Ask Angi: How Can I Soundproof My Home?

Sound-dampening reduces the amount of noise within a space.

A home theater is one example of a room you might want to soundproof. Dreamstime/TNS

By Angie Hicks From Ask Angi

If traffic noise or neighbors are keeping you up all night, it may be time to think about soundproofing your home. Here are some tips on getting some peace and quiet with basic soundproofing projects.

The first thing you need to know is the difference between sound-dampening methods and soundproofing. Soundproofing keeps noise from coming in or out of a room; it’s effective if you’re bothered by traffic noise outside, or if your teen is having band practice and you don’t want to bug the neighbors. Sound-dampening reduces the amount of noise within a space, such as laying down rugs or carpet so footsteps don’t make as much noise.

DIY Soundproofing

If the noise is coming from outside of your home, consider upgrading your windows and doors to help. Installing double-pane windows or a solid-core door can help reduce the amount of outside noise coming inside. Sometimes simple solutions can help, such as searching for gaps and filling them with caulk, or packing acoustic foam around the window frame. Small gaps can allow in a lot of noise. And by filling them, not only do you lower the noise level, but you increase energy efficiency.

You can take it a step further by hanging heavy curtains on your outside-facing windows. This is a quick but effective way to stop a little extra noise from entering your home. It also tends to help with energy efficiency, too.

Internal noise requires solutions between rooms. If you can hear everything that happens in the next room, soundproofing your walls and ceilings with acoustic tiles can make a difference. There are also ways to use decor to help dampen the sound, like lining your walls with bookshelves.

Soundproofing your floors is another good option, especially if you live in a multi-level home. You can add rugs or carpeting to reduce the noise from walking around in your home.

Soundproof paint is also available, though pros say it’s less effective and works only on higher frequencies. However, it can be effective when combined with other methods.

Get Pro Help

DIY soundproofing can be effective and solve some of the basic problems, but I always recommend calling in a pro for the best results. A pro can help identify the source of the problem and offer more thorough solutions, like adding soundproof drywall or extra insulation.

You can soundproof individual rooms if you like. Home offices, entertainment rooms and bedrooms are some of the most common choices. Soundproofing an individual room costs $10 to $30 per square foot on average.

Professionals can use a variety of techniques to prevent sound from getting in or out of a room. An additional layer of drywall can reduce noise, and some drywall manufacturers offer material with a soundproofing core. Extra insulation can block sounds as well (and indeed, this often helps with energy efficiency too). A pro might also attach acoustic panels or thin but dense rolls of mass loaded vinyl against existing walls to muffle sounds. They can also install a noiseproofing compound between two layers of drywall.

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