10 Tips

Getting started for the first time with a soundproofing treatment can be an overwhelming task.   The tips listed here are the result of servicing thousands of satisfied clients throughout the world since 1990.    Our goal is to help package their success and steer new customers in the right direction.

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1.  Discard Onsite Help

Don’t pay for expensive onsite acoustical consultants or custom installations unless you need it.  Remember that the soundproofing treatments found here in our website have stood the test of time, and are successfully duplicated over and over again around the world.    Each application is tailored to match a room’s shape and size, the frequency pitch and description of the noise source, the surface textures in the room, and a variety of other issues that will combine to trigger the acoustic values you seek.   These are bits of information that we can secure from you without the need for an onsite visit.   While there are times when the threat of litigation or OSHA fines may require acoustical testing for documentation, the majority of sound proofing treatments do not.

Remember, our approach is not to generate a "cure", but simply afford you better control over your acoustics. Human ear will be the judge and jury to most of our treatments, not some expensive sound measuring device.   If your goal is to control both your costs and your noise, trust the treatments, products and advice packed into this website.  

2.  Don’t Be Oversold

If you are here because of poor room acoustics, you simply suffer from reverberation times that are too long. As we discuss in our Academy and broadcast for you in our Sound Chamber, a room not treated for sound control will typically have a standing Reverb Time ranging between 4 and 10 seconds. This is the length of time it will take for an original sound signal to die off. The problem is that human ear can tolerate just 1.5 to 2.0 seconds worth of reverberation before the echo turns to noise. By collapsing the Reverb Time, you lower background noise and improve your room’s acoustics. NetWell will help define your treatment, select the right product mix, and target the appropriate quantities to trigger the 2.0 second reverb. Don’t be oversold on your treatment by suppliers wanting to sell you more material than you need to trigger a stronger reverb drop than you need.

3.  Don’t Undertreat the Room

Many times the prescribed treatment for sound control will conflict with a budget. The question will often surface regarding the quantities needed to trigger the targeted results. While NetWell has no minimum order requirements, we do warn against installing less than the recommended quantities. Acoustic results will deteriorate exponentially. This means that if you install 80% of what we recommend, you might get 75% of your affect. But if you install 25% of what we recommend, you might trigger just 5% of your result. We strongly encourage our customers to follow our advice on quantities closely, do the full treatment up-front to trigger your results in full.   If need be, work with us to break your payments out, not your treatment.

4.  Source First, Path Second

Absorption products target the path of a sound wave and lower decibels by controlling the reflections of sound back into a room. Barrier products target the source of the noise and lower decibels by blocking the original sound from becoming airborne in the first place. Whenever possible, attack the source of the noise first. You will typically trigger a more favorable result with less material required. Also be forewarned that absorption products such as foam should not be used as a barrier product. Putting foam on a wall, for instance, will not protect the next door neighbor from your noise.

5.  Rely on Experience

With the advent of the internet, it can be dizzying trying to determine which online resource to trust and work with on your acoustic project. New suppliers surface every day offering the same set of raw materials designed to abate your noise. Our recommendation to you is to work with suppliers who pre-date the internet explosion. Their treatments have stood the test of time, they have stronger track records based on more experience, they work with more volume which can trigger better price breaks, and they understand which product will best serve you based on your application. Note that NetWell has been prescribing soundproofing treatments since 1990.

6.  Buy the Treatment, not the Product

Most soundproofing suppliers sell products by posting them on their internet site and expect you to call and order. Fewer sites take the time to spell out the treatment first, answering all of your questions, and leading you to the appropriate product mix and quantities required. Stay focused on the treatment, let the correct product mix rise to the surface.    If you are unsure, simply call our help desk at 1-800-638-9355.   Remember, we cater to an audience that are first time callers.   Our goal isn't to sell you product you don't need, but deliver a good acoustical treatment that will stand the test of time and trigger quality results and referrals.

7.  StartSmart

Sign up for our free email course called StartSmart.    This is an 8 day program designed to feed you valuable insider tips and insights into the world of soundproofing.    Help take the guesswork out of your treatment before you start, and avoid those costly mistakes so common in the sound control business.   A simple series of emails are posted in your inbox for a period of one week, each with its own message designed to help control your pocketbook as well as your noise.   If you are new to soundproofing, this series is a must!   Look for the yellow box on our home page!

8.  Learn Before You Leap

Written in a clear and simple language you will understand, eSoundControl is written for the non-industry expert.   This best selling reference guide explores the behavior of a sound wave, and the steps you can take to improve your own acoustic environment.    Discover the tips shared by the pro's, and avoid costly mistakes, with this easy-to-read downloadable eBook that has taken the soundproofing industry by storm.   This is a quick read and well worth the time for any first-time DIY soundproofing project.

9.  Listen Before You Leap

Visit our Sound Chamber. Here we broadcast for you what sound reduction might sound like as measured in either a drop in decibels, or a drop in reverberation time. Although results in a field application will vary based on circumstances unique to your treatment, the scale for noting the drop in sound will help you gain a better understanding of what you might expect.

10.  Look Before You Leap

Visit our Case Studies library and our Blogging section.    NetWell strongly encourages its alumni of customers to post their results back to NetWell for your review. We start in our Rewards Center where rebates are offered for image and testimonial feedback for our clients. (Keep that in mind for your project!) These results are then posted in our Recent Projects, Case Studies and Forum chapters in our Basics section for others to witness. These are excellent resources made available for you prior to getting started with your treatment.