Hey everyone! My roommate and I are moving into a new house next month, and for the first time, her bedroom will be right above mine. Sound wasn't a big deal in our previous place since we were far apart, but now I'm trying to figure out how to keep things quiet. I've got a plan for soundproofing the ceiling, but I'm a bit stumped on how to handle the two walls that face into the house. I'm considering blowing some soundproofing material into the existing walls and then building a second wall in front of them. My room is about 200 sq ft, so I want to keep the second wall within 3 inches max. I know a thicker wall would help more, but I'm curious if I could achieve decent soundproofing this way, especially if I invest in quality materials. Any tips?
3 Answers
Here are a couple of alternatives you could consider:
1. Wall panels come in various materials and designs—you might find some specifically suited for sound absorption.
2. Think about adding a textured surface to your walls. If you apply joint compound with a textured roller and then paint it, that can help dampen sound too.
Hey! A product like Quiet Rock could be a great choice for your walls. It's specifically designed to help with soundproofing. One thing to consider is that simply adding another layer of drywall on top of existing drywall isn't as effective as you might think because of sound transfer between layers. But using something like Green Glue in between might help a lot! It's worth doing some research on that. Good luck!
You might want to look into using 1-inch polyiso insulation sheets topped with 5/8 drywall. The polyiso can really help break up vibrations. If you have the time, try creating a little cube with it and test it out with a speaker at high volume—that could give you a sense of how well it works!
That idea could really show you how effective the insulation is!
I initially thought about panels as well, but I’ve heard they’re better as a supplement rather than the main soundproofing element.