The Quiet Site

The other day I read an article about soundproofing a tin roof. The writer suggested that if you hired a professional before installing your tin roof he could do something to make sure that the roof was not noisy when it rained.

Look, we’re huge advocates of soundproofing, but if you don’t want to hear the rain the last thing you need to do is install a tin roof on your home. Besides, tin is corrosive and will not last a very long time – and when it does go bad, all the insulation and soundproofing materials you put underneath it will go bad as well.

Stick to installing a standard roof – or install your tin over a regular roof for added effectiveness. But for heaven’s sake – don’t expect to not hear noise from tin!

When searching for the source of our soundproofing problems we tend to overlook the obvious. We’re constantly seeking ways to reduce the noise our neighbors make and think we need to undertake huge soundproofing projects when in reality we need to take a simple look at our surroundings.

Doors, believe it or not, are one of the most common sources of noise in any atmosphere. Doors are often hastily hung in nice looking but poorly constructed frames. They have gaps surrounding them which easily transmit sound and, in most cases, are made of hollow materials that resonate sound instead of blocking it.

Take alook at your doors before you do anything else. You might be able to seal around the door, add a stopper at the bottom to seal the gaps, or simply replace the door with something heavier. In the end, this solution will be a lot cheaper and more effective than soundproofing a wall that never really needed the work!

It occurs to us that while some people are relatively adept at using cell phones and their related technology, others could use a little help when it comes to getting things started. One of the most common questions we’ve seen lately revolves around silencing the sound a cell phone makes when you use it to take photographs.

First of all, the default settings on any cell phone are usually very loud. In most cases you can to into your phone’s settings, visit the tools menu, and make any changes you need to the sound levels. You can change not only the type of tone you hear but the frequency as well.

In many cases there is a button right on the side of the cell phone that allows you to control volume. Using this button between phone calls will change the volume of your ringer and in many cases lowers the volume on all of your controls at the same time.

Play with your phone and, if in doubt, visit the website of the phone manufacturer or give them a call. There is almost always a sound solution when it comes to cell phones, even if it’s not easy to find at first.

There have been lots of recent news stories about cell phone usage while driving. While talking while driving is certainly distracting, and a major cause of accidents and injury, there is another reason why you shouldn’t be talking and driving that we haven’t seen many people point out.

Many of today’s cars are soundproof. You can see that in some of our recent posts, where we’ve taken a look at some of the newer models coming out with even quieter cabins. The problem is that the quieter the inside of your car is, the harder it is to hear emergency vehicles approaching – and that only gets more difficult if you’re distracted by a conversation.

Get off the phone, enjoy your time in your soundproof passenger cabin, and pay attention to your surroundings so that emergency vehicles can get by without coming so close to running you down. Act like you care!

Are you in the unfortunate position of having purchased or rented a home near a railway line? If so, take comfort in the fact that hope is not lost. There are a few things you can do to soundproof your living area and reduce the amount of noise that permeates your living space.

For starters, try hanging a few heavy drapes over your windows and patio doors. They’re not 100% effective but will significantly reduce the amount of noise you hear by absorbing some of the sound as it passes through. Another option, if your own your space, is to replace your windows and doors with new styles that feature soundproof glass.

The only other option, which is completely unfeasible in most cases, is to move. It’s up to you to decide what works best for you.

When it comes to soundproofing a room one of the most often neglected areas is the floor. If you’re going to create a home theater with high-quality acoustics than you need to make sure every square foot of space is accounted for – including the ones you walk on.

Creating a sound proof environment really isn’t difficult but can not be overlooked. It’s very easy for a home theater system complete with televisions, gaming systems, and extra speakers to transmit noise. The noise will travel through the floor and if it is a common surface (ie. on the main floor of your home) then the sound will transmit to other rooms throughout the home with relative ease.

The solution to soundproofing your home theater floor is to add a layer of soundproofing material underneath the floor surface. While some soundproofing consultants recommend laying down some mass loaded vinyl we know you’ll have better results if you simply apply some Green Glue to the surface before you put down your carpet, linoleum, or hardwood floors.

Remember – in order to effectively soundproof a home theater you must address all 6 surfaces (all 4 walls, the ceiling, and the floor). You won’t have a perfectly compeleted theater until you’ve done so.

Before you can attempt to soundproof your home you’ll need to get a good idea of the different types of noise. Today we’ll talk about flanking noise – or noise that can get into a room without going through a ceiling or wall. Flanking noise often sounds amplified and can really have a huge impact on your peace of mind.

So you’ have a room that should, in reality, be quiet – but it’s not. There are a few things you should check first:

• Are you in an apartment or condo? If so, the noise could  be coming from a side stud wall attaching your unit to another.
• Is there an attic or upper floor above the noisy room? If so, you might need to consider whether or not that upstairs room sits above more than one lower room. The ceiling joists may be the cause of your flanking noise.
• Is the noise coming from your floor framing system?

These are the main sources of flanking noise. In some cases you can use products like gasket tape to seal the joists but in others you may need to do some more extensive soundproofing work. Either way, discovering the source of your noise will save you time and money – ensuring you get to the source of the problem the first time.

A common mistake most amateurs make when attempting a soundproofing project is starting with the belief that they can’t do the work themselves. Let’s destroy this myth today.

It doesn’t matter if you’re sound proofing a home, apartment, condo, car, boat, air conditioner, or fish tank. All you need to do is determine two things: 1) what type of noise am I dealing with and 2) where is it coming from?

Once you know the answers to these two questions you’ll have the tools you need to know what part of your home (or appliance) needs work and to determine what soundproofing materials to buy. There are several different types of soundproofing materials on the market today, some more expensive than others. Just remember that cheapest isn’t always best but that you don’t need to break the bank, either. The instructions on the material packages will help you to properly and easily install the materials.

In short – soundproofing is easy and you do NOT need to hire a professional sound consultant to get the job done. Use your own common sense and svelte investigative skills and you’ll have a beautifully completed project in no time flat.

When entering an empty room, most people have more difficulty hearing than they would in a normal, furnished, room. The reason for this is because the sound reverberates off of the walls and ceilings, sometimes causing vibrations that the ears can not pick up on properly.

In order to make sure your room is as conversation-friendly as possible you’ll want to make sure that at least 40% of the surfaces in the room are covered with sound absorbing materials. These materials include furniture, rugs, and even curtains.

Curtains, also referred to as drapes, can be a wonderful sound absorbing material – especially if they are used creatively. You can use ceiling to floor drapes to cover your windows but you can also use them to cover entire walls – giving you an eye appealing decor while saving you the time and money usually associated with painting.

Drapes provide a colorful and cost-effective alternative to sound proofing a home with traditional materials. Give them a try in your home theater or office and we’re sure you’ll agree.