Best Way to Sound Insulate a Wall

The best way to sound insulate a wall to minimise noise transfer

This guide will show you the best way to sound insulate a wall to minimise noise transfer between rooms. Whether you want to soundproof a party wall against a noisy neighbour or wish to increase privacy in your own home by soundproofing internal stud walls, our guide will show you the best way to soundproof walls to restore quiet to your home.

Which is the best sound insulation option for a wall?

With so many soundproofing solutions available, knowing which one to choose can be tricky. Do you go for the slim soundproof panels? Will they offer enough noise reduction? Should I go for a whole wall soundproofing kit? What if I don’t have enough space in the room?

We are often asked which soundproofing option is the best, and the honest answer is that it’s the solution that meets the customer’s needs.

There are lots of factors to consider when choosing the right option, but the main points to consider are:

• How much noise do you need to stop?
• Is it airborne noise, or is it impact and vibrations?
• How much space can you lose within the room?

Two best wall soundproofing options

Minimise space loss with slim soundproof panels

When asked for wall soundproofing advice, we like to make two recommendations. Sound insulation for walls can be approached in two ways. The first option is soundproofing, which requires minimal space loss; this would be soundproof panels applied directly to the wall. These are a great choice if you want to stop airborne noise and have limited space. Most soundproof panels will sound insulate stud and party walls against low-level conversation and TV noise. Soundproof panels usually go up to 30mm thick, making them suitable for the smallest rooms.

Best levels of sound insulation with acoustic wall systems

The second option for insulating a wall for sound is using an acoustic wall system. Acoustic wall systems achieve better noise reduction levels compared to soundproof panels. The combinations of products in the acoustic wall systems block higher levels of airborne noise and reduce vibration through the wall, which increases the overall sound insulation performance. With this type of soundproofing, you will need to allow for more space loss; we have a range of soundproof systems between 45mm and 120mm thick.

Best slim sound insulating panel for a wall

The best way to soundproof a wall without losing space is by using soundproof panels applied directly to the wall. The panels will insulate party walls against neighbour noise and stud walls to improve privacy.

A soundproofing panel combines acoustic plasterboard, which is denser than standard plasterboard. Acoustic membranes are then layered onto the back of the board to add more mass and sound absorption. These layers are usually mass-loaded vinyl and acoustic grade closed cell foam. The result is you get a pre-laminated board, which is easy to apply to the wall, and due to the different layers, it will block and absorb unwanted airborne noises.

Soundproof panels

• Block and reduce airborne sound
• Soundproof party walls against noise from neighbours
• Sound insulate internal stud walls to improve privacy
• Minimise the loss of space in the room
• DIY soundproofing solution
• Finish the boards as a standard plasterboard

Best way to sound insulate a wall is a soundproofing system

Soundproofing kits are the second option to consider when deciding on your wall soundproofing solution. These kits are combinations of products that provide a greater level of noise reduction than soundproof panels.

A soundproof panel will block airborne noise at lower levels, but use a soundproofing system when you need the best way to sound insulate a wall. If you have enough space in your room, we recommend using this type of sound insulation solution for party walls and stud walls, as a soundproof system ensures high levels of sound reduction.

What are the best wall sound insulation systems?

Using product combinations is the best way to soundproof a room and a soundproof system will ensure you get the maximum level of sound insulation against airborne and vibration sounds.

An effective wall sound insulating system will include the following products

• Acoustic insulation adds mass and sound absorption to the wall, which stops airborne noise.
• A sound isolation clip system to decouple the wall and reduce vibrations by minimising points of contact with the wall.
• Soundproof paperboard with higher mass than standard plasterboard
• Specialist soundproof boards combining acoustic plasterboard and soundproof membranes like mass-loaded vinyl to dampen sound and add even more mass.

Best soundproofing system for a stud wall

The best method of soundproofing stud walls is to use product combinations to stop vibration noise and airborne sounds.

Product combinations to soundproof stud walls

• Insulate between the stud frame with acoustic insulation to add mass and block airborne sound. An empty wall cavity will act as a drum and resonate sounds, by insulating the cavity, you will stop this effect.
• Isolating the stud from the wall will reduce contact points between the plasterboard and the stud frame. Using a sound isolation clip system reduces vibrations from the frame into the rest of the wall. The vibrations transmit sound, so by reducing the vibrations, you reduce the noise.
• Stud walls require mass to help block sound, and acoustic plasterboard has more mass, which stops more sound than standard boards.
• Soundproof panels are used in most soundproofing systems due to the sound damping qualities and added mass. Combining mass-loaded vinyl with acoustic plasterboard improves the mass and walls ability to absorb sound.

Best materials for sound insulating walls

We have shown you two types of wall soundproofing solutions: the direct to wall panels and soundproof systems. There are a variety of soundproofing materials and methods for sound-insulating walls, and as we know, you can’t assume what works in one room will work in the same way in another.

We have put together some of the best wall sound insulating products.

We hope that you now have some ideas and inspiration for soundproofing your walls. If you need any help, please feel free to get in touch with one of our team members, who will be happy to help.

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