Posts Tagged ‘soundproofing’

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Soundproofing Mistakes: Hay Bales

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Alright – this is the last soundproofing mistake we’re going to cover – at least for a while. What’s the mistake, you ask? Using hay bales to create a soundproofing unit.

To be fair, hay bales actually really do make great sound deadening barriers. The problem is that they’re really better for outdoor use and pose quite a number of problems if used inside.

They’re flammable, they’re more than likely not up to building code, and they’re easy to steal – for starters. If you or anyone in your household suffers from allergies the hay bales are sure to set you off on a sneezing spree. Oh – and hay bales are usually dirty. Even if you cover them in plastic they’re going to make quite a mess.

Why you’d choose to use a hay bale to insulate your home, we have no idea. It may seem economical at the time but we guarantee you’ll regret the decision. Find something a bit more hygienic, ok?

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Soundproofing Mistakes – Carpet on the Walls

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Here’s another soundproofing mistake/myth for you to consider.

Should you, or should you not, attempt to soundproof a room by attaching carpet to the walls?

The answer is a resounding NO. First of all, the carpet won’t make much difference when it comes to the level of sound capable of entering the room. It may help the acoustic absorbency, or the amount of sound the leaves the room, but why would you want to settle for something that only solves 50% of the problem (and, honestly, looks pretty terrible).

The problem you will have with carpet is similar to the problem you will have if you attempt to nail a mattress to your wall. In the end, it’ll deteriorate, look bad, and may even begin to smell bad.

Don’t waste your time on materials that won’t get the job done. Get yourself the right materials and build yourself a sound barrier that will last.

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Soundproofing Mistakes – Dark Paint

Monday, June 8th, 2009

A while back we stumbled upon an article where a woman admitted that she had used dark paint on the walls in the room she wanted to soundproof. She truly believed that the darker the paint the better the chances of sound being absorbed and/or not being able to pass through the walls. I wish I had been the salesperson selling her paint that day – he probably made a pretty penny.

Apparently this is a pretty common misconception when it comes to soundproofing, so let’s take the time to clarify this point right now. The color of the paint you put on your walls will have absolutely no impact – zip, zero, zilch – on the amount of sound that enters the room.

You’ll need to instead focus on installing insulation, applying acoustical caulk, or taking some other type of soundproofing measure. Don’t get drawn in by the hype and – most important – save your money so that you can buy a color of paint you might actually enjoy looking at every day!

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Soundproofing Mistakes – Old Mattresses

Friday, June 5th, 2009

We’re not 100% sure why people think this technique works but please (pretty please) do not attempt to soundproof your room by nailing old mattresses to the walls. This concept is wrong for a whole host of reasons.

Yes, you read that correctly. Some people literally take old mattresses and nail them to the walls thinking they’re adding insulation. This would work if you were able to seal the mattresses together so that there were no seams, spaces, or open edges – but we’re not even sure that’s possible with the best soundproofing caulk on earth.

Besides, mattresses stink. They’re old for a reason. Throw them away. Why would you want to nail your dingy used mattress to the wall? If, by chance, you live in a place where this is your only option – go for it. But seriously, folks, if anyone tells you this is the way to go we suggest you turn and run in the other direction. Find a better sound proofing expert and do so quickly!

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Soundproofing Mistakes: Installing Egg Crates

Tuesday, 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!

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STOP Before You Buy a Condo

Friday, 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!

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Check Your Current Windows

Wednesday, 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!

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