A 3-step quick guide to soundproofing your space

If you’ve found your way to our quick soundproofing guide, there’s probably a very good reason.  It could be that what’s going on next door is a little or a lot too loud.  Perhaps you’re working somewhere and regulations require it for all that banging and drilling.  Maybe you’re recording music, practicing at the drum kit, or trying to stop an echo-effect.  You might be improving your space’s acoustics, completing a quiet room, recording videos for the internet – or something else entirely.

Your soundproofing solution may involve:

* Adding acoustic insulation to existing walls

* Sound-proofing one specific area (ie for equipment)

* Trying to stop sound coming in, or sound leaking out.

No matter your soundproofing needs, or the business you’re in, we’ve put our heads together to give you the best possible place to get the sound-proofed environment and conditions you’re seeking:

Step 1: What soundproofing do you need?

Soundproofing can be divided into two basic categories – soundproofing products, or sound absorption products.  If they sound similar, the difference is actually fundamental.  While soundproofing products will protect the quiet of your space from a noisy nearby space or activity, soundproof absorption products are used to control and manage the sounds you’re making within your own space.

Soundproofing products include:

* Dampeners & deadeners, including coatings, pads, strips and sheets

* Door seals & sweeps

* Under-floor layers

* Acoustic insulation made of dense fibres and other materials. Sound absorption products include:

* Acoustic foams, fibreglass & partitions to ideally absorb or reflect sound waves

Step 2: What area are you soundproofing?

The specific area, room, space or equipment you’re soundproofing is also crucial.  Is it your:

Workspace?: For shops, offices or other commercial spaces, you may need to tackle echo and enhance conversation or music, a church will mean blocking out distractions, while a dog kennel or a factory will be about keeping out the racket for regulations and neighbours.

Commercial equipment?: But if you’re soundproofing equipment, such as damping down a loud compressor or making a vehicle more pleasant for the operator, the style and scale of the soundproofing solution will be markedly different.

Step 3: Select the ideal material

You’ll discover that there are dozens upon dozens of separate soundproofing and sound-absorption products on the market – too many to run through in a quick guide.  The materials, though, are fairly common among most of those solutions, so here are the ones you need to know about:

* Membranes: Rated for thickness, weight and effectiveness.

* Acoustic insulation: For ideally absorbing sound, specialist insulation is typically installed in walls and is made of a variety of materials that each have specific acoustic and thermal properties.

* Fibreglass: Available in boards & slabs with properties for various noise frequencies.

* Dense board: Including plywood & particle board

* Sealants & sprays: Easy to apply and ideal for dissipating vibration.

* Acoustic glass: Multi-layered, for soundproofing windows

* Blankets: Versatile and inexpensive for soundproofing on the go.

Are you looking to soundproof your space?  Whether it’s an office, a shop, a recording studio, a theatre, a factory, or something else entirely, the key to matching the perfect solution to your needs is obtaining the right advice from an experienced industry professional – so don’t be afraid to ask!  Good luck with your soundproofing project.