Easy Ways to Absorb Sound in a Large Room

Nothing is annoying like the unwanted noise. In this guide, I will be showing you exactly how to keep sound in a room. There are different reasons why you may want to keep sound from leaving a room.

For instance, let's assume that you have a kid sleeping next door and at the same time want to practice drumming or playing piano in the adjacent room.

Generally, you need to cover the walls with sound-blocking blankets, thick moving pads, quilts, or tapestries to keep sound in a room. Virtually any thick material will work though dense and thicker materials absorb more sound than thin materials.

You'll have to find ways to contain the noise from the piano or drum within the room.

Another reason you may want to keep sound in your room would be in the case that you need maximum privacy and don't want anyone eavesdropping.

As a gamer or a Youtuber, you need to ensure that you don't disturb those outside the room you're in.

Stick on as I discuss how to keep sound in a room.

Ways on How to Keep Sound in a Room

I need to emphasize that to keep sound in a room, you will need sound blockers rather than sound absorbers.

Sound blockers will block sounds from leaking through doors, windows, or walls in your room. On the other hand, sound absorbers only absorb echoes and reverb, resulting in improved acoustics.

Sound absorbers in this case include:

· Sound blocking curtains

· Mass Loaded Vinyl

· Sound blocking blankets

· Drywall

· Green Glue

· Bass Traps

1. Use Sound Blocking Curtains

You may confuse sound blocking curtains with sound absorbing curtains for some obvious reasons.

Most (almost 98%) of the curtains on the market advertised as soundproofing curtains don't actually block sound; they only absorb echoes and reverberations.

One of my most recommended curtains is the AcousticCurtain™ Soundproofing Curtain sold by residential acoustics. This patented curtain deflects soundwaves directing them from your living room.

The curtains use dense but flexible materials that average between 10-15 pounds. The best part is that the curtains won't get in the way when you need natural lighting from the sun. You can conveniently retract the curtain by sliding it on a track and place it back when you need to block noise from leaving the room.

The curtains can block up to 21-25 decibels for sounds in the range of 30-100 decibels, making them one of the most effective sounds blocking curtains you can get on the market today.

Mass Loaded Vinyl

Mass-loaded vinyl is one of the most popular soundproofing materials used to block sounds.

MLV is a dense sheeting material impregnated with metal particles to increase mass and density. If you've been an avid follower of my blog, you already know that soundproofing is always backed by mass.

The more the mass, the better the material blocks unwanted noises. You only need to attach it to walls, ceiling, doors, or hang it on windows, and you'll be able to deal with a considerable amount of noise.

Mass-loaded vinyl works the best when sandwiched between two layers of drywall soundproofing materials.

Alternatively, you can simply hang it where desired, and you'll notice significant noise reduction. One of my most recommended MLV materials is the Soundsulate 1 lb Mass Loaded Vinyl MLV available on Amazon.

Sound Blocking Blankets

Sound blocking curtains, also known as soundproofing curtains, are perfect for soundproofing against noise entering or leaving the room. Because you want to keep sound in a room, soundproofing blankets will do a fantastic job of ensuring that no sounds leak to the outside world.

Soundproofing blankets are made of several layers of materials. The outer layer is made from woven fabric material, while the inner layer is made from a sheet of mass-loaded vinyl, which has been proven to block sound transmission.

Soundproof blankets shouldn't be confused with acoustic blankets. Sound blocking blankets block sounds thanks to the dense inner layer of mass-loaded vinyl. Acoustic blankets only absorb echoes and reverberations.

One of my most recommended soundproofing blankets is the ISOTEX dB heavy-duty soundproofing blanket with a Sound Transmission Class (STC) of 33.

You'll absolutely love these panels as they are UV resistant and waterproof, making them perfect for use indoors and outdoors.

For more details on sound blocking blankets and how they work, I recommend you check out my guide on soundproofing blankets.

Drywall Material

Adding a layer of drywall soundproofing materials is one of the best ways to ensure that you keep sound in a room.

However, you should understand that adding a layer of drywall does actually require professionals; it's time-consuming and requires expert knowledge.

Separating your existing wall with a layer of drywall helps create a cavity through which vibrations can't travel through sound waves.

Traditional drywalls consist of a layer of gypsum sandwiched between a layer of paper. Unfortunately, this tight dense layer facilitates sound transmission. For this reason, I would highly recommend Quietrock drywall panels that are designed for soundproofing purposes. Quietrock is available in different sizes and shapes, making it easier for different applications.

Green Glue Soundproofing

Green glue compound is highly effective in blocking impact noise- also known as structure-borne sound.

You can use green glue to fill in the cracks and gaps in walls or ceilings. However, green glue works the best when it's sandwiched between two layers of drywall. It works by converting sound waves into a negligible amount of heat.

Green glue noise proofing compound remains viscoelastic, and when installed between two rigid layers, it works to isolate sound from traveling from one room to the next. Unlike most soundproofing products, this product is best used to block low-frequency noise common with home theater systems and home entertainment systems.

If you can't get your hands on green glue, you can check out my other guide on the best green glue alternatives on the market today.

On How to Keep Sound in A Room

Keeping sound in a room is an extremely difficult task to achieve. Yes, you may be able to contain some noise, but the fact is that you won't entirely contain all the noise within the room. Above is my detailed guide on keeping sound in a room using sound blocking materials.

Even though these materials block sounds, they won't be 100% effective. However, you'll be able to contain the noise to manageable levels.

Meet Mike O'Connor, (a DIY enthusiast), living in Cincinnati, a city ranked as the noisiest in the USA.

As a work from home dad, I have a first hand experience of how noise can truly affect your well being.

Soundproofing isn't something that should be taken as a hobby, it should be a skill that every homeowner should be equipped with.

Most of the work documented on this blog comes from purely first hand experience, and the products recommended work as indicated.

rhodeswhippyraton.blogspot.com

Source: https://soundproofnation.com/how-to-keep-sound-in-a-room/

Share this post