Soundproofing Shuts Out Noisy Surroundings

Home Soundproofing for Noisy Neighbours and Surroundings

You can choose your home, but you cannot always choose the noise around it. Neighbours, traffic, shared hallways, nearby businesses, footsteps, music and outdoor activity can all affect how comfortable a property feels.

Home soundproofing can help reduce unwanted noise entering, leaving or travelling through a building. The right solution will depend on the type of noise, where it is coming from and how it is moving through the property.

Why Noise Travels Through Homes

Sound can travel through many different parts of a building. Walls, floors, ceilings, doors, windows, vents, sockets, pipework and small gaps around frames or skirting boards can all allow noise to pass through.

This is why it is important to identify the main noise route before choosing products. Treating the wrong surface may not deal with the real source of the problem.

Noisy Neighbours and Party Walls

Neighbour noise is one of the most common reasons people look into soundproofing. Voices, television sound, music and general household activity can pass through party walls where acoustic separation is limited.

Wall soundproofing products can help reduce airborne noise transfer through suitable wall constructions in terraced houses, semi-detached homes, flats and apartments.

Acoustic Products for Walls

Wall soundproofing works by adding suitable acoustic layers to help reduce sound transfer from one side of the wall to the other. It is not the same as sound absorption, which controls echo inside a room.

Where noise is coming through a shared wall, the wall construction, adjoining surfaces, sockets, fireplaces, alcoves and flanking paths should all be considered before products are chosen.

Floor Soundproofing for Noise Between Levels

Floors can transfer both airborne and impact noise. This may include footsteps, dropped objects, furniture movement, music, television sound or voices between levels.

Floor soundproofing products can help reduce noise movement between floors, depending on the existing floor construction and the type of sound involved.

Ceiling Soundproofing for Noise from Above

If noise is coming from an upstairs room or neighbouring flat above, ceiling soundproofing may need to be considered. Footsteps, movement, voices and music can all travel through the floor and ceiling structure.

A suitable ceiling soundproofing system can help reduce sound transfer from above, depending on the building and installation details.

Soundproof Doors and Acoustic Seals

Doors are often weak points in a room. Lightweight doors, gaps around frames, keyholes and spaces beneath thresholds can all allow sound to pass through.

Soundproof doors, acoustic seals and suitable threshold details can help reduce sound leakage between bedrooms, living rooms, home offices, corridors and shared spaces.

Window Soundproofing and External Noise

Windows are a common route for external noise, especially where a room faces a road, footpath, garden, car park or busy outdoor area. Single glazing, poor seals, lightweight frames and open ventilation routes can all allow sound to enter more easily.

Improving glazing, seals and ventilation routes may help where outside noise is entering through the windows. However, windows should be considered as part of the wider room, as noise may also be entering through walls, doors, vents or roof spaces.

Traffic and Outdoor Noise

Traffic noise can affect homes close to roads, junctions, bus routes or car parks. Sound may enter through windows, external walls, doors, vents and roof spaces.

Where the layout allows, acoustic fencing and barriers may also help reduce some external noise by interrupting the sound path between the source and the area being protected.

Will Soundproofing Affect the Look of Your Home?

Many soundproofing products can be installed as part of a room refurbishment and finished over once fitted. The final appearance will depend on the product, installation method and chosen finish.

It is worth considering skirting boards, sockets, floor levels, thresholds and door clearances before installation so the acoustic treatment works practically as well as acoustically.

Soundproofing vs Sound Absorption

Soundproofing and sound absorption are different. Soundproofing helps reduce sound passing from one space to another. Sound absorption helps control echo and reverberation inside a room.

If noise is entering or leaving a room, soundproofing will usually be the priority. If the room feels loud, harsh or echoey, sound absorption products may also help improve internal comfort.

Can Soundproofing Remove All Noise?

Soundproofing can help reduce unwanted noise, but it will not remove all sound. Results depend on the noise source, building construction, product choice, installation quality and whether all main weak points are treated.

Loud music, bass, impact noise, traffic noise and sound travelling through several routes may need a more complete approach than treating one surface only.

Choosing the Right Home Soundproofing Products

The right products will depend on the room, property and noise problem. A bedroom affected by traffic may need a different approach from a flat with impact noise from above or a living room affected by a party wall.

Acoustic Supplies provides home soundproofing solutions and wider soundproofing products for walls, floors, ceilings, doors, barriers, sealants and acoustic weak points.

Get Help with Home Soundproofing

If noisy neighbours, traffic or surrounding noise are affecting your home, Acoustic Supplies can help you choose a suitable soundproofing approach.

Call Acoustic Supplies on 01204 548400 or contact the team online to discuss your noise problem.