Miami Herald (Sunday)

How can I soundproof a room?

- BY PAUL F.P. POGUE Angie’s List

There are several reasons you might want to soundproof a room in your home. Perhaps you like being able to run a big sound system, or you perform music that might annoy your neighbors (or family) if it got too loud. Maybe you just want to watch football at full volume. Whatever the case, you have multiple soundproof­ing strategies that can reduce vibrations, plug sound leaks and absorb noise.

Soundproof­ing can also work both ways. If you have a lot of ambient outside noise, a nearby airport

With space at a premium, many people are looking to maximize their home environmen­t as much as possible. They might want to accommodat­e a home office for adults, a home-school classroom for children, or just create a place to relax and unwind.

Certain shapes lend themselves better than others to saving space. Knowing how to make a or train track, or even loud family members who stomp on the stairs too hard, these methods can make your space more peaceful and quiet.

Some DIY solutions provide fairly basic and inexpensiv­e ways to slow down sound. You can also profession­ally soundproof to give the best sound quality inside your space and promote domestic tranquilit­y outside it.

DO IT YOURSELF

Several simple methods can scale back noise. Sound travels in a wave, though not quite like water. Different frequencie­s vibrate in different ways. When sound strikes floors, walls and ceilings, it then vibrates the air beyond them. And of course, it travels very well through unimpeded air. So, you have two goals: Seal up gaps, and find ways to absorb the sound as it strikes surfaces.

You can purchase acoustic sealant from a hardware store and apply it to any gaps between your lighting fixtures, door casings and switch boxes. Just as caulk prevents air loss, this sealant keeps sound from sneaking through easy gaps.

Rugs, carpets and drapes will dampen noise. If you have a hardwood floor, simply adding a new rug or carpet will reduce sound travel and tie the room together.

If you want to try a solution that takes a bit more effort, add an extra layer of drywall to the room. Drywall is a dense material that stops noise, so it’s an ideal soundproof­ing solution.

HIRE A PRO

Soundproof­ing a room costs an average of $1,700. Most jobs cost between $1,000 and $2,400. The size of the room, the quality of the materials, and the desired final look all affect the price. Ask a remodeling pro if they have specific experience with soundproof­ing before hiring them.

The best time to soundusing a single nightstand or desk can serve as a space-saving technique.

6. Mirrors can help proof is during constructi­on or remodeling. Certain types of insulation, drywall layers, and additional studs to support insulation can suppress sound effectivel­y. You can also install acoustic underlayme­nts or acoustic slabs below your floorboard­s. One big advantage of these methods: they don’t change the look of your room.

For the most effective make ceilings feel taller and higher.

7. Artwork hung vertically can give a perception of height in a room.

8. Handing drapery from a higher location soundproof­ing on the residentia­l level, you can install mass-loaded vinyl for the floor and acoustic panels for all other surfaces. These are the ribbed and sometimes eggshell-patterned foam panels that do a great job absorbing and deadening sound. They absorb echoes and internally bouncing sound as well, making them ideal for clarity while recording. above a window can help add a sense of volume to a space.

9. Using furniture of a smaller scale can help to preserve space.

10. Experiment­ing with a unique shape can potentiall­y help to preserve space in a room.

 ?? Design Recipes/TNS
Design Recipes/TNS ?? A single desk or nightstand can be used in a children’s room with two beds.
Space-saving shapes such as a round dining table and coffee tables help to make a living room feel more open and spacious.
Design Recipes/TNS Design Recipes/TNS A single desk or nightstand can be used in a children’s room with two beds. Space-saving shapes such as a round dining table and coffee tables help to make a living room feel more open and spacious.
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 ?? DREAMSTIME TNS ?? A noisy baby in the next room might be worth soudproofi­ng for.
DREAMSTIME TNS A noisy baby in the next room might be worth soudproofi­ng for.
 ?? MOLLY VAN WAGNER ?? Noisy neighbor? Not a problem with soundproof­ing.
MOLLY VAN WAGNER Noisy neighbor? Not a problem with soundproof­ing.
 ?? JOHN FITZHUGH SUN HERALD ?? Airplanes provide lots of noise.
JOHN FITZHUGH SUN HERALD Airplanes provide lots of noise.

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