When trying to soundproof a wall, it may seem impossible, and it may seem as if every little sound bounces around chaotically. Learning how to soundproof walls is an essential part of soundproofing a room. This guide is straightforward. Although soundproofing is not usually a fun topic, we’ll do our best to make it one. Skim the direction and the step-by-step instructions if you’re skimming. This guide will show you what a soundproof wall is and how to soundproof a barrier differently.
How to soundproof a wall?
Soundproofing a wall essentially involves two approaches. You can use items around your house to soundproof a wall or room with the first one. It is by far the quickest and cheapest way of soundproofing, or at the very least dampening the sound so that it is less noticeable from outside. The second approach is to use professional soundproofing materials. Both will be able to be distinguished from one another. In other words, the cheap way is cheap and cheerful, but you’ll still hear SOME sound afterward.
1. Densify the walls, floors, and doors
Adding mass to the doors involves adding blankets, sheets, soundproof paint, and other materials that will block out noise. It probably won’t look good, and you probably won’t be able to stand looking at a mass of blankets for very long, but it seems to work. The easiest way is to get the thickest, heaviest blankets and nail them into the walls to cover the entire surface. We can say that it will get hot in the room you’re soundproofing, and there’s not much you can do about it.
Last but not least, get a rug or carpet! Besides soundproofing the floor, carpets and rugs help control how things sound in the room. There’s a high chance you’re soundproofing for an audio-related reason, like building a studio or trying to keep your drum set from making too much noise.
2. Install strips on the doors
In other words, sound travels in various ways, but a common practice it escapes a room is through the door. When you have a massive crack underneath the door or see the light from the other side, you can have a fantastic soundproof setup, but the sound would still slip right under it. For almost no money at all, you can get adhesive (or nail-in) strips that go on the bottom of doors and sweep across the floor, preventing most noise from escaping. A straightforward and cheap soundproofing fix can make a huge difference!
3. Seal cracks with caulk or soundproofing sealant
We mentioned that even the tiniest cracks and spaces could let sound escape. It is possible to obtain a massive tube of acoustic sealant at a fraction of the price of $30, which is perfect for sealing cracks in corners, walls, etc. This is the type of soundproof caulk you can find
If your room has a lot of wooden edges and cracks where sound could escape, this makes a big difference when you seal the entire room. Sealing up the gaps around the door frame (if there are any) is also beneficial, as sound can travel through them.
4. Resolving all the sound leaks
Now you have to go around the room and fix the ‘sound leaks.’ It could be loose light switches, gaps in windows, or loose floorboards that can be nailed down. Imagine sound as being like water or a ‘mist’ and find all the places where it could escape. Seal those gaps using things such as:
- The most effective cheap soundproofing solution is duct tape (it’s so strong!). Also, sealant (multiple uses, always helpful).
- Under door strips can also be used to close gaps on the sides of doors if your door has gaps (some old doors have gaps like this).
5. Pay attention to the small areas on the wall
You should focus on the smallest area possible if you’re on a budget but still want to keep sound from escaping your room. It means that you need to find out where the noise is coming from, then you can apply some of the materials mentioned above or maybe even some soundproofing wallpaper to those areas.
If you want to stop sound from escaping your room but are on a budget, you should target the tiniest possible area. You should know where the sound is running from and focus on those areas. Using a handheld speaker, play music outside the room, and have someone move around the room while you are outside to see where the sound is coming from.
Most of the time, it’s either through the doors or windows or through a thin wall. It’s much more challenging to insulate walls than doors, but it’s relatively easy if it’s the doors. If you have a closet or a walk-in closet, fill it with as many clothes as possible to insulate the sound better.
6. Paint with an exceptional finish
A unique paint reduces noise, which you may not know. Acoustic Coat is specially formulated for this purpose and reduces noise by 30%. Moreover, it’s made from hollow ceramic microspheres, quite sound-absorbing resins, and different fillers.
The best part is that it is easy to apply so that anyone can do it. The large areas should be used with a paint roller and the small and hard-to-reach areas with an angled brush. It would be best if you kept in mind that it dries quickly. The paint does a great job of dampening the sound.
