Next, install acoustic seals (basically, fancy weather-stripping) around the door frames to prevent sound from flowing around the doors like water through a cracked glass. Still, there are a few things you can do to improve them.įirst, replace any hollow-core doors, which are almost transparent to sound, with heavier solid-core ones.
If noise from the apartment above is the problem, conventional do-it-yourself wisdom advocates creating a "drop ceiling." You can easily fashion a no-frills version by screwing some 1-by-2-inch framing into your existing ceiling and hanging a bunch of drywall panels from them, thereby adding mass along with some dead air space to help block unwanted sound but you might be disappointed with the results.ĭoors and windows are often the weak links in a soundproofed room.
Applying it is a bit tricky, though, so if you are not especially handy, you'll probably want to hire a general contractor to do the job. It's relatively inexpensive, too a case of the stuff costs less than $200 and will cover a decent-size wall. Green Glue appears to be more effective than many soundproofing materials at stopping low-frequency sounds, which is good news if you are trying to mute the throbbing bass from a stereo subwoofer. MLV can be nailed, screwed, stapled, or can be reinforced and grommeted and hung like a curtain.Fortunately, you can replicate the effect of such specialized materials on the cheap by treating ordinary drywall with Green Glue, a gooey compound that similarly transforms vibrations into heat. Reduced noise transmission through walls, ceilings, floors, pipes, HVAC ducts, office partition walls, computer server rooms, mechanical rooms, machinery enclosures.
When noise and sound transmission needs to be effectively controlled, MLV Curtains are a great solution for soundproofing walls and ceilings. High-density limp material to reduce noise transmission. Reading about Soundproofing a Wall and Soundproofing a Garage may provide you with further insight on the uses of mass loaded vinyl in certain construction assemblies. Often, the mass-loaded barrier is used in combination with other materials to create a soundproof system.Ĭombining it with layers of noise barriers and resilient clips and channels will improve the sound transmission loss of the complete assembly. Usually installed direct to the studs, the vinyl sound barrier may also be installed between layers of drywall. It's available in 48″ or 54″ widths and various lengths to provide the best utilization for your project. Mass Loaded Vinyl is tear-resistant, yet easy to cut with a utility knife. Mass Loaded Vinyl is a non-reinforced version for wall and ceiling installations. Mass Loaded Vinyl is commonly used in new construction and also to correct noise problems in existing spaces. Mass Loaded Vinyl sound barrier is very dense, weighing one to two pounds per square foot. It is a limp-mass material made of high-temperature fused vinyl and no lead fillers. It can be added to various construction assemblies to increase STC (Sound Transmission Loss) of the structure. Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) sound barrier used to reduce the amount of airborne sound from transmitting through walls, floors, and ceilings.