Soundproof a Room (with and without Loose Materials)

hasher22 on 31/05/2020 - 20:42
Last edited 03/06/2020 - 11:31 by 1 other user

Hey guys

TLDR: What drastic measures and materials can I install to make my room soundproof from external noise?

I am moving to a new unit soon which is purchased and I can alter to an extent and my bedroom is smack bang in the middle of the master bedroom and study room. My parents will be in the master and the study will be for my father who just talks all day to clients for his business.

Right now, I am situated in the other side of the home from them, so I don't hear them often which is amazing.

But the unit does not have concrete walls and a light knock to the wall, it's hollow. Iwill hear them talk, sleep, snore, business calls, move etc……

I searched online and some tips
- Sound proof curtains
- Door seals and bottom flaps
- Sound deadening foam
- Carpets

This is all well and good, but I don't want to have a full wall of sound deadening foam plastered across my wall.

The only drastic change to soundproof is to install material INSIDE the wall which I can't do(?). Will be very very expensive.

Is there another material to layer ontop of the walls I already have?

I can already tell me being in the middle of the two rooms will be a huge sound problem for me.

• 

  EFC94 on 31/05/2020 - 21:11

  +2

  Are you trying to avoid them hearing you? Or you hearing them?

  Might not be ideal but you could invest in some good noise cancelling headphones. Also depending on how old you are, you'll likely move out within a few years, so don't want to go too drastic covering your walls in something.

• 

  Logical on 31/05/2020 - 21:15

  You should be able to pump some insulation into the hollow plasterboard walls.

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  atris17 on 31/05/2020 - 21:27

  Green glue and Gyprock Material

  Google it

  • 

    Scorpex on 01/06/2020 - 09:44

    This. Used it to soundproof a music studio a few years ago.

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  Donaldhump on 31/05/2020 - 22:14

  Egg cartons on the wall, whether this works or not I don’t know but a friend did it in his drum room

  • 

    snapper on 31/05/2020 - 22:38

    Supposedly helps to disperse the sound generated in the room… not to keep sound out from adjoining rooms

    • 

      Donaldhump on 31/05/2020 - 22:59

      Did you just google that

• 

  barozgain on 31/05/2020 - 22:35

  Bose Noise cancelling head phones

• 

  silverrat23 on 31/05/2020 - 23:06

  I was thinking of making my own timber-framed panels with sound-proofing insulation inside - something similar to this. They can be hung up like a picture frame, which can be easily adjusted and hopefully, it'll work well in a small bedroom.

  OP, what do you think about this?

  • 

    Mechz on 31/05/2020 - 23:20

    +3

    Maybe if you covered the whole wall with them. Used like you mentioned they're only useful for sound reflections from within the same room.

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  Davo1111 on 01/06/2020 - 00:06

  +3

  lets start with the basics.

  1. how old are you?
  2. how much rent do you pay?
  3. Have your parents approved these modifications?
  4. are you allowed to do anything permanent?
  5. is there a "make good" clause in the contract?
• 

  RiseAndRuin on 01/06/2020 - 00:43

  +2

  In Australia the best solution for your situation is probably Mass Loaded Vinyl, other solutions would require significantly more room.
  You can get more ideas and info on what works and how from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d9WmjTJniI

• 

  AdosHouse on 01/06/2020 - 00:44

  As someone that does shift work and often tries to sleep until 2pm, my solution was just have a really loud fan, white noise basically. I have one of these style fans in my room, https://www.bunnings.com.au/dynabreeze-750mm-industrial-pede… , and it's loud, and does my good on a 40 degree summer day. In winter if I want to sleep, I just point the fan away from me.

  • 

    John Kimble on 01/06/2020 - 08:53

    Does a speaker playing white noise not work?

    • 

      iforgotmysocks on 01/06/2020 - 09:20

      I mean it's a banger but I'm not sure how playing specifically the Living End helps things.

    • 

      AdosHouse on 01/06/2020 - 12:27

      Yes it would.

      My method just has the added benefit of cooling me in the warmer months.

• 

  arkosh on 01/06/2020 - 11:08

  +3

  Acoustic engineer here.

  The first thing you need to do is find out where the noise is coming from, i.e. the weakest link. There will be no point doing something drastic like putting in concrete walls, if all the noise is leaking through the door.
  To do this, blast white noise in a room adjacent to yours, and have a listen to where most of the noise is coming through.
  If it's the door, then you'll want to make sure all gaps around the door are sealed. You can check for gaps by seeing if any light comes through. You could also put in a heavier door, although this might not be possible as the existing door frame might not be able to handle the weight.
  If it's the wall, then you would want to beef up the wall. I know it's drastic, but you could tear down the plasterboard, will with acoustic insulation (not that rigid board crap), and reinstall with fire-rated plasterboard (fire rated plasterboard has a higher density than standard plasterboard).
  Another possible route could be via the ceiling. If there are any open grilles in the ceiling, noise might be travelling through those. These can be treated, but again, it's a bit drastic.

  There's no such thing as "sound proof curtains", and most of the sound deadening materials already mentioned are about decreasing the reverberation within your room (i.e. carpet, foam, etc). This will not help with noise transfer. Save your money!

  The Mass Loaded Vinyl might help a bit if you fit it against the wall, but again, it really won't do much. Also, it can be pretty expensive.

  If you're worried about hearing things from outside your room, your best bet is to play white noise. If you increase the background noise in your room, it will make you less susceptible to other noises. I use an old radio which is tuned between stations to get the static and play that within my son's bedroom while he sleeps. It's not too loud, but he doesn't hear the tv playing.

  Hope this helped.