What are Good Ways to Soundproof and Divide a Room?
Whether you’re at work or home, one thing’s for sure; noisy neighbours are annoying! Modern buildings are built to be functional and look great – but construction companies often focus on quick production rather than soundproofing.
Noise is a common issue in both offices and homes, so if you’re struggling with sounds travelling through your walls, you’re not alone. In this post, we’ll look at some good ways to soundproof and divide a room.
The Rules of Soundproofing
In theory, you can use any material to soundproof a room as long as you follow some basic rules. When you focus on mass and absorption, you’ll get the best results.
Mass refers to the heaviness of a material. The more mass it holds, the more likely it is to absorb sound waves.
Absorption is about how effective a material is at absorbing sounds. It has nothing to do with the thickness of a material. For example, leather is a high-end material, but it doesn’t absorb sound as well as fabric.
Fabric Soundproofing
Have you ever been in an empty house and noticed that the sounds of people next door carry? The more open a room is, the more likely it is to bounce sounds around. But if you have sofas, cushions and wall art, you’ll find the noise carries less.
Using fabric to add an extra layer of soundproofing to your walls is a cost-effective way to reduce the effects of noisy neighbours. However, there are better solutions that will provide higher levels of protection.
Acoustic Panels
Often seen in recording studios and conference rooms, acoustic panels stop noise from escaping – so they’re ideal for offices. While the panels don’t prevent noise from entering a property, they’re great to support the soundwaves in your room.
For example, if you install acoustic panels in your living room and have the TV on, you’ll find that the sound stays in the room, which means you won’t need to turn the volume up and will suffer less from the noise of your neighbours.
Hanging Panels
One of the newer kids on the block is the uniquely designed hanging ceiling panel. It’s important to mention that this is a permanent solution, and you won’t be able to remove the boards once they’re installed.
Hanging panels are ideal for the workplace and could be beneficial if you live in an apartment complex – but they’re expensive and not suitable for temporary use.
Curtains
Curtains provide a cost-effective solution to soundproofing your property, and many homeowners use them to block out drafts too. While curtains aren’t necessarily the most technologically advanced option, they’re highly accessible and easy to install.
Let’s take a look at everything you should consider when buying curtains to soundproof a property.
Choose the Right Material
When it comes to curtains, the material is everything. The thickness will define how effective your curtains are at retaining heat and blocking noise. Some materials work better than others, and there are budget options available.
Polyester
Polyester is the base material used in most curtains because it’s easy to source and cost-effective for manufacturers to layer. While the material is thin, polyester can be layered to create a thick consistency – which blocks sound.
Two popular forms of polyester curtains are velvet and blackouts solutions.
Velvet
Did you know that velvet isn’t actually a material? It’s a form of polyester, but the unique construction gives velvet its unique feel and consistency.
Blackout
The primary purpose of blackout curtains is to block the sunlight, so manufacturers make the material heavy – which means each curtain is an excellent solution for absorbing sound too.
Size
The most significant consideration you have to think about when purchasing soundproofing curtains is the size you’ll need. Once you install the curtains, they should create a sound barrier, but if there’s a small gap, they won’t be as effective.
It’s always better to go bigger than smaller, so don’t be afraid to upgrade the width and length of your curtains. Small gaps will significantly impact how sound travels, so try to make sure you cover each opening for the best results.
Cost
While many people believe that price tags reflect the quality of a material, that’s not always the case. You should check the thickness of the material and the price per metre before making a decision.
Temporary Walling System
Perhaps the most cost-effective way to soundproof your property is with a temporary walling system. This unique solution offers convenience and enables you to use the wall only when you need it.
While curtains need to be installed, you can hire a temporary wall, add it to your room and move it when you don’t need it.
At Conex Temporary Walling Systems, we offer a selection of room dividers and soundproofing solutions for home and office use.
With convenient payment solutions that suit a range of budgets, we’re confident that you’ll find a divider that suits your needs.
Glass Partition
Glass is one of those materials that has a multitude of uses. The density of the material means that you can block soundwaves and retain the aesthetics of your room. It’s also an excellent way to soundproof your room without making it smaller.
Another benefit of glass is it doesn’t have any holes so that no sound waves will leak through. A lot of workplaces use glass dividers to make their offices open space.
The Bottom Line
If you want to permanently soundproof a room, then it’s likely you’ll have to undertake some construction work, such as removing an existing wall and replacing it with soundproofing insulation. Temporary walling is a cost-effective solution for both homes and offices because it’s convenient to install, and you can transport it to different rooms when you need to.
Conex provides unique solutions for every soundproofing need you could imagine. It’s not easy to deal with noise that isn’t yours, but our friendly team can advise you on the best products for your needs.
Soundproofing your property can make your life happier and give you that much-needed peace – so feel free to look at our range of unique solutions today.
