We expect our home to be a haven where we can rest and relax after a
hard day. However, our home can also be a center of activity where all kinds of
noises mix to form a cacophony of sound that can disturb even the soundest of sleepers.
Some people don’t really think they need sound proof insulation for their homes
until they start being bothered by all the noise coming in. You’d be surprised
how many people don’t really consider their homes as a noisy place.
Think about it. Preparing food in the kitchen, people eating in the
dining room, people watching TV or listening to the stereo in the living room,
and all the other appliances in your home like the dishwasher, washing machine,
vacuum cleaner, etc. – all of these create sound and noise that can be an
annoying distraction. What’s more, sounds from the outside like cars passing by
on the street, pedestrians on the sidewalk, a construction crew working at the
next block, and other daily occurrences can all add to the bothersome distraction.
You don’t have to put up with all the noise, however. You can have sound proof insulation installed in your home to combat all those sounds, or if you
have the skills and tools, you can also do it yourself. There are several
different ways to insulate your home against sound, but they all have some pros
and cons to them.
For example, the common materials that people use to insulate their
homes against heat or cold, like glasswool (also called fiberglass), can work
very well when used as sound proof insulation. They just need to be installed
meticulously to perform to their fullest capabilities. Glasswool insulation can
help reduce noise that’s coming through the walls, but the material will need
to be painstakingly cut and fitted around the pipes, wiring, and other elements
inside and in between the walls. Furthermore, all holes and cracks in the walls
will need to be sealed to help reduce noise as well.
Generally, fiberglass insulation is not really recognized as an
excellent sound insulator, although they do make great insulating material for
heat or cold. However, modern technology has allowed manufacturers to create
high density glasswool insulation that can offer extraordinary performance for
both acoustic and energy purposes. There are glasswool products nowadays that
are rated up to R-2.7 for wall installations and up to R-6.0 for ceiling
installations.
Installing glasswool or fiberglass insulation alone will not provide
high level soundproofing, of course. You will also need to take additional
steps such as using solid core wooden doors, tightening up the spaces between
the wall and the windows, installing high quality storm windows, and even installing
thick carpets. If you install storm windows, take note that the wider the space
between the storm window and the primary window, the better it blocks sound
from coming in. Also, if you have a wall that faces a busy street, adding
another layer or two of drywall to that wall will significantly improve noise
reduction.
