How to Reduce Noise with Soundproofing Products

Noise can affect homes, workplaces, studios, venues and commercial buildings in many different ways. It may come from neighbours, traffic, railways, machinery, music, footsteps, conversations or activity in nearby rooms.

Soundproofing products can help reduce the amount of 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.

Common Noise Problems

Noise problems are not all the same. A home affected by neighbour noise may need a different solution from a property beside a busy road, a workplace with machinery noise or a studio where music needs to be controlled.

Common sources of unwanted noise include:

Voices, music and television sound from neighbours
Traffic, railway and aircraft noise
Footsteps, movement and impact noise from above
Noise from communal corridors, doors and stairwells
Machinery, plant equipment and workplace activity
Sound escaping from studios, venues, bars and entertainment spaces

Start by Identifying Where Noise Is Travelling

Before choosing any soundproofing product, it is important to identify where the noise is entering or escaping. Treating the wrong area can lead to disappointing results, especially if sound is travelling through another weak point.

Noise may pass through walls, floors, ceilings, doors, windows, vents, sockets, pipework, service penetrations and structural junctions. In many cases, more than one area may need attention.

Noisy Neighbour Soundproofing

Neighbour noise is one of the most common reasons people consider soundproofing. Voices, music, television sound, footsteps and general household activity can all travel between adjoining homes if the building has poor acoustic separation.

If sound is passing through a shared wall, wall soundproofing may help reduce airborne noise transfer through party walls, internal walls and separating walls.

External Noise from Roads and Railways

Traffic, trains and other external noise can enter a property through windows, doors, external walls, roof spaces, vents and gaps around openings. Where outdoor noise is the issue, the full room or site should be assessed before products are selected.

Acoustic fencing and barriers may help reduce some external noise where the site layout allows the barrier to interrupt the sound path. However, internal soundproofing may also be needed if noise is entering through the building fabric.

Wall Soundproofing

Walls are a common route for airborne noise, including voices, music, traffic noise, office conversations and sound from adjoining rooms.

Wall soundproofing products can help reduce sound transfer through suitable wall constructions in homes, offices, studios, schools and commercial buildings.

Floor Soundproofing

Floors can transfer both airborne and impact noise. Airborne noise includes voices, music and television sound, while impact noise includes footsteps, dropped objects and furniture movement.

Floor soundproofing products can help reduce sound movement between levels in houses, flats, apartments, offices, hotels and commercial properties.

Ceiling Soundproofing

If noise is coming from above, or if sound is travelling through an overhead structure, ceiling soundproofing may be needed. This can include footsteps, voices, music and general movement from upstairs rooms or neighbouring spaces.

A suitable ceiling soundproofing system can help reduce sound transfer through floor and ceiling structures, depending on the existing construction.

Soundproof Doors

Doors are often one of the weakest acoustic points in a room. Sound can pass through lightweight doors, gaps around frames, spaces beneath thresholds, keyholes and poorly sealed openings.

Soundproof doors, acoustic seals and suitable threshold details can help reduce sound leakage between rooms, corridors, communal areas, offices, studios and venues.

Acoustic Barriers and Enclosures

Where noise comes from an external source or specific item of equipment, acoustic barriers or enclosures may be suitable. These can be used for some road, rail, plant, machinery, garden, boundary and commercial noise problems.

The performance of a barrier or enclosure will depend on its height, density, position, continuity and whether sound can travel around or over it.

Soundproofing for Workplaces and Venues

Noise control is also important in offices, theatres, recording studios, cinemas, schools, factories, pubs, clubs and entertainment venues. Some spaces need to keep external noise out, while others need to reduce noise escaping and affecting nearby properties.

Acoustic Supplies provides soundproofing products for domestic, commercial, leisure, education and industrial environments.

Soundproofing vs Sound Absorption

Soundproofing and sound absorption solve different acoustic problems. Soundproofing helps reduce sound passing from one space to another. Sound absorption helps control echo, reverberation and reflected sound inside a room.

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

Check Gaps and Acoustic Weak Points

Small gaps can reduce acoustic performance. Noise can pass through sockets, pipework, cable routes, vents, skirting gaps, floor edges and spaces around windows or door frames.

These weak points should be assessed before products are installed, as they can allow sound to travel around otherwise suitable soundproofing systems.

Will Soundproofing Remove All Noise?

Soundproofing products can help reduce unwanted noise, but it is important to be realistic. The result will depend on the building construction, noise source, product choice, installation quality and whether all main weak points are treated.

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

Choosing the Right Soundproofing Products

The most suitable product will depend on the type of noise, the building construction and the route sound is taking. A wall product will not solve every floor noise issue, and an acoustic barrier will not usually solve noise travelling through a party wall.

Acoustic Supplies offers a wide range of soundproofing products for walls, floors, ceilings, doors, acoustic barriers, sealants and wider acoustic treatment.

Get Help Reducing Noise

If unwanted noise is affecting your home, workplace, studio, venue or commercial building, 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.

The Power Of Noise Can Be Reduced With Acoustic Supplies