The truth is those loud neighbours can be a nuisance. Fortunately, there are different ways of reducing the amount of noise coming through.

There are many reasons to soundproof a home. Maybe you are working from home and you want minimal disturbances, or you simply enjoy the quiet life! By soundproofing, you can improve your wellbeing, boost your productivity and regain focus.

Technological advancements in this industry have resulted in products and materials that are affordable and more effective as compared to traditional soundproofing methods.

The following are tips on how to soundproof a wall in your home.

Modern Wall Soundproofing Methods

Adding Mass

This involves adding high-density materials to the wall to reduce the transfer of sound. In fact, adding mass has become one of the popular methods of soundproofing a wall. 

Usually, these acoustic insulation products are rubber-based, flexible and work by stopping sound energy through dampening vibrations. Ensure you use products that are known to have improved noise reduction properties than building materials.

The material can be nailed during construction or even applied to the existing drywall.

 

Recycled Cotton Batts

You should note that cotton batts or Renovlies do not block noise, but they only do so by absorbing noise from inside the wall.

Ideally, they work by stopping sound energy reflecting off internal walls. This type of material insulates and reduces sound.

In fact, you will be surprised to learn that it works better as compared to thermal insulators. This makes it a sensible alternative to spray foams or itchy fibreglass.

Furthermore, you do not require special tools to apply it.

 

Sound Isolation System

Arguably, the most effective soundproofing technique is the use of a sound isolation system. With this system, you can completely isolate the room from other rooms, providing the best soundproofing possible.

You should note that sound travels through the drywall along studs. These systems are fastened to studs without any direct contact between the wood and hardware. Each system has a neoprene form that is meant to cushion the drywall from vibration.

The good thing about this technique is that it is easy to install, improves wall strength, and offers soundproofing quality.

Traditional Wall Soundproofing Methods

Seal All Holes

A large, thick wall is a good sound blocker, but it can be useless if it has many holes allowing air and soundwaves to pass through. Therefore, you should inspect the walls and if there are any areas of concern, ensure you fill them with sound absorbing materials.

Staggered Stud Walls

When it comes to wall construction, the studs connect two slabs of drywall.

In this case, noise travels along that connection. However, in staggered stud walls, studs get connected to a single side of the wall.

Although this minimizes noise transfer, it is likely to take up extra space, weaken structural integrity, and is considered an expensive construction method.

Double-Lined Walls

This particular method is usually used in the construction of music practice rooms and studios.

When it is combined with other soundproofing materials, it provides complete sound protection. You should note that double walls are hard to build, take up a lot of space, and are expensive to install.

Resilient Channels

A resilient channel is a simple metal track that is used in isolating drywall panels from the adjoining wall behind.

Although the method offers reduced sound transfer, it is quite difficult to install. You should note that if it is not installed as required, it will not offer effective sound insulation, and thus requires a professional

The major issue with this method is that it is less effective, especially when nails are driven into studs to the finished wall.

 

Fiberglass Batts

Batts are placed between wall studs to provide acoustical protection. They are thin and light, allowing noise to pass through. Without extra soundproofing materials, you will find fibreglass batts to be ineffective.

You should note that fibreglass materials are good at improving sound quality rather than soundproofing. 

Expanding Foam Sprays

You can use spray foams that are engineered to provide thermal insulation. In fact, this at times messy expanding foam material aids noise reduction quite effectively, especially when filling obvious cavities in walls.

Types of Noise

Impact and airborne are major types of noise. Airborne is made of general sounds such as television, music, appliances, and conversation. On the other hand, impact noise is caused by vibration such as scraping of furniture, footsteps, and doors banging.

When soundproofing, you need to determine the type of noise, level of noise, and type of wall.

In this way, you can find soundproofing solutions that can help reduce the noise issue and address sound insulation or soundproofing for a wall from noisy neighbours.

Addressing Flanking Noise

Flanking can be defined as the transfer of vibration or noise through indirect pathways. It usually occurs through timber joists because they penetrate party gaps for the sound to travel through.

In fact, the noise travels as vibration, converts to airborne noise and gets trapped in the sealed voids. As a result, you can experience the drum effect.

This is a situation when sound resonates to cause reflections, reverberation, amplification of sound, and causing echo that can result in unwelcome noise issues. 

The recommended solution, in this case, is to place acoustic mineral wool inside voids to prevent flaking noises. Also, you should check for the existence of gaps around the joists.

Other Options To Consider

To maintain healthy relationships with your neighbours, you may need to talk to them first.

You will be surprised to learn that even themselves may not be aware of how noisy they are. Therefore, before you take action, ensure you have a polite conversation with them. 

In fact, you may end up resolving the issue without having to spend a lot of effort or money on soundproofing the walls.

 

Conclusion

As you now realise, soundproofing a wall in your home is quite popular for effective noise reduction from neighbours. Getting it done is not that difficult.

Nowadays, different wall soundproofing techniques can simplify your problem. The right method depends on noise levels, type of wall, and noise type.

You have to compare these factors to determine the right approach to take and what materials to purchase. After you find appropriate sound insulation for the walls, you will not suffer, and you can have a fantastic night sleep without having to worry about noise.