the floor and ceiling joists.

3. Attach the top and bottom plates to the floor and ceiling joists about 6 inches away from the existing wall. Drill 4-inch screws through boards and into the joists. Use a square to ensure the inner walls are at right angles to each other. Connect the top plates first and drop a plumb line to find where the bottom plates are.

4. Measure the height between the top and bottom plates. Cut more 2-by-4 boards to this length. You need enough to space them every 18 inches. Studs are commonly spaced 16 inches apart; however, the fewer the wood beams, the less opportunity there is for vibration.

5. Place the studs between the plates and toenail them into place. Toenailing is the term for running a nail or screw through at an angle to connect two perpendicular pieces. Drill 3-inch screws through the studs and into the plates.

6. Squeeze silicone caulk from a tube along each stud.

7. Hang the drywall over the studs. Place the boards so the length is horizontal to the floor. Screw the panels to the studs. Drill drywall screws through the silicone and into the studs. The silicone acts as a buffer between the studs and the drywall so the drywall isn't touching the studs at every possible spot.

8. Cut drywall panels if needed to fit a section. Use a utility knife to cut the panel, lay the panel over the edge of a table and press down to snap it. The air space between the existing wall and the new inner wall soundproofs the room.

References

• Soundproofing 101: How to Soundproof a Wall
• Super Soundproofing Company; Your Music Practice -- Soundproofing Tips For Musicians; February 2010