Soundproofing Mistakes – Using Foam Rubber

June 4th, 2009

Individuals who are attempting to soundproof their homes often look for the most cost effective ways of doing so. For some this means bypassing traditional sound proofing materials and attempting to get the job done with more commonly found items.

One of our favorite soundproofing mistakes is the use of foam rubber. By foam rubber we mean the type of stuff manufacturers use to make thin rubber mattresses. The idea, in reality, isn’t all that bad – but when the foam starts to go bad (especially if you use it on a floor) you’ll suddenly realize that foam rubber isn’t as durable (or soundproof) as you thought.

It’s better to use a formal soundproofing material like a mass loaded vinyl product. This type of material is designed for soundproofing, won’t rot with time, and actually costs just as much or less than the foam rubber you were considering!

Posted in Soundproofing Mistakes | No Comments »

Soundproofing Mistakes: Installing Egg Crates

June 2nd, 2009

We’re going to take some time to look at some of the most common mistakes people make when they attempt to soundproof their homes. One of the biggest (and most amusing to us) is the use of egg crates or cardboard egg holder style materials.

Egg crates are good for one thing and one thing alone – holding eggs. Egg crate material is not made to act as a sound barrier. Egg crates are made out of a lightweight material that is good for protecting eggs from the elements. This material is “holy,” meaning sound can easily pass through it in many places even though it appears to be solid.

Do not waste your time, money, or energy searching for large quantities of egg crate material. The time you spend hunting it down and attempting to install it will be time spent in vain.

And, to make matters worse, installing egg crates might even make your noise problems worse!

Just don’t do it!

Tags: ,
Posted in Soundproofing Mistakes | 1 Comment »

STOP Before You Buy a Condo

May 29th, 2009

Purchasing a condo seemed like a great idea at the time, didn’t it? Until your first night, when you realized that your upstairs, next door (on both sides) and even downstairs neighbors were a lot noisier than you could have ever imagined.

And what, pray tell, did your realtor tell you about the noise levels in your condo development? He or she probably told you that you were preparing to move into a quiet community. Yea. Right.

Before you run out and purchase soundproofing materials for your condo, remember one thing: your condo association dictates the type of construction work you are allowed to complete, even within your own walls. Don’t waste your time or money purchasing soundproofing materials until you’ve spoken to the association. They’ll likely have rules regarding the types of materials you can use or – believe it or not – the hours during which you can make noise with your own construction project!

Once you have the go ahead from the association, get started. I know how much you’re craving a good night’s sleep!

Tags: ,
Posted in Condo Soundproofing | No Comments »

Tips for Musicians – Find the Right Room

May 28th, 2009

If you’re a musician, I am sure you’ve searched high and low for the right place in your home to turn into your music room. The more soundproof your room is the better off you’ll be.

Start by checking out the basement, if you have one. Basements are usually amongst the best rooms in a house for musicians because they are naturally soundproof because of the masonry foundation surrounding them. Masonry is, realistically, one of the best soundproofing materials available because it absorbs low frequency sounds (like those you’ll make with a good set of drums).

I’ve seen several musicians opt to turn their garages into music rooms. What they don’t realize is that the large garage door really diminishes the ability of the garage to muffle the sounds they are making. The noise is, in reality, louder than it would be had you stayed in the house.

If you must choose a room inside your home, make sure you choose one that is furthest away from the person most likely to complain (like the elderly couple living next door). Once you find the right room you can add a few extra soundproofing materials and you’ll never bother your neighbors (or family) again.

Tags: ,
Posted in Music Soundproofing | No Comments »

Check Your Current Windows

May 27th, 2009

Did you know that windows are usually the number one source of soundproofing trouble in any room? The other day we talked about making covers for the panels in your music room but if you aren’t using a room for music is this really necessary? Probably not.

The first thing you should do when looking at your windows for soundproofing problems is check the thickness of the glass. Most windows have very thin panes but if you are able to replace those panes with glass that is 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick  you will see a significant difference.

You may not even need to replace the glass in the windows. In may homes, especially older ones, the real source of trouble is the seal around the window. It’s either in bad shape or doesn’t exist at all. Get some caulk and add a new seal and you’re guaranteed to hear a difference almost immediately!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Window Soundproofing | No Comments »

Soundproofing Music Room Windows

May 23rd, 2009

If the room you’ve chosen as your home theater is ground level or above you’ll need to take the windows into consideration. As most homes are built with windows in almost every exterior room, you’ll be hard pressed to find a space without them unless you’ve had your home custom built with a music room or decide to use your basement.

So what will you do to prevent the music you make from bothering your neighbors as the sound seeps through your windows? You’re going to make removable soundproof window covers, of course.

Theyr’e easy to make. All you have to do is measure the dimensions within the window frame and cut a piece of plywood at least 1/8 of an inch thick. You’re then going to apply a layer of panel adhesive, a layer of vinyl sheeting, a second layer of adhesive, a layer of one-inch insulating foam, and a final layer of panel adhesive.

Add one more layer of plywood to cap the entire project and then attach handles to the exterior so that you can easily pull them back out of the windows when you’re finished. Finalize your panels by adding rubber trim to the edges as this will help form a seal when you put them in the windows.

You’ll never have to worry about bothering your neighbors again when you follow our soundproofing steps!

Tags: ,
Posted in Window Soundproofing | No Comments »

Music Soundproofing for Teens

May 22nd, 2009

Think back to when you were growing up and tell me one thing – was music a huge part of your life? No matter how much times change, music is a staple in the average teen’s life – whether he or she enjoys music in solitude or loves to get together with friends to enjoy their favorite new hits together.

So what are you going to do when it’s your own child’s turn to host the next gathering? Will you spend the next five years of your life searching for the ear plugs when the kids get together or will you give them a comfortable, soundproof music room in which to hang out?

It may be time to consider soundproofing your basement or attic but don’t fret – you don’t have to give ALL of that space to your teen. Why not use what you’ve learned about music soundproofing to turn part of that space into a teen hangout and the rest into a music studio or rec room for the adult members of your household?

No matter what you choose, you won’t regret your decision to give your teens a soundproof space of their own!

Tags:
Posted in Music Soundproofing | No Comments »

Music Soundproofing

May 21st, 2009

True music lovers understand the importance of having a soundproof space in which they can enjoy their music both without disturbing others or being distracted by outside influences.

You shouldn’t have to give up your favorite pasttimes, either listening or creating music, simply because you got married or moved to a quiet neighborhood. Creating a music room is the perfect solution and gives true artists a place where they can create new works without disturbing their friends, family, and neighbors.

The reason most music lovers do not create a soundproof music room is because they think the project is going to be more difficult, time consuming, and cost prohibitive than it actually is. You don’t need concrete walls to create a soundproof room. As a matter of fact, air gaps between walls actually enhance the soundproofing experience.

Join us as we explore the world of soundproofing and especially soundproofing as it applies to music. We’re sure you’ll find this blog a source of valuable information!

Tags:
Posted in Music Soundproofing | No Comments »

Soul Sounds

May 3rd, 2009

The soul can soar with the right musical notes and music soundproofing can play a very important note in that process. Consider locking yourself into your room and turning on your favorite piece of classical music. First you want to be sure that you have the right system to play the music just like a proffesional dj. The reason for that is that you want to be able to hear every nuance of the violin and the flute. Problem is that as the sound fills the room and starts vibrating off the walls they start mixing and your mind starts wondering is there any way that i can stop the vibrations. Fortunatly the answer is a resounding yes, by using damping compounds.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Sound

April 20th, 2009

As previously noted sound and even musical sounds needs to be stopped at certain times. We looked at different approches as toproperally sound proof. We already know that not all noise reduction products are created equally there are at least five different types of Resilient Sound Clips on the market enough to allow the standard Do It Yourselfer to feel more than a little bit confused. The same applies to acoustical caulk and to visco elastic damping compounds. Therefore the search is on to find the expert who really knows what he is talking about. A first rule of thumb is to find a company that actually installs the producds they sell which is a good sign that they have confidence in their product. Then you can always ask for a reference or two.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »