Soundproofing Existing Walls Between Rooms

Interior walls constructed with steel studs and no insulation between walls.

Soundproofing existing walls between rooms.

If you want to soundproof your existing interior walls insulation is one of your best friends. If your home is multi story it is highly recommended to soundproof between floors to prevent the travel of footsteps and other domestic noise. I have a therapy clinic with too much sound transfer between 3 treatment rooms. This is particularly beneficial if the room you re trying to soundproof is also where the tv is housed since it would benefit greatly from the improved sound provided by the acoustic foam tiles.

The sound proofing walls process involves ripping the existing drywall off the walls and perhaps the ceiling filling the walls with fiberglass insulation attaching metal strips called resilient channel to the studs and fastening new drywall to the channel. Had sound transfer previously between office and treatment room and adding wall between top of demising wall to subceiling resolved the issue. Blowing insulation into existing wall spaces can and will make the walls more sound proof and prevent noise from getting in and out of the room. For rooms that share a wall with a noisy area like a laundry room or rumpus room the use of resilient mounts and acoustic plasterboard are recommended on the shared wall.

One of the very best ways to soundproof a room is to install resilient channels which are z shaped metal strips that go between the wall studs and drywall the flexible springy channels create. To reduce sound reflection cover bare walls and even ceilings with something soft so sounds like voices barking or even the commotion created by a running vacuum cleaner won t reflect. Sandwich it between layers of drywall to greatly reduce sound transmission through walls. Noise reflects off of hard surfaces like walls floors and ceilings adding to the overall noise level inside a room.

Add a second layer of drywall over existing interior walls to increase the thickness and weight of the wall. It s made to hang on walls or install on floors to help deaden sounds. A 15 foot long roll of 1 8 inch thick mlv 60 sq. Heavier walls with greater mass are typically more soundproof than their thin counterparts.