The level of sound insulation of modern apartments, and especially in new buildings, leaves much to be desired. It is quite possible to correct this situation if desired and on your own. It won't cost too much and won't take long. In this article, we will consider the question of how to properly soundproof walls.
Varieties of soundproof materials
The modern market offers the attention of the consumer a wide variety. They can be classified into three main groups.
- Rigid. Sound absorption by these materials occurs due to the fact that one of their components is a porous filler (pumice, expanded clay, cork, perlite, etc.).
- Semi-rigid. Made from materials based on polyurethane. This group can be attributed, etc.
- Soft. Such sound insulation is made on the basis of mineral wool or fiberglass. Soundproofing the walls of an apartment using this type (along with semi-rigid) is most often performed.
How to choose the right material
There are only two types of noise - air and shock. In the first case, it can be music, loud voices heard behind the wall, etc. Impact noises occur, for example, when a drill or rotary hammer is in operation. Typically, soundproofing walls involves protection from airborne noise, and floors and ceilings - from shock. Soundproofing walls with your own hands can be done using:
- mineral wool. This is very inexpensive material with wonderful operational characteristics. Great for protecting against airborne noise. Its only drawback is considered to be a rather large thickness. Therefore, it is advisable to use it in large areas.
- Cork soundproofing material. It perfectly protects against both airborne and impact noise. It can be successfully used to insulate the walls of both large and small apartments.
- Soundproof panels ZIPS. Noise insulation of walls using this material is most effective. The main disadvantage of such panels is their rather significant weight, therefore, the complexity of installation.
Preparatory work
Before proceeding with the installation of soundproofing material, the walls must be carefully prepared. All cracks and possible holes must be found and repaired. You should also make soundproofing socket sockets. Of course, before starting this work, the electricity in the apartment must be turned off (in the panel). Sockets are dismantled and removed from sockets. Holes can be insulated with foam, foam or fiberglass. At the final stage, all the cracks are covered with plaster. It is also necessary to seal the exit points of all pipes in the apartment (water, heating, gas). Next, the walls are thoroughly cleaned of dust and dirt.
Soundproofing with mineral wool
Mineral wool is a material for soundproofing walls, which we talked about above. Its installation is as follows:
- the metal profile is pasted over with a special polystyrene tape that absorbs noise;
- guides are mounted;
- rack profiles are installed;
- pre-cut mineral wool slabs are mounted between them;
- an additional profile with a thickness of 2-3 cm is being installed (it is necessary so that a small ventilation gap remains between the sound insulator plates and drywall);
- drywall sheets are installed.
Soundproofing walls with cork panels
In this case, a special fast-setting adhesive is used. The wall is carefully smeared, after which the element is pressed tightly against it. Installation is carried out with an offset of half a plate. The cork sheets should be laid as tightly as possible. The presence of any gaps between the elements is not allowed. Cork panels are aesthetic in themselves. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform additional fine finishing in this case. The exception is the walls of bathrooms. In this room, the plates should be covered with a special varnish-sealant.
How to soundproof with ZIPS panels
Next, we will analyze in detail the question of walls using sandwich panels. Preliminarily, along the perimeter of the wall on the floor, adjacent walls and ceiling, special strips-gaskets are glued, the width of which is equal to the thickness of the sandwich panels. In this case, instead of glue, a special acoustic sealant is used.
Plates are mounted on the wall using special dowels. Installation should be done from left to right and bottom to top. The panels of the first row are cut along the short and long sides, and all subsequent panels are cut only along the long side. The element is attached to the wall and holes 6 cm deep are drilled through the anti-vibration nodes already existing in it. Next, dowels are inserted and hammered into them. All subsequent plates are also mounted (spread of joints - at least 25 cm). The tongue-and-groove joints of the panels are additionally fastened with self-tapping screws (step - 15 cm). At the final stage, the joints of the panels are processed with a grinding float. After that, all seams are filled with sealant.
Wallpapering
Noise insulation of the walls will be even more effective if vinyl foam wallpaper is used as the final finish. Pasting the walls must begin from the window. Using the level, first draw a vertical line on the wall. It will serve as a guide when pasting the first strip.
Cloths are smoothed over the surface of the wall with a soft roller with fur middle length. Air bubbles are removed with a special wallpaper brush. Adhesive that has fallen on the surface of the canvases is removed with a clean cloth. Since foamed wallpaper is not a very durable material, pasting must be done as carefully as possible.
As you can see, soundproofing walls with your own hands is not a very complicated process. With a little effort, you can make living in an apartment or house much more comfortable. The most important thing is to do everything without haste, to lay all the elements as tightly as possible in relation to each other and carefully seal all the joints.
We live in a world of constant noise pollution, and this significantly affects our emotional and physical state. If at work and on the street we perceive noise as inevitable, then at home we want silence and a relaxing holiday. However, in your own apartment sometimes there are extraneous noises from the street and from neighbors. Then we think about how to provide the desired level of acoustic comfort in our own home. We will try to find the best solution for this task for you with our own hands.
CLOSING FROM THE NOISE FROM BOTTOM
We must be prepared for the fact that we will not be able to completely get rid of the noise coming from the lower neighbors. The structures of multi-storey buildings are interconnected and inevitably transmit sounds along walls and ceilings. But these noises can be noticeably muffled - then life will become more comfortable. There are few ways to soundproof from noise from below. The bottom line is to lay porous sound-absorbing materials in the base of the floor, followed by laying the finish coat.
WE SOLVE THE PROBLEM COMPREHENSIVELY
The best soundproofing result can only be obtained with a comprehensive interior decoration, when we isolate the walls, floor and ceiling. You can soundproof the floor, but there will be noise penetrating from the walls and ceiling. This is a rather complex acoustic problem, especially in panel houses with thin partitions. In fact, you will have to create structures that are defined as "a room in a room", which will significantly reduce the area of \u200b\u200bthe apartment and the height of the ceilings. In addition, even the best soundproofing materials do not cope well with vibration (structural) noise from a working hammer drill and knocking on concrete. These sounds easily propagate through walls, ceilings, heating and water supply pipes. With the usual "air" noise from a loud conversation, music, a working TV, you can handle it yourself.
PAY ATTENTION TO WINDOWS AND DOORS
Entrance door sometimes it does not cope well with the noise from the corridors and the stairwell. It is possible to improve its properties with the help of soundproofing sheathing, and fill the gaps between the box and the concrete opening mounting foam. gaps between door leaf closed with tubular seals on self-adhesive tape. A more reliable option is the installation of a vestibule with additional inner door. The sound insulation of windows is noticeably improved after the installation of double-glazed windows with a large number of chambers and different glass thicknesses.
WE MAKE A FLOATING SCREED
If you have an apartment in a new building and you have not moved in yet, it's time to take care of reducing the noise from the neighbors below. This can be done with the help of a new screed, arranged according to the floating principle. It will be separated from the floor slabs and walls of the room with soundproofing materials. The sequence of your actions is as follows.
First of all, we will close the floor slabs with dense polyethylene so that moisture does not leak to your neighbors. On top of the film layer, we lay sheets of extruded polystyrene foam with a thickness of 30–40 mm. This will be the soundproofing layer of the floor, but we still need to separate the screed from contact with the walls. The so-called damper tape, or foamed polyethylene, which is sold in rolls in stores, is suitable. We take the thickness of 8-10 mm. Strips wider than the height of the planned screed are mounted on the walls around the entire perimeter of the room, near the floor.
However, the screed still needs to be strengthened so that it does not crack. Typically, a masonry mesh is used with cells of 50x50 mm or 100x100 mm, with a wire thickness of 3 mm. We lay it on top of the foam plastic with cards and connect it with a knitting wire. For strength, we install the mesh with a small gap above the expanded polystyrene plane so that the reinforcement is inside the "body" of the screed. Then we fill in the cement-sand mixture with a thickness of 30–50 mm. This is quite enough to get a solid concrete coating that has nothing to do with the design of the house. Then the screed dries, you prime it and you can lay any floor covering. Sounds from neighbors below will be reliably muffled by polystyrene foam and a massive concrete base.
A wonderful result will be that your neighbors below will also not hear the sound of your steps - a floating screed effectively dampens structural noise in the ceilings of a high-rise building.
Expert advice
As a soundproofing layer under the floor screed, you can use mats made of stone wool high density, which are used for insulation of facades.
WHAT TO DO IF THE FLOORS ARE WOODEN?
With wooden flooring in old houses, the situation is more complicated. Wooden coverings will have to be dismantled to assess the state of the lag. Perhaps they are in good condition, then they can be left and you will have less work. enough to process wooden frame antiseptic and lags further strengthen.
After that, the space between them is filled with expanded clay or mineral wool. Leave an air gap for ventilation. Now you can mount the subflooring. We install the tongue-and-groove boards as tightly as possible to each other and attach them to the logs with self-tapping screws. If the lag installation step allows, you can mount the flooring from 20 mm thick plywood or moisture-resistant OSB board - this will be faster and more reliable. The finish coating can be made with linoleum, carpet, parquet board or laminate, with the obligatory installation of the substrate.
Expert advice
Well extinguishes the sound of high frequencies (TV, stereo systems, barking dogs) cork flooring. Its honeycomb structure can reduce noise levels by up to 50 decibels. Cork sheets are tightly glued to a flat subfloor, without seams. As a rule, they are already covered with a layer of polyurethane varnish and form a durable monolithic coating.
WE MAKE SOUND INSULATION OF WALLS
First of all, carefully inspect the walls. Various cracks, holes and niches can serve as good sound conductors. close them gypsum plaster before starting soundproofing work.
We will cover the walls with mineral wool mats - it is cheaper than other materials and absorbs sound well. Mats are installed using a frame. There are several nuances in his device.
This frame must not be attached directly to walls through which noise penetrates. We fix the profiles on the floor and ceiling through rubber gaskets. You can make them yourself from porous rubber or buy ready-made tape insulation.
When using mineral wool in the frame, followed by plasterboard sheathing, you can reduce the sound load by 40-45 decibels, which already makes the conversations of neighbors inaudible. Efficiency is equal to brickwork at 20 cm.
HOW TO GET MORE EFFECT
For maximum effect, you need to tightly close all the cracks with cotton wool so that there are no voids left, and fill the cavities of the profiles with cotton wool or mounting foam to reduce the resonant sound transmission.
It is better to sheathe the frame from the outside with a double layer of drywall with offset joints in layers. Drywall should not touch the floor and walls - leave a gap of 5 mm, which then needs to be closed silicone sealant. You can use gypsum fiber sheets instead of drywall, which absorb sound better. Along the way, you will create additional thermal insulation of your rooms. Styrofoam in soundproofing walls is pointless to use. It absorbs little to no sound, and its high-density panels can even resonate in the frame, amplifying low frequencies.
To soundproof the ceiling, we recommend fixing mineral wool mats with glue and umbrella dowels (fungi). This is an install option. stretch ceiling, insofar as drywall construction complex, laborious in execution and reduces the height of the ceiling by 170–200 mm.
In the methods of soundproofing an apartment, there are other technologies. We told you about the basic ones that you can do yourself. As you can see, this is a very simple task, as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is to understand how you can turn off extraneous sounds so that they do not penetrate your home.
You can listen to this article!
The vast majority of apartments in prefabricated houses are characterized by rather poor sound insulation, which is associated with a small thickness of interfloor ceilings and loose panels. As a result, any sound source, be it furniture being dragged across the floor, a working TV, loud conversations and even footsteps, cause significant inconvenience. And if the neighbors started a renovation or a noisy feast, then you will have to forget about peace for a while.
It should be noted that the human need for silence is not only psychological, but also physiological in nature. A noise level of about 40 decibels will no longer provide an opportunity to fully relax, and noise above 85 decibels is dangerous to health and can lead to serious mental disorders. The only thing that can help in the fight against noise in conditions apartment building- This is a comprehensive soundproofing of the apartment.
The noise penetrating into the apartment can be acoustic or vibrational in nature. Acoustic noise is associated with the propagation of sound vibrations through the air and enters the apartment due to the presence of gaps between walls and ceilings, insufficiently tight window and door blocks, through the holes for sockets and ventilation ducts. This type of noise includes loud music or voices in a neighboring apartment, the sounds of passing cars, the noise that occurs during the operation of the elevator, etc.
Vibration noise is acoustic vibrations propagating in a solid medium. The source of this noise can be concrete walls, fittings for columns and crossbars of the building, as well as pipes for the plumbing and heating systems. Many of us know from our own experience how good it is to hear when upstairs neighbors rearrange furniture or throw heavy objects on the floor. And if someone in the entrance works with a puncher or a jackhammer, then a terrible roar is not only in neighboring apartments, but also throughout the riser of a multi-storey building. This is vibrational noise.
How to make soundproofing in the apartment with your own hands
Thick concrete walls and high-quality floor joints provide good noise protection, however, in the design and construction of typical panel houses, such an important factor as sound insulation, unfortunately, is not taken into account. Most residents of "high-rise buildings" at least once thought about how to soundproof an apartment. In order to provide comprehensive protection against noise, it is necessary to soundproof walls, floors and ceilings using sound-absorbing materials.
In addition, you should pay attention to such sources of sound penetration as:
- sockets and mounting boxes,
- heating and water supply risers,
- joints between walls, floors and ceilings,
- window blocks and entrance doors.
Let's take a closer look at how to implement do-it-yourself apartment soundproofing.
Soundproofing the walls in the apartment from the neighbors
In prefabricated houses, walls and partitions are usually thin, so they do not absorb sound well. In order to provide the necessary soundproofing walls in the apartment usually increase their thickness with drywall. The space between the wall and drywall is filled with a porous material: mineral wool or foam rubber, which will prevent the propagation of sound vibrations.
First, a frame of steel profiles is mounted. In order to exclude the transmission of vibrations from the walls and the floor, it is necessary to make gaskets from rubber or other elastic substance in the places where the profiles are fastened. After the frame is ready, a sound-absorbing material is glued to the wall, which should cover its entire surface, while the thicker its layer, the more effective the sound insulation. Then drywall sheets are screwed to the frame.
Soundproofing the ceiling in the apartment
Noise isolation of the ceiling in the apartment is of the most importance, because, as practice shows, the most inconvenience is associated with the noise that the neighbors from above produce. Ceiling insulation is carried out according to the same principle as wall insulation: first, a frame is assembled from profiles, while one should not forget about rubber gaskets at its attachment points, then the entire space inside it is filled with a sound-absorbing substance. To do this, you can use foam rubber, glass mat or special soundproof plates made of mineral or basalt wool. Such plates have an excellent absorbing effect with a relatively small thickness, therefore, after their installation, the height of the ceilings in your apartment will not decrease significantly.
Soundproofing the floor in the apartment
If there is no intermediate layer between the ceiling and the floor cladding, then the sounds from the lower apartment will freely penetrate to you. At the same time, the neighbors will hear everything that happens at your place, up to the sound of footsteps and moving chairs. The issue of soundproofing the floor is solved with the help of a special sound-absorbing material, which has a small thickness and consists of fiberglass, special paper, foamed polymer or other synthetic substance. During the repair, depending on the material of the sound-absorbing layer, it can be placed under the laminate, or directly under the screed.
Due to plasticity and elasticity, this type of sound insulation effectively dampens vibrations and absorbs impacts. When laying the soundproofing layer, a waterproofing film is placed on top of it, and the screed covering it should not touch the walls.
Noise isolation of sockets and mounting boxes
Sockets and junction boxes are also sources of noise. The fact is that reinforced concrete floor slabs are specially provided through holes for the installation of electrical equipment and accessories. In order to ensure sound insulation of the outlet, it must first be de-energized. Disassemble the socket and pull it out, then place a specially cut washer made of dense sound-absorbing material: thick cardboard or pressed mineral wool into the hole, then carefully cement it with a plaster mixture.
Mounting boxes are located under the ceiling, usually in the middle of the wall. In some cases, they are hidden under the wallpaper, and in order to find them, it is enough to tap the wall. The insulation of the boxes is carried out according to the same principle as the sockets - we take out the plastic plug, then install and cement the washer from the soundproof material. Before carrying out work, make sure that there is no voltage in the network.
Soundproofing of central heating risers
According to building codes, risers are laid through interfloor ceilings through special sleeves, which should prevent the spread of noise. The sleeve is a fragment of a pipe of a larger diameter, which is built into the ceiling. The gap between the sleeve and the riser pipe is filled with mineral wool or other sound-absorbing material. In practice, builders often cement risers without the use of a sleeve. Over time, the cement collapses, the gap between the pipe and the wall increases, and the sound from the upper apartment easily penetrates through the gaps formed. In order to ensure sound insulation of the riser, it is necessary to carefully remove the concrete around the pipe to a depth of no more than 10 cm.
Wrap the freed pipe with fiberglass or mineral wool, and then cement it again. Excess noise-absorbing material is cut off, and the place next to the pipe is puttied.
Noise isolation of joints
During the operation of panel buildings, cracks often appear along the joints between two walls, as well as between the wall and the floor, through which sound from neighboring apartments can penetrate. The causes of such cracks can be various deformation of the building, as well as poorly fitted panels to each other. To ensure sound insulation of the joints, it is necessary to expand the cracks as much as possible with a chisel or screwdriver, carefully clean them, prime and cover them with plaster. After the putty dries, the joint surface is covered with acrylic sealant.
In order to eliminate the gap between the wall and the floor without dismantling the parquet, simply fill it with silicone sealant and glue it with a special tape, then install the skirting board in place.
If you decide to increase the sound insulation in your apartment, then remember that a good result is possible only with an integrated approach. In this case, you should use only high-quality and proven materials.
For a comfortable pastime in your apartment of an apartment building, soundproofing of the walls in the apartment should be performed. I hope that those who read this article are familiar with the "charms" of living in high-rise buildings and this topic is close to them.
A noisy company, a neighbor pianist student with an orderly bored scales (or a trumpeter, or a violinist, or ...), “the seizure of power and the establishment of a new order” in the neighboring family territory, or a “night bed” conversation of a couple behind the nursery wall ... All this is enough good reasons to worry about soundproofing fencing.
High-quality soundproofing of the walls with your own hands (or with the involvement of qualified specialists) will allow you not only to press the “Mute” button on the “acoustic” wall bordering on the neighbor’s apartment, but also to deprive them of the “pleasure” to find out your apartment “news”.
How to soundproof a wall? Let's go over the basics...
Functional purpose of soundproofing
Soundproofing features:
- sound absorption;
- soundproofing.
What is the difference?
Soundproofing aims to ensure that sounds coming from a nearby “source” are reflected from a special coating (material) and do not reach your ears.
Sound absorption- reverse process. The sounds in your apartment will be absorbed by a special soundproofing environment, and the neighbors will remain "deaf" in terms of involuntary "wiretapping" of the apartment.
Types of household noise in apartments
According to the nature of the noise in the apartments and their source, they distinguish:
- air noises,
- acoustic noise,
- percussive noise,
- structural noise.
The cause of "airborne noise" can simply be someone talking or shouting loudly, music or a loud TV.
"Acoustic noise" is more familiar to you under the name "echo". Such noise, as a rule, occurs in empty rooms and is eliminated by the arrangement of furniture and other interior items of the apartment.
For the appearance of “impact noise”, it is enough to hammer a nail into the wall, beat with a fist (or head) into the wall, and it can also be an “elephant” (“sorry” for comparison) gait of neighbors from above. The pinnacle of excellence in the extraction of impact noise is the work of a perforator, although it can also be attributed to sources of temporary structural noise.
"Structural noise" "live" due to the presence in the houses of elevators, pumps, ventilation and other systems.
Some "subtleties" of soundproofing walls in an apartment
The best soundproofing of walls in an apartment can be done by your neighbors. But, we very much doubt that you will be able to agree with them on such a comprehensive reconstruction of the walls in their apartment.
The second option remains - to install a sound-absorbing layer from the side of your home.
Before soundproofing a wall, it is necessary to analyze the current state of the wall, its integrity. All existing holes, cracks, gaps (especially in panel houses) must be carefully plastered.
Attention! Pay attention to the socket boxes installed on the walls adjacent to the neighbor. Very often, to facilitate installation, builders make through holes for sockets, “forgetting” to at least block them inside the wall with soundproofing material.
After that, having studied the "market" of soundproofing and sound-absorbing materials, you need to choose the appropriate ones for your room, taking into account the need for "protection" from various kinds noise.
Remember! Each additional layer of sound insulation is a reduction in the usable area of your apartment. And further…
Fulfilling interior work it must be remembered that it is advisable to choose materials for soundproofing walls taking into account environmental safety, especially for children's rooms and bedrooms.
Since the soundproofing of the walls in the apartment involves a complex of works, their final stage (except when using solid soundproofing decorative panels) is a finishing decorative finish on the wall surface of a room.
Notice! This operation also affects the residual usable area of the room and the cost of soundproofing work.
Also, "channels" for the transmission of sounds from neighboring premises can be water and sewer communications, pipes central system heating. Due to the violation of the rules for installing such pipes during construction, it is necessary, if possible, to soundproof them yourself, or at least eliminate the cracks around them.
Ways to soundproof walls in an apartment
To soundproof walls in an apartment, several methods are used. Let's consider some of them.
Note! Heat insulating materials such as polyethylene, polystyrene foam, polystyrene, cork ARE NOT effective soundproofing materials.
Consider this fact before performing work, and not after finishing, counting the money spent only to reduce the useful area of \u200b\u200bthe apartment.
Plasterboard sound "curtain"
Wall or ceiling frame for drywall is made of wooden slats or profile.
A feature of the installation of such a frame is special anti-vibration pads or brackets (for suspended mounting), which prevent structural noise from “penetrating” into the room.
Attention! Attaching fasteners directly to the wall, followed by installation on a drywall profile, on the contrary, can only amplify the sounds coming from outside the apartment.
The optimal soundproofing material in this case may be mineral acoustic wool or material in the form of plates with a high sound absorption coefficient. The installation of sound insulation must be done very carefully, as the remaining flaws can nullify all the work done.
The outer layer of drywall is also a good additional soundproofing material. Drywall joints are glued with a mesh, puttied, followed by painting or wallpapering.
Soundproofing from prefabricated panels
Soundproof panels are not new, but today's "representatives" of such materials offer maximum ease of installation with their effective functionality.
Such panels already have “groove-thorn” end connections, which allow obtaining high-quality “monolithic” soundproofing and decorative trim(paper or fabric) surface.
Such plates, with their low weight, are easy to install and are optimal for soundproofing not just one wall, but the entire room.
Wall covering with sound-absorbing material
Such, at first glance, a simple method of organizing sound insulation by gluing soundproofing roll material on the walls has two main drawbacks - a lower degree of sound insulation compared to previous methods (up to 60%) and a significantly higher cost.
Such an option is best way soundproofing the walls in the apartment if you rent it.
What material and method of soundproofing to choose is up to you. The main thing is that you get the desired effect for the money that you are willing to spend!
If you are tired of the constant noise coming from neighboring apartments, the only way out of this situation is high-quality sound insulation. Modern materials easily and inexpensively solve this problem. We will talk about ways to independently soundproof an apartment further.
Benefits of soundproofing walls with your own hands
Installing soundproofing materials in an apartment is a fairly simple process. However, to obtain a high-quality result, its implementation must be approached responsibly. Correct calculations and selection of materials allow you to end up with a coating with maximum soundproofing characteristics.
Among the advantages of soundproofing walls in an apartment, we note:
- improving the comfort of living in an apartment - residents are completely limited from extraneous sounds: loud music of neighbors or their conversations;
- in some cases, soundproofing materials perform the function of leveling the walls in the apartment;
- the ability to make some noise - without inconvenience to neighbors;
- additional thermal insulation characteristics;
- external soundproofing provides a cozy environment by limiting street noise.
Despite this, soundproofing an apartment has certain disadvantages, namely:
- reduction of usable area, since often materials for soundproofing are installed inside the apartment;
- if necessary, call for help, because of the soundproofing you will not be able to do this.
Varieties of soundproof materials
There are three types of soundproof materials, in relation to the principle of operation:
- isolation of air sounds;
- shock sound isolation;
- structural noise isolation.
To organize soundproofing of the first type, materials are used in the form of:
1. Glass wool - has good elasticity, fire safety and lightness.
2. Mineral wool - in addition to excellent sound insulation characteristics, it has high thermal insulation performance. It is not prone to corrosion, the formation of fungus or mold, and has a high degree of sound absorption.
3. Multilayer panel materials - used in case of sandwich or finishing facing sheets.
In order to improve the sound insulation performance of floors, a ceiling with acoustic properties is used.
Impact sound insulation is based on the use of:
1. Pressed cork sheets - the material does not rot, tolerates temperature fluctuations well, and has a long service life.
2. Polyethylene foam materials - most often used for soundproofing floor coverings for installing laminate.
3. Cork rubber substrates - a composition for the formation of which rubber and cork are used, processed by a special method. The material perfectly reduces noise, removes vibrations, is used as a substrate for tiles, carpet, and requires mandatory waterproofing.
4. Substrate on a bitumen-cork base - made of kraft paper, additionally treated with bitumen. Due to this, the material has good moisture resistance and excellent performance.
5. Composite - a material on a multicomponent basis, contains a polyethylene film, between which expanded polystyrene granules are located, is resistant to deformation and has a long service life.
6. Extruded polystyrene foam - has high compressive strength, moisture resistance, ease of installation, service life is more than 50 years.
To get rid of structural noise, materials such as:
1. Fiberglass - characterized by increased elasticity, porous structure. It is used for soundproofing ceilings, frame partitions.
2. Sealants with vibroacoustic characteristics - perfectly soundproof joints, seams in the floating floor structure.
3. Materials of elastomeric type - are installed along the perimeter of doorways, perfectly kept on wood, metal.
Do-it-yourself thermal soundproofing installation technology
The material has a unique structure and excellent sound insulation characteristics. Thermosound insulation is distinguished by a three-layer structure, the inner layer is needle-punched fiberglass, the outer layers are spunbond.
Among the advantages of this material, we note:
- resistance to a decrease and increase in temperature;
- excellent vapor permeability properties;
- high soundproofing performance;
- reliable protection against increased vibration;
- environmental Safety;
- ease and simplicity of installation;
- rodent resistance.
There are two types of thermosound insulation, with additional layers of fiberglass or basalt fiber. These materials give the thermosound insulation additional fire resistance, strength and high sound-absorbing characteristics.
The material is easy to install, does not require special storage conditions. Cut the slab to match the size of the wall and fix it using adhesive tape or ordinary nails.
Do-it-yourself materials for soundproofing walls: glass wool and ecowool
Glass wool and ecowool are quite often used for soundproofing walls in apartments. The installation technology of these materials is the same and consists of the following:
1. The wall is preliminarily prepared for work: it is leveled with a layer of putty or plaster.
3. The insulation is covered with a thin layer of vapor barrier, which is installed directly on the surface of the crate.
If the wall of the apartment does not face the street, then the installation of a vapor barrier is not necessary. Although, in some cases, vapor barrier prevents the penetration of fine dust from glass wool into the room.
Wallpaper with soundproofing characteristics: advantages and disadvantages
To begin with, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the main types of soundproof wallpaper:
1. Tufted wallpaper - a two-layer material, which contains pile with a dense fabric. The material has a high density, the texture resembles a carpet. Wallpaper not only has a soundproofing effect, but also does an excellent job with the thermal insulation of the room.
2. Wallpaper based on artificial velor - in appearance they resemble velvet, but they are more dense. The basis of such wallpaper is paper, on top of which vinyl is pasted. The material has good adhesion to any surface, high soundproofing performance. Among the shortcomings, we note: low moisture resistance and reduced strength.
3. Cork wallpaper is one of the most effective soundproofing materials. Wallpaper is made from a special variety of oak. They are distinguished by good thermal insulation characteristics, vapor permeability, independently regulate air humidity. Thickened paper or interlining is used as the basis for wallpaper.
Among the advantages of using tufted wallpaper, we note:
- good soundproof performance;
- thermal insulation;
- attractive appearance;
- no need for additional care;
- moisture resistance;
- ease of washing;
- resistance to ultraviolet radiation and fading.
Among the shortcomings, we note:
- high electrostaticity - because of this, dust accumulates;
- not recommended for use in children's rooms and for people with allergies;
- mechanically unstable.
Wallpaper based on artificial velor has the following advantages:
- attractive appearance - give luxury to the room;
- average soundproofing characteristics, which are determined by the thickness of the material;
- affordable cost and ease of installation;
- cleaned with a vacuum cleaner.
The surface of such wallpapers is quickly contaminated, they do not resist moisture and are prone to mechanical damage. Such wallpapers are not suitable for a home with children or pets.
Cork wallpaper - perfect option to ensure high-quality sound insulation, they have the following advantages:
- harmless and environmentally friendly for health;
- recommended for use for people with allergies, and children;
- are resistant to moisture, mechanical damage and temperature fluctuations;
- universal in use - have an original texture;
- do not accumulate dust - easy to clean.
Among the shortcomings, we note:
- high cost compared to previous options;
- the need for preliminary leveling of the surface before installing the wallpaper;
- the duration and complexity of the installation work.
Features of soundproofing walls for painting
High-quality soundproofing of walls for painting involves the installation of soundproofing material, and then the installation of drywall. Among the main soundproofing materials, we note:
1. Mineral wool - has good sound insulation performance and good fire safety. First you need to build a frame, which is filled with mineral wool. This is followed by the process of installing drywall, finishing it and painting the walls.
2. Cork-based panels - they are distinguished by good moisture resistance, increased thermal insulation characteristics. The number of panels is preliminarily calculated, then the walls are aligned. Panels are fixed using special glue.
3. Ecowool is a good soundproofing material based on cellulose. The material is environmentally friendly, therefore it is recommended for use in children's rooms.
4. Isolon - a material based on polyethylene foam, which has excellent soundproofing characteristics. A stapler or small nails are used to fix the material. Drywall is installed on top of the isolon, which is then prepared for painting.
5. ZIPS panels - an innovative solution for soundproofing walls. It does not need the construction of a frame, it is characterized by minimal sound transmission. It is used for soundproofing both walls and ceilings.
Which of the above materials to choose depends on such factors as the material from which the walls are made, the presence of insulation and vapor barrier, the need for fire and environmental safety.
Installing soundproofing on the walls with your own hands
We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the installation instructions for the universal soundproofing material isolon. There are several forms of it:
- material that is fixed on the surface with glue;
- laminated foil coating;
- sheets of increased rigidity;
- color isolon;
- material with increased level fire safety.
The scope of use of isolon is quite wide, in the construction industry it is used for sound and heat insulation of balconies, loggias, walls and ceilings. The foil material is laid with foil inside to reflect heat into the room. All seams between the sheets are carefully glued with a special foil tape. It is very important to maintain maximum tightness during work.
First prepare the surface for work:
- clean and dry the wall;
- measure its area, prepare the material for work;
- install the isolon with the foil side inward;
- glue all seams with special tape;
- check tightness.
The material has good sound insulation characteristics, durable and environmentally friendly.
Do-it-yourself installation of soundproofing materials
by the most the best option installation of soundproofing in an apartment is the installation drywall box, inside which is one of the above soundproof materials. This method does not require additional costs on the alignment of the walls, but in the end you get the perfect coating for further finishing.
If there are gaps in the wall, cover them with a solution of plaster or gypsum putty. This is followed by the process of building a frame made of wood or metal. Heat and sound insulating material is placed under the profile. Please note that some of them require mandatory hydro and vapor barrier. This method is quite simple, but has certain disadvantages:
- reduction of usable area by at least 80 mm;
- dusty work and the cost of purchasing materials for lathing and drywall.
More simple option is the purchase of ready-made soundproof panels. However, they need a perfectly flat base. Do not require crates and are easily glued to the wall. This is ideal for completely flat walls.
Soundproofing walls video:
