When looking into soundproofing a room with sounds insulating panels, it is vital to note that there is a lot of false information out there. Soundproofing walls doesn’t need to be a complicated process. With proper research, and maybe consulting a company that sells soundproofing wall panels, you’ll have a soundproofed room in no time.

Does This Really Work? Why You Should Always Check the Science, If Not Good Common Sense.

There are many stories floating around the internet about common items that can be used for sounds insulating panels, and many of them are false. For example, have you heard that mattresses can work as soundproofing materials? According to soundproofing.org, what is not mentioned is that while a mattress might reduce some of the sound, the process to get there is intensive. Even once the room is soundproofed, there is the problem of having huge pieces of fabric and stuffing on the walls; it’s going to mold eventually, unless rodents get to it first.

Clearly, that is a very undesirable outcome. When people begin to think about undertaking a complicated project on their own that is usually done by professionals, all too often it doesn’t end well. Cutting corners should never be so severe that the success of the final project is in jeopardy.

The Truth About Soundproofing, Or Why Every Inch of Wall Space Must Be Covered.

Carpet, paint, egg crates, panels of rubber, and cellulose are all ineffective as sounds insulating panels. What’s more, the 1% Rule concerning soundproof wall panels states that 50% of the sound will travel through as little as 1% of unobstructed surface. You read that correctly. It doesn’t matter if the entire room is covered, even with a soundproof ceiling. If there is even a little gap between the sounds insulating panels, at least half of the total volume of noise will still make its way through. This is a job that requires a certain level of methodicalness to be done properly.

The Only Way to Soundproof: The Four Tactics.

The tactics that really work to soundproof a room are as follows: filling air gaps, adding mass, decoupling, and damping. Decoupling works to minimize the travel of sound vibrations through the wall. It works well, but some sound still comes through the other side. Damping is a process that fills the space between the studs to “dampen” the sound. Adding mass works as the above example with the mattresses, but with better materials.

If you have a room that needs to be soundproofed, be careful about doing everything yourself. There are too many false stories that give frankly bad advice. Materials specially built to decrease noise transfer are your best bet, not common household items. When in doubt, contact a professional for their advice. It will save you time, money, and frustration in the long run, and might even help the job be finished faster.