How to Soundproof a Room from Outside Noise

We live in a busy and noisy world where concentration is often tough considering the disturbing street noise penetrating from outside.

It's challenging and sometimes impossible to control this noise. Many homeowners have taken to one or two options to soundproof their rooms or apartments. One of these options could also be the answer to your problem.

Whether it’s noise from garbage trucks or traffic buzz, you can protect your room or apartment from this noise invasion with the simple solutions explained in this article.

 

How to Reduce Outside Noise in a Room

1. Weather-stripping the Door

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You need to do this if you hear voices in the building hallways even when the door is closed. Sealing up the leaks around your door is a good solution because sound travels in the air. If there is any leak or gap around the door and you can see light through it, the sound will come in too.

Use a door sweep to block the gap underneath the door. Then, seal the sides and top with a foam weather stripping. It's simple to install.

You just need to peel and stick the weather-stripping to the door. This is a cheap solution for the door. You may also consider upgrading the door of your room by replacing the light-wood door with a solid-wood model to block noise.

 

2. Wall Hangings

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Cover your walls with blankets, tapestries, or other suitable materials. There are soundproofing curtains that you can mount to achieve this as well. These curtains are thick and heavy. They are designed to reduce noise and can also keep out sunlight.

You can place them on the widow or even over the front door. Blankets and curtains are ideal if you want to spend less. This can also act as support for you if you already have thick and insulated walls. It will provide an additional effect.

These wall hangings are attractive and decorative. You can have a rare décor like this in your room to serve as soundproof.

 

3. Rugs

If you have a laminate, tile, or wood flooring, lay an area rug to absorb the carpet. Lay the rug with an extra thick pad to get the desired result. The density pad boosts the rug's ability to keep annoying sounds away.

Since rugs add beauty to the room, select one that matches your furniture and room color. They come in different colors and patterns and are readily available in stores.

After obtaining one, all you need to do is to lay it in the room, minding room arrangement and décor. Its thickness will absorb sound.

You can place a shag rug over the ceiling to prevent reflected noises like voices, dog barks, and so on. Reflected noises come from within the apartment. If you block them, you have more silence and fewer echoes.

 

4. Mount Shaky Items

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If you have loud neighbors that turn their music volumes to the highest, and you notice that certain items in your house increase the buzzing and vibrations, you need to lift those shaky items with vibration insulation pads.

Items like speakers, exercise gear, and other appliances are shaky and maybe annoying. So, lift them with pads.

You may also consider rearranging your furniture. It is one way you can soundproof without expenses. Move a heavy dresser to a wall facing outside or a wall backing the hallway. The dresser absorbs the noise.

 

5. Build a Bookcase

A built-in bookcase mounted wall-to-wall is also a trick to squash noise in your apartment. Massive objects like this resist vibration and reduce sound transmission. When you mount one, you have added mass to the partition.

The sides of the bookcase should touch the two walls, the floor, and the ceiling. Eliminate gaps to enable it to serve its purpose effectively.

Fill up the bookcase with colorful books to make your room attractive and give you an extensive library of books. Most importantly, to make your wall thicker and provide adequate soundproof.

 

6. Acoustic Panels

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If you prefer to do a little construction, go for acoustic panels. They are usually hung on walls and ceilings to stop the noise.

Choose acoustic panels that are mostly fiberglass with a thin Mylar perforated facing. They have the highest rating for sound absorption. Buy 12"×12" panels with a 2"depth curve relief for adequate sound absorption. These panels absorb any level frequency, whether high or low.

Some panels come with adhesive peel, but if yours doesn't, cover all or part of the surface with a 3M adhesive spray. Panels come in different patterns and colors. Play with the colors to give your wall a unique appearance.

 

7. Window Inserts

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Window inserts form an airtight seal that reduces noise from outside the room by 50 percent. If you don't want to cover your window with dark soundproof curtains, consider window inserts. They come in panes of glass or acrylic that allow you to see through. You can install them all over your windows. Some window inserts make it possible for you to open your window. They pop out when not in use.

 

8. Soundproof Wallpaper

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Soundproof wallpapers are made with thick polyethylene foams. The foams help dampen vibrations and all forms of sounds. You can sleep soundly, knowing your neighbor's snore is out of the way. This is wallpaper enjoying its comeback. A soundproof wallpaper has two functions. One is to give your walls a classic and beautiful appearance, and the other is to keep noise away.

 

9. Ceiling Cloud

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You can soundproof your ceiling using the most appropriate sound proofer for the ceiling – the ceiling cloud. It is an acoustic foam that you hang from the ceiling to prevent echoes and reduce noise. This material is costly but very effective. It is most suitable for lofted bedrooms.

 

10. Thick Material

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Consider constructing thick materials to soundproof your walls. A 1.6cm drywall is suitable. The thicker the walls the more materials needed and the more peace you get.

You can renovate your existing wall to absorb sound and reduce noise. Build a wall frame, attach it to the surface, and cover the new layer with drywall or sheetrock, depending on what you want.

 

11. Studs Placement

For soundproofing, its better you use more than one row of studs to build the wall. The studs make it difficult for sound to travel quickly to the wall.

When using more than one row of studs, consider a double row studs placement or a staggered row stud placement.

For a double row stud placement, one stud is placed along each interior side, leaving enough gap in between the rows. Staggered row stud placement alternates placement one side after the other.

The double row stud placement is considered more effective for soundproofing.

 

12. Install Resilient Channel

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Resilient channels are metal strips placed between studs and drywall. The channels create decoupling walls that stop sound waves from traveling through the wall. They are cheap and easy to install.

Resilient channels are screwed to the stud using offset screws and they absorb high-frequency noise, unlike hat channels.

Hat channels are used on sound clips. After screwing sound clips to a wall, the hat channel is inserted before the drywall. The sound clips are also useful for soundproofing and can work as an alternative to resilient channels.

 

13. Damping Compound

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A damping compound is applied between wall layers or ceiling layers. It is a magical substance that converts sound energy into heat. This damping compound is a noise proofing glue also known as the viscoelastic adhesive. It can absorb low-frequency noise and is ideal for loud bass music.

 

14. Acoustical Caulk

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Cracks, no matter how little, can undermine the effectiveness of your soundproofing.

Acoustical caulk is used to fill up cracks and gaps to overcome this challenge. There are several types of acoustical caulk to choose from.

If you are using solvent-based, read instructions and be sure it's not going to damage your material. Water-based caulk is easy to clean.

Make sure you get a caulk that matches your wall color or, at least, one that can be painted.

 

Wrap Up

Sometimes, you can't just ignore disturbance. Even if you wear earphones and try to concentrate, your son's video game, your neighbor's music, or even trucks on the street always interfere.

Soundproofing your wall is ideal for blocking outside noise. The materials and methods listed above are effective for proper soundproofing. You can be creative with acoustic panels and soundproofing wallpaper. Purchase the pattern or color that suits your room design to give you an extravagant appearance.

You will have your peace after employing these soundproofing ideas.