How to make a homemade acoustic insulation

Noise is a common annoyance anywhere. In fact, noise pollution exists and more in urbanized areas. Whether it is because of the neighbor, the noise in the street, the sound of the machinery or because you do not want what is happening in your room to be heard, you must be wondering how to make a homemade acoustic insulation.

Sound insulation refers to prevent a sound from leaving or entering a place, reducing the noise in a determined and isolated area with different materials.

Before we start, we make it clear that there are homemade acoustic insulators and acoustic conditioners, which are not the same. Conditioning a place from the acoustic point of view is to do it so that the sound sounds good in the room.

Different acoustic insulators on the market

Acoustic insulators are materials with those who noise entering a room is reduced coming from abroad.

Sound is transmitted by vibrations moving through the air. Sound waves travel and collide with a barrier of some kind, preventing sound from entering a space. It can be done with sound absorption or noise reduction.

Noise reduction can be achieved by putting space between rooms, so the sound has more room to dissipate.

The case of noise absorption is a damping. The energy of the sound wave is converted into heat in the insulation, suppressing echoes and reverberation. By reverberation we mean the reflections of sound in a room.

Pyramid-shaped foam rubber acoustic insulation

This type of insulator is what we get in the recording and theater studios. These are foam plates with different densities and thicknesses.

You must locate the one you need depending on the space that you must soundproof. What it does is absorb noise and prevent reverb.

Read also: Noise affects our health: 5 consequences

Foam chipboard

It is a foam agglomerate that can be used to reduce noise from any direction. They are acoustic foam plates that can be placed on ceilings and walls.

They also have a thermal insulating function. They come in different thicknesses and densities.

Aluminum insulators

Aluminum is a material with high conductivity, so in addition to being an acoustic insulator, it is thermal. It is made up of several layers of aluminum and polyethylene, although it can also include polyester.

Rock wool

The rock wool panel has an insulating core and two rigid outer layers. The material is composed of volcanic rock. It provides thermal, acoustic, flame retardant insulation properties and prevents the development of microorganisms.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is composed of silica sand, sodium carbonate, and limestone. These materials heat up to 1500 degrees Celsius. It is there when the filaments that intertwine to form it emerge.

As an acoustic insulator it helps to reduce airborne noise, reverberation, sound that comes from outside and that produced inside the home.

Soundproof paint

It is a type of paint that can be used on any surface that normal paint can be used on. Works only with noise levels up to 52 decibels, although the seller should be asked how much the one to be acquired covers.

How to make a homemade acoustic insulation

If you don't have enough money to do a mineral wool installation job, you can also apply some tricks to stop the noise with a homemade acoustic insulation.

All following the principle that, the thicker the material, the more it insulates. What is actually done is putting acoustic barriers or structures that function as devices that mitigate sounds.

Carpets, curtains and tapestries

This is an easy method to isolate the house from noise. You can install a very thick carpet that will serve as an obstacle so that the sound does not penetrate and bounce off the floors.

Curtains and wall hangings of consistent fabrics like velvet, heavy linen, and corduroy will help. It is a cheap way if you live in a building and the neighbor below makes a lot of noise.

Discover: How to choose the perfect rug for your home?

Book shelves

Another inexpensive way to reduce noise is to put shelving with bottoms on the walls. If they contain books they will muffle the sound. You can also place cabinets or furniture on the walls. Other barriers can be mirrors and pictures.

Window conditioning

Windows are conductors of sound par excellence. In fact, by their own vibration they generate noise. It is usually a common problem in homes that are in urban areas.

It is recommended to change to windows with glass of greater acoustic efficiency or put double sheet. Elastic supports can be attached to the frame to avoid vibration.

To soundproof a window at home there are several options. The first is to use a heavy curtain to act as a barrier.

Attention should also be paid to cracks and joints, sealing with polyurethane foam or silicone if the gap is small. This step should be done first with the outside of the window and then with the inside. If there are joints in the glass they must be sealed with rubber gaskets.

False ceiling

The false ceiling consists of the installation of a ceiling 10 centimeters from the original to create an air chamber that absorbs noise. Installation is usually not that expensive; it's all a matter of looking for budgets.

A homemade sound insulator can bring peace of mind

Remember that what will isolate you from noise will be the thickness of the materials, so using egg cartons for soundproofing is a myth, as it is a very fine substance that will not do the job.

To apply any remodeling to your home you must rely on your trusted construction builder or resort to little tricks that will save you some bills. In some cases, it's just a matter of testing and seeing if it's really the right thing to do. It is worth the effort to sleep, work or study in peace.