Owners of apartments and houses often face the problem of insufficient sound insulation in the home. Because of this, sounds from the outside are heard in the room. This makes it difficult to sleep, to do familiar things. To increase the level of comfort in the room, it is required to use additional materials for soundproofing walls and ceilings. The advice of experienced builders should be considered before starting repairs.
Varieties of noise
What is the most effective material for wall insulation? Today, there are many offers of the building materials market, which are designed to protect against the penetration of extraneous sounds into the home. In quiet time, even slight noises coming from neighbors' apartments, or sounds from the street can be clearly heard. However, loud sounds can reach you at any time of the day, even when your apartment or house is not quiet enough.
Panel and brick houses, both old and new, do not differ in high-quality sound insulation of both walls and floors. All sounds are transmitted through the air, forcing materials of walls and ceilings to vibrate. Even insignificant noises coming from outside to the owners of the house can cause insomnia. And children's cries, screams, the sound of repairs, loud music cause significant discomfort.
Materials for soundproofing walls in the apartment can increase the degree of protection of the interior of the apartment from external sounds. You can install them yourself. It is important to know how to do this. It should be noted that all the sounds that penetrate our housing can be divided into two groups:
- Noises transmitted through the air. Fluctuations are transmitted in the air, transmitted through walls and ceilings. Sound is, as you know, a wave. It is transmitted in a specific environment, for example, through the air. Such sounds include loud conversation, music, etc.
- Structural noise. Occurs with a direct mechanical effect on walls or floors. For example, it can be an object that fell from the neighbors, furniture moving, driving nails into a wall, etc. Initially, a sound wave in this case propagates in a solid material, and after that it is transmitted through the air.
When choosing the best material for soundproofing walls, you must also take into account the features of sound. According to research, in a solid material, sound travels much faster than in air. Structural noise for this reason is heard more. Such noise needs a lot of protection. In this case, the material should be thicker, denser, have a certain structure.
It is also worth considering another nuance. Some sounds are actually relatively quiet. But people perceive them especially, which leads to severe irritation. At night, even the sound of dripping water, the ticking of a clock or an open water tap from the neighbors may not let you fall asleep. The crying of the child may be relatively weak in intensity, but our perception reacts to this sound more strongly. Such a sound can be annoying much more than smooth music, to which many people generally fall asleep easily. All the features of extraneous noise must be considered when choosing materials.
Features of noise insulation materials
Modern materials for soundproofing walls are distinguished by a special set of qualities. With their help, you can create partial or complete protection against extraneous sounds in an apartment or your own house. These types of materials have certain differences.
If you want to create a complete sound insulation, you will need to pay attention to creating a layer of sound insulation on the ceiling, walls, and in some cases (if there are neighbors below) and on the floor. This procedure is carried out during overhaul. This is fraught with some difficulties.
The disadvantage of the process of creating a complete sound insulation is the high cost of repair work. In this case, it is necessary to perform several mandatory sequential steps, which subsequently lead to a decrease in the space in the room. Therefore, it is technically possible to create complete insulation only in a spacious room with a sufficient ceiling height.
Using materials for soundproofing walls in an apartment as intended, it is much easier to do partial sound insulation with your own hands. In this case, a protective layer is created only on one or two walls or on the ceiling. It is necessary to consider from which side the main noise is heard. From this side you need to mount a layer of sound insulation. This option is simpler and cheaper. The area of the room will also decrease slightly, but much less than with all walls.
Choosing modern materials for soundproofing walls in the house, you need to select the appropriate set of qualities. The main ones are:
- Soundproof ability. In this case, the material will reflect the sound wave, directing it in the opposite direction. Such insulation has a significant mass. In this case, the degree of loss of vibration and sound wave will be large.
- Sound absorption. The material has special pores that form channels within the structure. The insulation in this case has a fibrous structure. When a sound wave passes through it, friction arises in the channels. This inhibits the spread of noise in the room.
Both types of materials are actively used during the installation of sound insulation. It is mounted on walls or under the ceiling. Soundproofing is mounted outside. The material must be non-combustible, safe, and also sufficiently effective.
Type of walls and floors
Materials for soundproofing walls and ceilings must be selected in accordance with the characteristics of the house or apartment. It is important to consider what the building is made of. Each material from which partitions, load-bearing walls and floor floors were created is distinguished by certain sound-absorbing properties. The higher they are, the thinner and easier it is to choose insulation.
The thickest powerful sound absorbers are required for panel, brick walls, modular and frame houses. They conduct sound waves more strongly, creating discomfort for the people living here. But, choosing materials for soundproofing the walls in a wooden house, you can purchase the most delicate and inexpensive varieties. Such walls are natural soundproofing.
In panel houses, the thickness of the walls and floors is almost the same, so the sound is transmitted with identical strength in all directions. In such houses it is better to create a complete sound insulation. However, in small rooms this is not always possible.
For a brick house, partial insulation will suffice. However, this statement is true if the walls are thick. If this is not so, you need to select the same materials as for a panel house.
Monolithic-frame structures are quite heavy, and the partition walls, in this case, are most often light. This feature is typical for hollow brick houses, foam concrete. Indirect noise in intensity in such buildings is higher. Frame houses need the same sound insulation as panel houses.
Sound absorption coefficient
It is worth considering a number of features when choosing modern materials for soundproofing walls in an apartment. Thin varieties are sometimes characterized by higher protective properties than thick sheets. This is due to different values of the sound absorption coefficient. The higher it is, the higher noise insulation qualities the material has. The coefficient can vary from 1 to 0.
According to this scale, the ability of a brick to hide noise is only 0.04, and that of natural wood is 0.15. In order not to hear sounds coming from neighboring apartments, you need to choose a material with a wave absorption coefficient of 0.5 or higher.
To install the material for soundproofing the walls in the apartment with your own hands, you will need to mount an additional structure:
- Wireframe. A metal profile structure is mounted on the surface of the walls or ceiling. Soundproof materials are laid inside this frame. From above they are sewn up with drywall or other panels.
- Stretch ceiling. To install the selected material on the floor, you can mount a stretch ceiling. In this case, the ceiling height will be reduced to a minimum. The canvas can be made of PVC or a special fabric. Synthetic stretch ceilings are suitable for wet rooms. They can also be mounted in almost any room. Fabrics suitable for dry rooms. Stretch ceilings are mounted on special guides around the perimeter of the room using brackets.
- Frameless wall insulation in the apartment. Modern materials allow you to not use special guides in the installation process. In this case, the indoor space is minimized, which is especially true for small rooms. The insulation material is mounted simply on glue. This is a simple installation method that requires the use of the most modern, subtle types of sound insulation. The noise absorption coefficient of such materials is the highest.
Classic options and reviews about them
On sale are many types of modern materials for soundproofing walls in an apartment or house. They can be classic, which builders used before, as well as new, only gaining popularity.
One of the most popular classic options for creating sound insulation in a house or apartment is mineral wool. It is an environmentally friendly, non-combustible material. It meets all safety requirements. Even at elevated temperatures, mineral wool does not release toxic substances into the environment.
If the choice fell on this particular type of noise-absorbing materials, it is worth purchasing insulation in slabs. The density of mineral wool of this type is higher than that of rolled varieties, so shrinkage is unlikely. The thickness of the plates should be at least 5 cm. According to reviews, this is a quality material that copes with the tasks assigned to it. However, it greatly reduces indoor space. In this case, each wall and ceiling will become closer by 15 cm. Mineral wool is not suitable for small rooms.
When choosing which materials for soundproofing walls in an apartment are suitable for repairs, you should pay attention to polyurethane foam. This is a relatively expensive option, which is able to fit snugly to the surface of the base. Therefore, it is able to protect the home from the penetration of both airborne and structural noise. In case of fire, this material exudes toxic substances into the environment, which is its significant drawback.
Self-adhesive tape can be used for such purposes. This is an environmentally friendly material, which, according to reviews, copes well with its functions. Its disadvantage is the large thickness.
The classic options also include the use of polystyrene and expanded polystyrene. These are fully synthetic materials that absorb noise well. Their disadvantage is the ability to burn and release toxic substances. The advantage is the relatively low cost.
All classic materials are very thick. Therefore, they are mounted mainly in spacious rooms. For smaller rooms, you should consider the new offers of the building materials market.
New thin materials
When choosing which material is best for soundproofing walls, it is worth considering a number of modern proposals on the building materials market. They have a relatively small thickness, compared with the classic options. The dimensions of the room in this case are practically unchanged.
If it is required not to completely remove the noise level in the room, but only to partially reduce it, a special thin substrate is used. Its thickness is only 5 mm. At the same time, the material is able to reduce the noise intensity level to 30%. It is worth noting that in fact it is thin-sheet polystyrene foam. The material is synthetic, combustible, when heated, emits toxic smoke. The installation of such material in a room is far from always advisable.
One of the best materials that can significantly reduce the noise level in a room is cork. This is a natural material. It also performs the function of insulation, sound insulation. Cork sheets reduce the intensity of only structural noise. If the cork thickness is not more than 10 mm, it must be laid in several layers. Effectively reduces the noise level by a thickness of at least 3 cm. At the same time, the noise level will decrease by 30 dB.
Choosing soundproofing materials for the walls of the apartment, it is worth paying attention to noise blocks. His second name is loaded vinyl. The thickness of this material is only 2.5 mm. It allows you to create high-quality sound insulation in houses of different materials.
Also, according to builders, soundproof membranes are very effective . They are elastic, have a thickness of only 4 mm. The membrane reflects the sound back, not letting it into the apartment. Mounting such sound insulation is easy. First, a special crate is mounted on which the membrane is fixed. It must be laid with a single piece of cloth. If this is not possible, the material at the joints is overlapped, and then glued with tape. The membrane is pulled during installation.
Manufacturers Information
Materials for soundproofing walls today produces many companies. The products of some brands are in great demand in our country.
Popular among domestic builders products is the mastic of the company "Green Glu". Walls and ceilings cover it, and it is also applied between sheets of drywall. Mastic effectively absorbs noise and is sold in tubes of 828 ml capacity. With a standard material consumption, they manage to cover approximately 1.3-1.5 m² of base.
For floors, ceilings and walls, Texaund is often used. This soundproofing prevents high frequency sounds from entering the room. This is a membrane with a sufficiently large weight. It is made on a mineral basis. The membrane has a thickness of 3.7 mm and reduces noise by 28 dB.
The domestic manufacturer "Shumanet-BM" supplies the market with basalt wool panels. Soundproofing of this type is designed for installation on the ceiling, walls. The sound absorption coefficient of this material is a record 0.9 units. This is a very high figure, especially when you consider that the thickness of the panels is only 5 mm.
Mounting Features
Materials for soundproofing the walls must be properly mounted. To do this, study the manufacturer's instructions. The base must be properly prepared. It is necessary to remove old finishing materials from the surfaces, cracks and other defects are repaired with putty.
When the layer dries, the surface is primed. Soundproofing is installed on glue or in a frame way. After that, the surface needs to be finished. The installation procedure varies significantly according to the type of material chosen.
Wireframe method
Materials for soundproofing walls are often mounted in a frame manner. For this, metal profiles are acquired. A three-dimensional structure is created, between the rails of which noise-insulating materials are laid.
On the prepared base, metal profiles are installed. A special sealing tape is placed between them and the ceiling or walls. It will not allow bridges to appear through which sound will enter the room.
Next, a layer of mineral wool or other suitable material is laid between the frame elements. They are usually fixed with dowels, umbrellas. It is impermissible to leave gaps between the sound insulation.
Frameless way
It is possible to use frameless soundproofing walls in an apartment using modern materials. It is better to choose dense varieties of plates for these purposes. The surface of the base must be carefully prepared. There should not be any old finishes and defects on it.
Plates are glued with special compounds to the surface of the ceiling or walls. The glue must be compatible with the selected material. Plates are recommended to be further strengthened with anchors. In this case, the material is almost guaranteed not to exfoliate from the surface.
Joints appear between the plates. They must be treated with foam. Any sealant compatible with the material is suitable for this. After solidification, the excess material is cut with a knife. . , .