A horn, a dog barking, a car passing by and you are crazy inside the house trying to escape from all this noise.
And as if the noise coming from the street was not enough, it is still necessary to deal with the sound of the upstairs neighbor dragging furniture or with the noise of the TV switched on in the other room.
Wow! It is impossible not to be stressed, especially if you need concentration to work and study, rock the baby or, perhaps, sleep during the day, since you work at night.
Whatever your situation, one thing is a fact: you need to learn how to make sound insulation to ensure peace and tranquility within your home.
And here we will help you in this mission with a practical and simplified guide on sound insulation. We will see?
How to make acoustic insulation: advantages
Calm
The first and biggest reason for you and everyone to want efficient sound insulation is the calm, peace and tranquility of enjoying a quiet and noise-free environment.
Just close a door or a window and literally the world is outside.
Do not disturb
But just as you don't want to be disturbed, neither do your neighbors.
By opting for sound insulation, you guarantee that your neighbors will not be disturbed by a meeting between friends or a party you have at home.
Physical and mental health
In addition to bringing peace of mind, sound insulation also improves your quality of life, reducing levels of stress, irritation and mental tiredness.
With this, you gain more productivity, focus and concentration. Good right?
Privacy
Another good reason to do acoustic insulation is privacy. By isolating the sound from the surroundings, you no longer have to worry about the noise of the TV coming from the bedroom, the lively conversation in the living room, or the child crying in the middle of the night about to wake his brother.
This privacy also extends to neighbors, as they will no longer be aware of what is going on inside your home.
What you need to know before doing sound insulation
Before you want to shield your home from noise, know that you will first need to identify the source of the sounds. Otherwise, it's just a waste of time and money.
There are two types of noise that plague a home: aerial and impact.
Aerials are those that spread through the air and usually come from outside, such as the sound of people talking, the car horn or the music that the neighbor insists on listening to at the last volume. But, aerial noise can also come from inside the house. This is the case, for example, with the noise of the TV that can be heard from the other room or the child crying in the next room.
Impact noises are those that propagate through walls, ceilings and floors. Like the sound of people walking or dragging furniture.
Therefore, the first step in ensuring optimal sound insulation in your home is to identify the source of the sounds.
After this identification, you can begin to analyze the most effective materials and insulation techniques.
Where can you do sound insulation?
All environments in your home can receive acoustic treatment, including doors, windows, floor, wall and ceiling.
The tip for a good sound insulation project is to map the areas with the most noise and identify which ones you want to keep isolated.
It could be the kitchen, if you use very noisy equipment throughout the day, it could be the living room, the bedroom, a music studio you have at home, or even a workshop where you do handicrafts.
Remembering that insulation always works from the inside out and from the outside in. That is, when you acoustically isolate a space, you automatically prevent sounds from entering and leaving it.
That is why it is important to know the purpose of the insulation before starting the project.
Materials and techniques used to make sound insulation
Check now the main materials and techniques used to make the sound insulation:
Drywall
Drywall is one of the most used materials to reinforce and guarantee a good level of sound insulation.
Drywall is made from plasterboard combined with rock wool or glass wool that are able to absorb sound and seal out the noise coming from outside and those that are inside the environment.
The application of drywall insulation requires specialized labor. The advantage of this system is the low generation of waste, making the method more sustainable, besides offering a good cost benefit.
Acrylic blanket
The acrylic blanket is a type of acoustic insulation that can be applied over doors, walls, floors and ceilings.
Simple to be installed and very thin, the acoustic blanket can be applied by anyone.
Noise window
Another good option of acoustic insulation is the noise window. This type of window has a thicker and heavier frame, in addition to having a thicker glass, which can vary from 8 mm to 24 mm, depending on your need.
The noise window is perfect for those who need to isolate the sounds that come from outside, such as those who live in an apartment facing a very busy avenue, for example.
Noise door
The soundproof door has the same idea of insulating the window, except that it is produced from solid wood and, if necessary, also receives an extra treatment against noise.
It is even worth mentioning that wood is a natural acoustic insulator, so if you are building or renovating make the option of using solid doors in the project.
Insulating foam
Insulating foam is one that is normally seen in sound and video studios and resembles egg cartons. This type of acoustic insulation is highly recommended to block the sound from the inside out.
The problem with this type of acoustic insulation is that it does not always harmonize with the environment, evading the aesthetic standard, unless your intention is really to isolate a sound studio or even a workshop, then, in this case, aesthetics will probably not be a problem.
Tips to ensure even greater sound insulation
Some specific tips can help you to reduce noise inside the house, even if you do not perform any acoustic intervention, or increase the insulating power if necessary. Follow:
- Use quality materials and with origin, they will make all the difference in the final result of the project.
- When in doubt, count on the help of a specialized professional to carry out the sound insulation project.
- Be sure to seal all air inlets, including door and window openings.
- Avoid using wood on the floor and ceiling, as the material helps to propagate sound throughout the environment.
- Instead of replacing the entire window, replace only the windows. Switching between ordinary glass for tempered or double glass. Take the opportunity to reinforce the sealing rubber.
- If the problem is with the floor, consider replacing or using a vinyl floor that absorbs sound better and does not let it reverberate through the environment.
- Another good solution is to use rugs (the thicker the better), since they contribute to the absorption of sounds.
- The curtain, as well as the carpets, also offer sound insulation. Prefer those with fuller fabric.
- Empty environments generate echo and increase the intensity of noise. Therefore, another good tip is to reevaluate the position, quantity and quality of your furniture. In addition to inserting carpets and curtains into the room, consider adding some more furniture or moving them around to make sound absorption more efficient. Upholstered furniture brings even more acoustic comfort.
- And if your house is under construction, evaluate with the architect the possibility of inserting the acoustic project still in this phase, since some types of acoustic insulation are placed inside the walls, on the subfloor and in the roof structure.
Whatever noise that bothers you, you now know what to do with it.
