Wall Sound Insulation
Wall Sound Insulation to Soundproof stud and party walls
Our guide will show you the best products and methods for increasing the sound insulation of your walls.
Wall sound insulation will minimise sound transfer between rooms, whether soundproofing against a noisy neighbour or soundproofing internal stud walls. Increasing a wall’s sound insulation prevents sounds from entering or leaving a room.
Insulating stud walls will improve privacy in your home, and soundproofing party walls will minimise neighbour noise. Sound insulation products, including acoustic insulation, sound isolation clips, and soundproof panels, are the best materials for soundproofing a wall.
Sound insulation for stud walls
When we think of sound insulation, the first thing that comes to mind is acoustic insulation slabs used in a stud frame. Using acoustic insulation inside the cavity of stud walls is one of the best methods of improving soundproofing. Prevent sound from resonating inside the cavity and acting as a drum with sound insulating DFM acoustic insulation slabs to block and absorb the sound.
Using acoustic insulation to reduce sound in a wall
Acoustic insulation is placed between the stud frames. If soundproofing an existing stud wall, remove the plasterboard from one side and expose the framework. The insulation slabs are easy to cut to size and will friction fit inside the framework.
Acoustic insulation slabs to add mass and block airborne sound
Using the best insulation to maximise the wall’s acoustic performance is important. We recommend using 60kg/m3 dense slabs, which provide optimum noise reduction and absorption.
Choosing the correct insulation thickness depends on the stud frame’s depth; we recommend filling 50-70% of the total depth for the best level of sound insulation. You do not need to fill the cavity, as this could cause a bridge for sound to transfer from one side of the wall to the other.
Maximising the sound insulation of your wall
Once your wall has been insulated with acoustic slab insulation, you should determine how to finish it to maximise soundproofing. The slimmest option is to apply soundproof plasterboard or soundproof panels, better for blocking airborne sound than standard plasterboard.
Increase a walls sound insulation with a soundproof kit
To enhance sound absorption, a soundproof system isolates the stud frame from the rest of the wall to achieve the best sound insulation. The AcoustiClip system decouples the wall, reducing vibration that transfers sounds. Whether you are soundproofing a stud wall or against a noisy neighbour, the AcoustiClips will provide the best level of sound insulation.
AcoustiClip wall sound insulation soundproofing kit
Key principles to effective wall sound insulation
Use these principles to ensure you get the best noise reduction from your soundproofing solution.
- Add mass to your wall: Adding mass blocks sound from passing between a structure. A wall with a higher mass will block more noise than one with a lower mass. Acoustic insulation slabs and soundproof panels will add mass to walls.
- Decouple the wall: Isolating the existing structure, stud frame, or solid party wall reduces the vibration that carries the noise. The AcoustiClip isolation system is best for decoupling a wall.
- Increase sound absorption: Increasing the mass and isolating the wall will improve its ability to absorb sounds. These main soundproofing principles are required to achieve maximum levels of soundproofing against airborne and vibration sounds.
Add mas to walls to increase the sound insulation
Adding mass to walls improves their ability to block and reduce airborne sound. Sounds that transmit through the air are the most common noise problem. Most enquiries relate to party wall noise problems with a noisy neighbour regarding hearing conversation and TV noise (airborne noise). Adding products like soundproof panels, which add mass, is a popular solution.
Soundproof panels combine layers to form an acoustic barrier that blocks and absorbs sounds. The different layers each stop varying sound frequencies, which means they are more effective for reducing noise than a single sheet of plasterboard. These panels are prelaminated to simplify installation, and as a direct-to-wall solution, they save valuable living space.
Isolation is excellent for soundproofing walls
Before sound isolation products were designed, you would need to build an independent stud wall in front of the existing wall to create separation. Now, you can utilise sound isolation technology and apply soundproofing directly onto the surface of a wall, which is excellent for saving space.
The AcoustiClip system isolates an existing wall, reducing vibrations into the new acoustic wall. The soundproof boarding applied to the system is decoupled from the rest of the structure, significantly improving the walls ability to stop sound transfer.
AcoustiClip sound isolation clip to decouple walls
What is the best sound insulation option for my wall
In conclusion, the best way to soundproof walls is to combine as many different materials as possible to create an effective wall soundproofing system. Acoustic insulation would require additional materials to form a sound barrier; soundproof boarding, acoustic membranes, and sound isolation will improve the wall’s sound insulation.
