Sometimes Small Things Can Go a Long Way

If you have already done everything necessary for insulating your home, including adding proper insulation to your walls, floors, loft and basement space, maybe it is time to move on and explore some additional options when it comes to insulating your home. Namely, modern times brought some troubling issues such as noise pollution, but have also offered some solutions for the problem. Although some types of thermal insulation can also serve as noise barriers and insulate your home from exterior or interior noise, this just might not be quite enough, but you will have to apply some additional tricks that will nicely complement the added insulation. In order of being able to enjoy the privacy, peace and calm within your home, we herewith present some of the most popular soundproofing techniques.

Soundproofing your Windows

Let’s start from the probably most vulnerable part of your home structure when it comes to acoustics. Namely, windows themselves are not good noise barriers why they should somehow be enhanced, since most of the exterior noise (traffic noise, construction noise etc) is entering your home through poorly insulated windows. The solution that would fully satisfy your needs will depend on the level of noise you are dealing with, why if the problem with noise is too serious, you should probably consult an acoustic engineer that could offer you the best option.  

Now, once you have determined the level of protection your home requires, here are some options for you to consider:

  1. Double glazing is among the most popular soundproofing techniques and it involves adding another window glass to the existing one, thus limiting the passage of sound. The gap between the two window panes will depend on the circumstances but please note that a standard gap of around 100mm will reduce the noise but could also decrease the thermal performance of your windows so make sure that you add this into the equation and undertake adequate measures. On the other hand, smaller gaps between the window glasses could be useful in reducing higher frequencies but with lower ones, you should probably consider different thickness of window glasses or some other alternatives herewith explained.
  2. If you are living near an airport or in a street that has high frequency traffic, then you should consider using laminated glass as your soundproofing option.
  3. Finally, if you are looking for a simpler solution, you could simply opt for a thicker window glass which can successfully fight off standard neighborhood and traffic noise, just as it can be combined with other techniques at hand, such as double glazing.

Another important factor to take into account is the type and style of your window which can also have an impact to your home’s acoustics. For example, sliding windows allow more air filtration and thus more sound (read noise) will be able to pass through which may not be the case with casement style windows which provide a tighter fit. Also, please note that all air gaps between the window frame and the glass need to be properly sealed if you want a satisfying soundproofing effect, so use standard sealants to close these gaps and minimize air filtration.

Soundproofing your Home Construction

Another way you can improve acoustic insulation of your home is by applying some useful tricks during construction, so if you are in the phase of building or renovating your home, now would be the perfect time to consider some of the following options.

One option to consider is the so called “room within a room” technique (RWAR) which includes adding another wall, ceiling and floor within your home, separating the inner framing from the outer side of the construction. This way, you are trapping the sound within the construction, enabling it from going in or out your home. However, although quite effective in fighting low frequency noise, this technique can be somewhat complicated and expensive why it should be applied only if you are dealing with serious noise problems.

Another useful soundproofing mechanism refers to double brick walls which can only enhance the positive effects of added acoustic insulation within the walls. Actually, we are talking about two layers of brick wall that are usually separated by a layer of added insulation material, where the mass of the walls is preventing the sound from traveling and out of the room and is often used in separating duplexes and adjoined apartments.

Adding Insulation to your Doors  

Another point within your home that should be properly soundproofed is your door. Namely, doors, especially external ones, if not properly built and insulated can let a lot of noise into your home, why it should also be taken care of. Firstly, the level of protection will depend on the type of your doors. You will notice that sliding doors do require a gap between the door frame and the wall why these will most certainly let more noise to get in through such gap. On the other hand, this may not be the case with hinged doors, which leave less space for sound movement.  

Another important aspect for soundproofing your door is the material they are made of. It is well known that wooden doors are better insulators than metal ones which reflect both sound and heat, just as solid core doors are better in blocking the passage of sound than hollow core ones. If you have glass doors, please note that all the above said on window acoustic insulation can also be applied here and the problem can be somewhat solved with double or triple glazing.

Now, if you are not interested in completely replacing your doors with some more acoustic efficient ones, then you can consider at least sealing all the gaps around the door frame, i.e. sealing gaps between the door and walls just as closing the gap underneath the door. This can be done by adding some type of foam or even fibre insulation glued at each side of the door which will prevent not only passage of sound but also seal air leaks which can influence the thermal performance of your home. The gap under the door can sealed with either weather strips or by adding the so called door snake under the door, thus preventing noise and cold air getting in.

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