Hey everyone! I'm feeling really anxious about the soundproofing I had done in my bedroom, so I'm hoping for some advice. I hired a contractor to help minimize noise between this bedroom and the rest of the house. We agreed on using solid core doors, a layer of Sonopan, and adding 5/8" drywall with acoustic sealant for the seams. However, when he tried to install the Sonopan, he ended up ripping it near a power outlet, and instead of replacing it, he just patched it up. He then refused to use the acoustic sealant because he found it too messy and insisted that the mud would cover the seams. Now that he's finished taping and mudding, I tested the sound and the music in my treated bedroom sounds louder than the untreated one! I'm worried the lack of sealant is a major problem. Should I wait to furnish the room before addressing my concerns? Is there a way to fix the acoustic sealant issue even with everything already done? I'm feeling really unsure about what to do next, so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
3 Answers
I really don’t think the sealant is the issue here—it sounds more like the whole installation wasn't done right. You might not get perfect soundproofing from what’s been done now, so take a breath and maybe consult an expert to see what your next steps should be. Don't give up hope, but just know total soundproofing is a big challenge, even with the right materials!
For sure, don’t just assume it’s fixable now until you assess what’s actually wrong. A good sound engineer can offer sound advice.
Honestly, it seems like your contractor isn't really cut out for this job. For real soundproofing, you need to strip down to the studs, use insulation and multiple layers of drywall, and add sound isolating brackets. Without addressing those major elements, you’re not going to get the results you want. And yes, the furniture will help once you can move it back in, so try waiting that out before stressing more.
Yeah, I’m in the middle of soundproofing a studio, and that’s exactly how we approached it. You might need a room inside a room to really do it well.
For sure, you’re going to need to be strategic about how you mount your soundproof materials to make the most of it.
It sounds like you might have some issues with the basics of soundproofing here. The Sonopan isn't going to provide a solid sound barrier on its own, especially if there are air gaps. Just adding drywall is a partial solution but might not be enough since those walls really aren't decoupled from the structure. It's possible that the untreated room might sound quieter because the furniture absorbs some sound, but your current setup likely won't give you the soundproofing you expected.
Exactly! It would have been best to use independent stud systems for the walls to really control sound transmission.
You might want to look into upgrading your walls further since it seems like more work than just using sealant is needed.
I totally understand the frustration! It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed, but getting a pro in could help clarify your options.