Soundproofing a Wall
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Your Wall Soundproofing Challenge:
Our goal is to block the transmission of sound from bleeding through a common wall. We want to protect one room's noise from the next with a soundproof wall. Common wall sound proofing can be applied to new build, exposed frame or existing finished wall surfaces. Wall sound control is all about adding "density + disconnection" to the common surface. Density will impede the wall's ability to conduct vibration, while disconnection will force the collapse of the transmitting sound wave. The challenge is to apply a layering system to the surface of a wall, and force the collapse of the wave within the assembly, rather than letting it pass through. Soundproofing a common wall is a simple set of steps, when if done properly, can trigger upt o a 90% collapse in sound bleed.
Your Wall Soundproofing Treatment:
Your ultimate goal is to impair the wall's ability to conduct vibration. This is accomplished by adding two components to your wall assembly. The first is density, the second is disconnection. The combination of these two ingredients will help force the collapse of your sound wave inside your common wall, and can trigger up to a 90% drop in sound transmission. Your treatment will depend on your starting point. Tell us what stage you are at:
Your Acoustic Results
As we simulate in our Sound Chamber, this sound insulation treatment can reasonably trigger a 10-12 dB drop in noise levels bleeding through a common wall. Much of the success of a sound isolation wall will depend on the quality of the installation, the disconnected framing techniques, and the number of holes in your wall surface that will impair your noise reduction efforts.
Open air holes in a wall are called "flanking" paths for , and will serve to deteriorate results. They include switch plates, electrical outlets, supply vents, return vents, light cannisters, pipes, windows, doors, and a host of other possible paths that can not block noise bleed. For soundproofing common walls, If you frame the wall properly, line it with dB-Bloc, and minimize the flanking paths, you can trigger up to a 90% drop in noise bleeding through.
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Start Smart: Good Decision Making Will Save You Money
Making good decisions will save you time and money. Nothing is more costly or pocketbook-draining than to discover that the wrong product, the wrong treatment, or the mis-installation of your order forces you to start over, accept inferior results, or suffer from buyer's remorse.
To help avoid missteps and protect your investment, NetWell Noise Control offers its famous, safe, and secure email course called StartSmart. It is filled with valuable insider tips on saving money with your soundproofing treatment. This popular teaching tool is your guide to a successful soundproofing outcome. The eCourse is free, and enjoyed by more than 90% of all new customers.
Sign up today and check your email for StartSmart!
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Tips for Soundproofing a Wall:
Start by setting your expectation levels accordingly. Nothing will produce a 100% drop in sound transmission through a common wall. If our treatment can deliver a 90% drop, you should be more than satisfied. The most difficult sounds to isolate and contain are impact sounds (a drum beat) and low bass tones (subwoofers, jet engines, bass guitars). These sound sources contain long, flat soundwaves that travel over less time and distance than mid to high pitched sounds.
dB-Bloc can be mechanically fastened to your surface, new or existing, with a staple gun or sheetrock screws. The material is too limp and heavy to use adhesives. Overlap the material 1-2" and place a bead of acoustic caulk along the joints where your wall meets the ceiling, floor or adjacent walls.
Firring strips can be simple slats of wood, say 1x4s from your local building supply center, or more mechanical metal channel systems. The RSIC Clips work well to deliver the disconnection you need also. If your wall is concrete, apply the firring strip first, then the dB-Bloc and the sheetrock. This will lift the density of dB-Bloc away from the density of your concrete wall, and create an air gap where the soundwave can collapse. If your wall is wood or metal frame, apply dB-Bloc first, then the firring strip and the drywall.
What about pre-engineered drywall?
While our test results are triggered using a single layer of dB-Bloc. many clients opt to double up on the treatment. If you do, be sure to separate the two layers of dB-Bloc, don't place the layers together. You can fasten the material to both sides of the wall, or on both sides of the firring strip layer. This will NOT double your result, but can trigger another 3-5 dB drop, and might be worth the added expense depending on your budget and your goals.
We also recommend that for those clients who want to double up on the drywall, vary the thickness. If you repeat the same thickness of drywall, you attack the same frequency pitch of noise twice. But if you vary the thickness of your drywall, you will attack two different frequency pitches of sound because you are working with two products of different densities. Again, our test results are for a single layer of dB-Bloc and a single layer of drywall. These added steps are not necessary, but can help further lower your sound bleed. Consider lining the popular damping material Green Glue between your two drywall layers for added protection against sound bleed.
Allow 7-10 days to deliver dB-Bloc. The material is very dense, each 54" x 30' roll weighs 150 pounds. If you have more questions after reading the tips for soundproofing your wall, call our help desk at 1-800-638-9355.