Soundproofing a Room or Condo

Audio systems and home entertainment electronics are becoming more sophisticated, and are producing sounds that are true to an in-theater experience. This puts greater importance on suppressing sound transfer through walls and lightweight doors, especially in condos. Fortunately, there are several product options you can use to deaden sound.

Design/Build:

Homeowners with the opportunity to build new walls can employ sophisticated sound-absorbing panels and baffles that actually integrate within wall frames. These can be very effective, and should be addressed from the outset of construction with an experienced designer, installer and/or contractor.

Retrofit:

Most of us are more likely to seek “add-on” ways to prevent sound from traveling through walls, and/or to enhance the acoustics within a room, such as an entertainment center. Most building centers now carry drywall with a special sound-muffling core. If new drywall is not an option, there are also many types of lightweight foam panels that can be attached to existing walls and doors – some permanently, and some that are removable. Other treatments include blow-in insulation installed between interior walls and inside hollow doors, and/or hanging heavy drapery.

Tip: Cover bare floors with carpet and underpad, and consider sound-absorbing ceiling panels.