How to soundproof an apartment

Soundproofing an apartment or how to achieve acoustic comfort

If you know in detail about the personal life of your neighbors and are worried about the mystery of your life, you need to know how to silence the apartment on your own or which specialists to turn to to solve the problem of high audibility.

So far, there is no thin soundproofing material in the construction industry. If it were invented, then the problem of noise would be solved at the stage of planning and construction of buildings. While this is not possible, residents of panel, block and brick houses get rid of sounds with special materials that reflect and absorb sounds. Interlayers with a thickness of at least 40-50 mm are considered effective.

If you are interested in how much soundproofing an apartment costs in Kiev, it is recommended to contact an experienced company. This approach will allow for last word isolation.

Noise, its sources and methods of protection from third-party sounds

Soundproofing walls is a common requirement for modern high-rise apartments. Residents of apartment buildings are faced with the problem of high audibility through walls, floors, ceilings and window openings. In order to provide a comfortable atmosphere, many equip rooms not only according to the trends in interior design , but also strive for acoustic comfort by installing soundproofing systems.

In order to skillfully choose a way to eliminate the problem, you should understand what is the sound insulation of walls, materials for reducing audibility and the rules for their installation.

Acoustic engineers distinguish between two types of sounds that bring discomfort to residents of high-rise buildings:

• airy – the sound coming through the air, it is the barking of a neighbor’s dog, music or a crying of a child;
• structural – sound propagating along the structure of the building under mechanical stress; this is stamping, rearrangement of furniture, repairs , accompanied by drilling or hammer blows.

The first step is to eliminate the flaws of the builders. Check how sounds penetrate. Inspection of outlet openings, electrical junction boxes, water and heating system passages, joints between walls and ceiling / floor, door windows is required. Since sound penetrates through thin ceilings and openings, soundproofing of apartments can begin by sealing the indicated areas.

Features of soundproof materials

Thicker walls and bulky partitions to reduce sounds? Modern isomaterials hinder, reduce sounds, while the overlap does not thicken much. With roll insulation, 3-4 centimeters will be added to the wall.

Noise insulation of a wall, materials for which have reasonable prices, can be carried out according to the frame and frameless principle. For self-repair, it is better to choose the latter option. It is simpler and more unpretentious.

Experts offer various ways to protect yourself from noise using the following noise insulation materials.

1. A plasterboard ceiling with a layer of mineral wool or foam – protects the inhabitants well from sounds, but leads to a decrease in the volume of the room when installing several layers of insulation.
2. Rolled sound insulation – provides for the laying of soft material, which is distinguished not only by noise absorption, but also by protection from moisture and cold. Such products have a porous, perforated or membrane structure. Easy to fit without special skills and tools. Reduces audibility by up to 60%. Soundproofing walls or ceilings consists of simply pasting the material with glue. The most budgetary and common option is isolon.

Photo @nsdgroup.com.ua_: Ceiling soundproofing

• If you are looking for soundproofing an apartment that is priced at an average income, you should consider the range of materials in rolls.
  3. ZIPS – frameless soundproofing panel systems, consisting of 50-120mm sandwich panels, protected under drywall or other material.

  With the desire and ability, you can make soundproofing yourself. If you are interested in professional sound insulation of walls, the prices for which include the cost of materials, delivery, installation, then it is better to contact the specialists. Companies have a well-established algorithm of work, suppliers and experience to get rid of noise quickly, inexpensively and aesthetically.

  Modern methods of soundproofing apartments

  If the front door and windows do not allow sounds to pass through, you should choose ways to get rid of outside noise. Here you need to decide what exactly will be isolated. If it is in your best interest to eliminate sounds from the neighbor’s apartment, soundproofing the walls is needed. Ceiling soundproofing is needed if you are disturbed from above. Soundproofing measures include:

  • installation of a floating floor;
  • cladding of interroom and interroom partitions with sound insulators;
  • soundproof suspended ceilings.

  It is recommended to carry out comprehensive soundproofing of the apartment. De-noiseing the walls, floor and ceiling together is the best solution. Listen to music, bring guests or go in for sports any time you want without worrying about being heard!

  Soundproofing. Soundproofing materials for walls

  Noise insulation of apartments starts from the walls. See a specialist. It is he who will give recommendations on the installation of frame / frameless systems, make a calculation of materials, talk about the advantages of insulators from each manufacturer, and offer alternative materials to expensive materials.

  Ceiling soundproofing

  To reduce audibility through a thin ceiling, use:

  • rigid wireframes;
  • floating systems;
  • stretch ceilings using sound-absorbing fabric.

  Soundproofing the floor

  Modern technologies for isolating noise penetrating through the floor boil down to the following solutions:

  • floating screed – the floor structure is not attached to the walls, the self-leveling surface “floats” on the sound-insulating material;
  • installation of sound-absorbing material under the floor on the logs;
  • ZIPS.

Photo @nsdgroup.com.ua_: Floating floor

When choosing insulation solutions and a contractor , it is important to read customer reviews to be sure of the right investment. If the cost of the most effective insulation systems is very expensive for you, you can buy the materials and try to reduce the noise yourself. If quality is above all for you, contact the professionals .