Privacy and quiet are some of the most underrated benefits of owning a home. Nobody wants to live in a noisy neighborhood or in a house where they constantly have to deal with noise pollution. For most people, their home is their escape. A place where they can go to relax and get away from the chaos of the outside world.
However, all too often, your peace is threatened and invaded by loud noises. Maybe you live close to a highway. Maybe your next-door neighbors are extremely loud or there’s an ongoing construction project around your home. If you are tired of having to deal with the noise, here are things you should consider when soundproofing your home.
Top Things to Consider When Soundproofing Your Home
Environmental Factors
Soundproofing materials are different and each is designed for certain environments. For instance, the soundproofing materials used for a construction site will be different from the ones used in an office. The noise levels in both environments are different and the soundproofing materials for the office wouldn’t be effective on the construction site.
Make sure you also factor in the level of vibrations, moisture levels, temperatures, and water immersion.
Materials
There are 4 categories of soundproofing materials;
- Vibration isolation materials.
- Transmission loss materials.
- Dampening materials.
- Absorption materials.
Transmission loss and absorption material are used to soundproof from airborne sounds while dampening and vibration materials are used to block out solid airborne sounds. For the absorption materials, they are usually lightweight and porous and can be used to line up walls and enclosures.
Noise Control
This is the level of noise reduction you want to achieve by soundproofing your home. How much noise are you currently experiencing? Do you want to reduce, contain, or eliminate the noise? Based on this, you can now choose a soundproofing material that will give you the desired result.
You also have to decide whether the soundproofing will be permanent or temporary. For instance, if the noise is from a construction site that only has a couple of months until it’s done, temporary soundproofing would be best. However, if you live next to a busy highway, you might consider permanent soundproofing.
Rules and Regulations
Some local governments have rules in place regarding soundproofing materials. Before installing soundproofing in your home, consult the local experts to make sure that you are in compliance with the set laws.
The regulations are usually there to enhance public safety and may include clauses for fire endurance limits and flame spread rate for the soundproofing materials.
Control the Noise in Your Home With These Home Soundproofing Tips
To determine the best soundproofing material for your home1, you have to determine where the noise is coming from. Is it from inside the house or outside? The soundproofing materials used must accurately address the kind of noise pollution you are experiencing.
If you have a noise pollution concern, ensure that you put the above factors into consideration. This will make sure that the soundproofing system installed is effective.
Links to sources used
- Soundproofing: Topics by Science.gov – https://www.science.gov/topicpages/s/soundproofing.html
