In large cities, soundproofing of residential premises is becoming more and more important every year. The incessant street noise and walls of new buildings, unable to properly drown out the noise level, the different rhythm of life of neighbors, repairs and “loud” hobbies can seriously spoil the mood and interfere with a good rest every day. Sound insulation of the walls of the premises is still a relatively new trend in apartment renovation and raises certain questions, for example: what sound insulation material to prefer, and what specific qualities they have and how well they cope with the task.
Soundproofing the walls is a rather time-consuming process, the implementation of which is best left to a professional. There are companies with extensive experience in this field that specialize in turnkey soundproofing. When conducting work on your own, it is important to understand: whether you want to protect your home from external noise or to protect neighbors from those sounds that come from your home. Try to carefully study your specific requirements for sound insulation, the features of your home and the characteristics of the materials you plan to use. The correct finish should contain both sound-reflecting and sound-absorbing layers and it is important to know how and in what sequence to mount them.
Noises come in three types:
- Air - voices, music, sound from the TV.
- Drums - footsteps, clatter, sounds of furniture moving or running large pets.
- Structural - vibration from a washing machine and other household appliances, from elevators or from the street (from heavy vehicles or trains passing near the house).
- Some materials may combine heat and sound insulating functions, but it is not worthwhile to hope that a heat-insulating material such as cork or foam boards will perform the function of sound-insulating. There are many modern methods of sound insulation, but we will consider the main five materials tested by time.
Soundproofing - possess not only soundproofing, but also heat and waterproofing qualities. Universal for different surfaces, fireproof and durable. Despite the good performance of noise insulation, it has certain disadvantages: this material is not suitable for weak load-bearing structures due to the considerable weight. The only possible installation method is glue and the need to use it in combination with other soundproof materials to increase efficiency is also considered a minus.
Rock Wool Acoustic Butts are not without reason considered the leader in the field. These materials are basalt fiber boards with high sound absorption capacity. In addition to good sound insulation, the advantages of these plates include: fire safety, resistance to moisture, fungi and parasites, good vapor permeability and low heat conductivity, which allows them to be used in both residential and industrial premises for various purposes. They are easy to install and are used as both sound and heat insulators. These materials are durable and comply with Russian and European standards and technical standards. The disadvantages of this material include the high cost, which further increases the need to purchase components and the risk of acquiring fakes.
SoundGuard - a prefabricated structure consisting of a frame profile, gypsum boards and a special plate - a fairly effective way of noise isolation. Like the previous manufacturer, SoundGuard has been on the market for many years and has established itself as a high-quality material for soundproofing residential premises. The main positive qualities of these plates are: good sound insulation, extremely low thermal conductivity and compliance with all safety requirements: low toxicity and combustibility. These plates are immune to static loads, easy to install and quite versatile in the field of application: they can be used for ceilings, floors and walls. A serious minus can be attributed to the lack of moisture resistance, which narrows the scope, a rather high price and the fact that in the case of using not a frame system, but only plates mounted on an adhesive base or dowels, the degree of sound insulation is sharply reduced.
Schumanet - wall and ceiling systems, consisting of a frame and mineral wool boards for subsequent cladding with plasterboard or plywood sheets. Strong and durable due to good moisture and biostability. They are characterized by minimal heat conductivity, complete fire safety and vapor permeability, which allows the use of these materials in various rooms. They are characterized by a high class of sound absorption and are certified according to the standards of the Russian Federation.