People love to return to a peaceful and quiet home at the end of a stressful day. Unfortunately, not every homeowner gets that respite. If you live in a noisy or busy neighborhood, you’re likely exposed to a lot of noise which could elevate stress levels and lead to frustration. One solution is soundproofing. The average cost of soundproofing one room alone is $1,750, and so many homes only do it in specific rooms meant for relaxation. And it is crucial to get it done the right way to enjoy its benefits. Below are some errors to consider when considering soundproofing your home.
- Ignoring the root of the problem
A noisy home could be due to a myriad of reasons. While you can easily identify the source of the sounds, it may not be too easy to detect why it gets into the house. However, building experts say that it could be due to cracks and gaps within the walls in your home. Therefore, outside noise still finds its way into the rooms even with your thick curtains and closed windows. The secret here is to always check for the minor details before proceeding to the larger ones.
Sometimes, the root of the problem may require a simple or unsophisticated solution. If the problem is your walls, you will need to seal up all the cracks and gaps responsible for the noise seepage. According to building research, grout works well to seal those pesky spaces. If not, you can invest in specially-designed soundproofing sealants that equally live up to the task.
- Focusing on glass designed windows only
There are various types and qualities of glass windows. If you think a single-pane glass window is enough to block the excessive noise, you may be wrong. At the same time, you may not get 100% sound blockage from double-pane glass windows. That must be truly surprising for many people, especially because many window manufacturers market their products based on this fact.
The secret here is not exactly the single or double door glass windows. Instead, it is the technology behind it. The core solution is in the airtight seal technology used in double-pane windows. Not every manufacturer focuses on this little but crucial detail. This is why the few that do make it a selling point in their replacement windows and even door installations. You can click here for more information on this. So, if you continue to battle with noise pollution in your home, even with double-pane windows, maybe it’s time to check their airtight seal.
- Adding more mass to walls
You might have heard that increasing your wall mass is an effective measure to block out excessive sounds from the exteriors. Well, once again, this is not entirely true. Adding extra layers of drywall to your existing wall would create another problem called structure-borne noise. This is when sound waves hit a hard surface, and the impact causes a two-way effect. The original sound hits the heavily massed walls and generates additional waves that you feel from within as vibrations. Some may even sound like muffled footsteps.
Muffled or not, it is still an unwanted noise your ears can perceive. Therefore, while nobody stops you from adding a bit of mass to your walls, remember to attend to the minor details.
- Failing to do enough research
There are countless solutions to resolving soundproofing problems. However, it is worth noting that it is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The type of sound pollution you have will determine to a large extent, the measures to undertake. This is why research is important here. You might need a building and soundproofing professional to help out at this stage. That’s because some things are only meant for expert hands.
If you are still bent on attending to the issue independently, explore other options. For example, you will find countless information online on soundproofing your home. While those can be a wealth of information, do remember that not all are entirely accurate. Admittedly, you may try a few of these online techniques and still not have results. However, if you’re fortunate, one technique might make all the difference in your soundproofing needs.
- Buying ineffective soundproofing material
Popular soundproofing materials are spray foam, mass-loaded vinyl sound barrier, and acoustic caulk. Others include the acoustic window insert, sound-absorbing wall panels, and soundproof underlayment. Indeed, the options are different and many, with each type blocking out sounds in different ways. On the other hand, there are materials that people claim to be effective, including the ones listed above.
In truth, you may want to save your money and invest in options that work. Mattress, cardboard, floor mats, corrugated foam, among others, are materials you may want to reconsider spending your money on. While there is debate about the effectiveness of corrugated foam, the underlying truth is they dampen sound but may fail to block totally. If you can live at home with that option, it’s your call. This fifth point aims to draw your attention to the significance of good research work.
- Forgetting about the ceiling
Did you know that your ceiling can be a major culprit for the sound you continually contend with at home? Perhaps, you did everything in the book to block out sounds from outside, but the problem persists. It is time to simply look up to your ceiling—an ever-present ‘silent’ culprit. Some homeowners assume that having a high ceiling can resolve the problem as a solution. However, it doesn’t necessarily do so. Yes, a high ceiling will create an appealing bigger space. Unfortunately, where noise is concerned, it only provides additional space for sound waves to travel, and that cannot be a solution.
You can beef up your ceiling installation or fix the quality acoustic tiles above. If ceiling soundproofing is not an option, you can try beefing up the floor above. This applies if it is a story building. For a non-story building, the obvious choice would be to beef up the ceiling.
- Insufficient or old soundproofing
Maybe you did the soundproofing with quality materials, but somehow, noise is still a persistent problem. It might be due to insufficient soundproofing work in a case like this. Yes, there is such a thing. In other cases, if your soundproofing was done years ago, it may be time to upgrade it. The truth about these issues is how pesky they are. For example, if you use acoustic foam panels, they will begin to flake, sending particles into the air.
Additionally, the little sound that travels through the blocking materials can bounce off the walls and floors. This usually feels like hearing an orchestra playing from afar. You’re not close to it, but the sounds infiltrate your space. In this case, it might be quite costly tearing down walls and floors to redo the soundproofing. Thankfully, with blow-in insulation and other approved techniques, you can attend to redoing your home’s soundproofing and cut down on avoidable costs.
It is easy to see how and why homeowners often get their soundproofing problems unresolved with all these errors. Perhaps, what you can do before buying a home is to find out the quality of sound insulation done. If you’re building, you may have the advantage of taking extra measures. This can ensure that your home is quiet and serene from outside activities. In many cases, it is better to bring in a professional. But having a fair idea of what should be done will help you get your desired results.