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Soundproofing Materials 101

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Choosing the Right Soundproofing Material for Your Home Project

Almost everyone has a room in their home that they would like to soundproof. From media and theater rooms to offices, the benefits of soundproofing can be experienced throughout your house. Whether you are trying to keep sound inside a space or prevent it from entering one, there are several ways to get the job done.

When planning for a soundproofing project it is important to be familiar with all of the available materials you can use. From mass loaded vinyl to spray insulation, there are products out there to cover every nook and cranny of the room being sealed. This is why it is important to know your budget and expectations before you begin.

This Squidoo lens was created to provide an overview of the soundproof materials available to help you with your project. Consider the information to be a good beginning to further research on soundproofing a room.

Soundproofing with Mass Loaded Vinyl

Using soundproofing in your business is an effective way to block out the unwanted distractions of traffic outside, emergency vehicles passing by, or just creating a quiet environment to improve concentration and focus. Today, creating that noise barrier is easier than ever with mass loaded vinyl sheets.

To use mass loaded vinyl as a noise barrier on floors, the sub-floor is typically sealed with an acoustical sealant, a metal tape is then used over those gaps as well, then the mass loaded vinyl sheets are laid, followed by caulking of the seams between the sheets. The foam-backed version is recommended for flooring as it helps reduce impact noise as well as airborne noise. The foam-backed version can be used along with the non-foam backed version as well.

Ideally, attaching the mass loaded vinyl directly to the studs in the wall provides the best noise barrier. However, if it's not possible to add this during installation of the main walls, the alternative is to attach it to the drywall and either paint over it or attach it to the back of paneling and use finishing nails to attach the paneling to the drywall.

To create a sound barrier with your walls, simply attach the foam backed mass loaded vinyl to the backside of paneling or drywall and use finishing nails to attach to the existing wall. It's not necessary to demolish the existing wall to add the soundproof barrier.

American mass loaded vinyl consists of a high-grade vinyl mat that has added to it barium salts and silica (sand) to give it the same effectiveness as lead sheeting but without the health hazards associated with raw lead.

Mass loaded vinyl noise barrier is also frequently installed in cars. This installation helps to provide a noise barrier from outside noises as well as helping to keep the sound of the car stereo inside the car. While approved for this type of use, it is currently not rated for use in airplanes by the FAA.

Sound proofing also increases the acoustic quality of sound produced in a room. Because the material is designed to cause the sound to rebound back toward the source, you get a higher quality sound with this installation. Mass loaded vinyl is also effective when installed under speakers to reduce vibration and installation under machinery will decrease the vibration and noise heard on floors below as well as nearby.

Mass loaded vinyl sheets have been rated as the best in sound proofing materials by many musicians. Using this sound proofing mass improves the quality of sound in their music studios while blocking out the distracting noises from nearby airports or railroad tracks or just passing traffic. The ability of the material to "rebound" sound is also appreciated by many musicians and recording studios alike.