SUPPLIES
- Insulation (foam or paper)
- Drywall
- Drill
- Nails
- Calking
- Carpeting
- Acrylic-frame windows
Overview
Soundproofing your home serves two purposes. It keeps distracting external sounds from noisy neighbors out of your house. It also keeps sounds from escaping your house, leaving you free to make noise without bothering others.
You can employ various methods of soundproofing your home. A basic knowledge of craftsmanship is highly recommended. You can soundproof your home over the course of a few days.
Instructions
Step 1
Add insulation. By adding foam or insulation in between the layers of drywall, you can keep noise levels down. Insulation removes the higher acoustic frequencies, which can be the most grating.
Step 2
Add a layer of drywall. This is applied by aligning each piece drywall so that it is flush with the existing drywall. Then, drill holes about 12 inches from the top and 12 inches from the bottom of the drywall. Make sure that the holes are spaced about 8 inches apart. Nail the drywall layer all the way across the wall. Several layers of drywall can be added for extra soundproofing.
Step 3
Caulk openings around the wall and windows. Make sure that you fill in any small holes, as even one small opening can allow noise into an otherwise effectively soundproofed room.
Step 4
Add carpeting. Carpet helps to diffuse noise, as do other sound-absorbing materials such as drapes, couches, chairs and mattresses.
Step 5
Buy acrylic-frame windows. Acrylic-frame windows keep sound out of your house to a much more efficient degree than typical windows do. Replacing your windows, an often-overlooked step, can be one of the most effective and cost-efficient methods by which you can soundproof your home.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : If you are building a new home, ask your contractor if he offers any soundproofing services. Soundproofing a home when it is first built is often much easier than adding soundproofing later.
Make liberal use of space and soft items, as they help diffuse and absorb sound.
- WARNING : As with any home improvement project, be careful around tools, especially power tools.
Just because you soundproof your home does not mean it is any safer to listen to loud noises. Loud noises can permanently damage your hearing.
Resources
