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.