In urban centers, noise is a problem because you have neighbors all around you. The noise is a two-way street: the sound that comes into your house and the sound that originates in your house. There are products on the market for soundproofing that can be expensive and hard to find. Many of these products are slightly modified versions of products with which you are familiar, such as caulking and insulating foam. If you use some common products used for the repair of your home, you can save money by soundproofing your space.
Instructions
- Walk around the room that you are about to soundproof and locate any opening where you can enter or exit the sound. If the doors and windows are long those are first places you should look. Put some tape on each opening you find. These openings include window loose frames and doors. Mark the areas around pipes wall and any other place that has openings. If there are no openings is very important when it comes to sound. Specialists in soundproofing charge high fees for performing such inspections in one place.
- Measure the window frame to place the acrylic sheet. Acrylic should cover the window frame. Use acrylic of 1/8 inch thick on windows of up to 24 by 24 inches and 3/16 inch thick for larger windows. Measure the perimeter of the doors in the area that has soundproofing. Takes note of the measures. Buy the acrylic sheet cut to size you took, a roll of self-adhesive foam tape (1/2 inch thick), spray foam caulking and polyethylene foam (if you need to strengthen the walls soundproof). Acrylic panels’ standard size, caulking, the foam strips and spray foam cost a fraction of the materials used for sound insulation and function the same way.
- Caulk windows at each point where you feel air that can enter. Foam adhesive strips applied in the door frame. If there is space at the bottom of the doors, there also placed strips, Use spray foam to seal any openings in the pipes, The economic aerosol foam is as dense as soundproofing foam and costs much less.
- Drill holes in acrylic panels to a minimum of 1/2 inch away from the edges. The holes should be slightly larger than the screw. Place the panels in the window frames using screws. Only three screws placed in the top of the panel. This allows you to open from below in an emergency. The difference between the sound insulating Acrylic is available in the market and home panels is the method in which they are placed and the cost of the commercial version.
- Acquires and short polyethylene to the measure if feel you need to isolate the sound. The foam must be placed on the walls around windows and doors. Use duct tape to attach the double-sided foam. You will notice how well it works as noise insulation before attaching the polyethylene foam. Polyethylene foam costs a fraction of the cost of the commercial product.
Tips & Warnings
- You can carry out this project in steps. Try caulking windows and sealing the doors first. See if in doing so, space is soundproof enough. If you need further to isolate sound, seal areas around pipes and place the acrylic sheet. This combination generally reduces noise sufficiently. Polyethylene foam should be used if there is loud music. If you need a sound barrier to be temporary, try moving placed shields on the walls, doors and windows. Old carpets you can find in thrift stores can also make you save money by insulating the walls.
- Do not seal windows and doors permanently. In case of fire, these will be the only way out. Remember that creating soundproof room airflow is reduced, which can cause health problems.