Homemade Soundproofing
Totally soundproofing your home involves heavy construction and high costs. but if you just want to muffle the noise in a practice room or study, you can make a big improvement with cheap supplies you may already have lying around your house.
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Insulating the Sound Leaks
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Start by targeting the main sources of sound leakage: doors and windows. Apply a layer of caulk around window casements to seal them more tightly against sound waves. If you don't mind the loss of ventilation and sunlight, you can also dramatically reduce the level of sound getting in and out of a room by boarding up or otherwise covering the windows. You can sound-insulate your door by padding it with a layer of rubber or any other material that is heavy and dense. If the door has a large gap under it, you may wish to put a piece of foam or rubber between it and the door frame.
Cover all Surfaces
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Covering the floor will help more than you think. You can use extra carpet you may have lying around or even area rugs. This will absorb and diffuse sound, taking down the volume in the room. You can also improve sound absorption by tacking foam mattress pads up on the walls and ceilings, or, if you anticipate a lot of noise, even attaching old mattresses. Try to cover every available space.
Adding Baffles
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Another avenue of attack is the ceiling. Hang cloth or foam sheeting from it. You can also use tapestries if you like, or just big scraps of fabric. These will act as baffles, absorbing sound as it moves through the room. You can also use furniture to good advantage. Soft, voluminous furniture, like couches, tends to absorb sound more effectively than hard-backed chairs, since hard surfaces reflect sound.
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