In a private house      03/07/2020

Materials for soundproofing walls. High-quality sound insulation of walls in apartments and private houses. Modern materials guarantee efficiency

Scientists have established the fact that exposure to constant noise negatively affects the human psyche, does not allow him to fully relax and unwind, and worsens general state body. Therefore, the issue of soundproofing walls in an apartment and private house with modern materials is becoming increasingly relevant. There are a huge number of soundproofing materials on the market. The most popular and effective ones will be discussed below.

How to choose a material for high-quality soundproofing of walls in a private house

This question cannot be answered unequivocally. All types of sound insulation offered by modern manufacturers are divided into categories and types, which have their own characteristic features.

Before purchasing sound insulating material Initially, you should decide on the function it performs. The material can be:

  1. Sound-absorbing.
  2. Soundproof.

The first type absorbs noise, ensuring its attenuation inside the structure. Sound-absorbing materials have a fibrous or granular base. Significant advantages are low price, low weight, and therefore ease of installation.

Soundproofing structures reflect noise and prevent it from entering the room. Optimally solves the problem of sound penetration from the street. All of them are quite massive and heavy, so they are inconvenient during the mounting process.

You should also take into account the features of the room. IN small rooms noise spreads faster, and the issue of sound insulation is especially acute. At the same time, oversized structures eat up useful space and reduce the already small footage.

Noises can be structural or airborne. Structural include the sounds of moving furniture and falling objects, the stomping of children, etc. Airborne noise travels through the air. These are people's voices, music playing and equipment working.

Airborne noise is eliminated using a thick and dense surface. Materials that absorb vibration help reduce the sounds of footsteps, impacts during repairs, and falls. To get rid of structural interference, sealing individual areas with durable materials is suitable. The ideal solution will combine all types of sound insulation. This is an expensive and energy-intensive process that reduces available space but provides the highest quality results.

Important! Some modern materials combine all types of sound insulation.

Types of modern materials for sound insulation

Mineral wool is very popular for sound insulation

  • still remains one of the most popular options for soundproofing in an apartment. It is inexpensive and, according to professionals, can retain up to 98% of various noises. Designed for finishing most types of surfaces, but may lose properties due to high humidity.
  • Cork are soundproofing boards that can be easily mounted on a prepared surface. Due to its natural origin, it is more expensive than mineral wool, but for protection against impact noise it is the best option. Not subject to rotting, prevents the proliferation of bacteria and microorganisms. At correct installation and operation will not lose its properties for about half a century.
  • Among the new products it is worth highlighting sandwich panels ZIPS (thermosound-insulated) with layers of mineral wool and plasterboard lining. They are one of the best materials on the modern market with ideal sound reflection and noise absorption parameters at the same time. They are very easy to attach, but are expensive and require installation in several layers.
  • Soundproof breathable boards ISOPLAAT. Made from natural, environmentally friendly fibers coniferous trees. They isolate the room from both shock and airborne noise. They are mounted with glue and consist of a 2700 x 1200 mm slab with a thickness of 10 mm, a weight of 4 kg and a sound insulation index of 23 dB.

  • Wall panels "Kraft" made of environmentally friendly fiberboard, with front side lined with waxed paper, and with the back – corrugated cardboard. Each 12 mm thick sheet weighs about 5.5 kg. Rw is 23 dB. Suitable for finishing.
  • EcoZvukoIzol panel made from quartz sand and seven-layer cardboard profiles. The acoustic mat has a thickness of 13 mm. Weighs from 10 to 18 kg, but has a sound insulation index of 38 dB.
  • Mineral plate Schumanet made of basalt fibers and is considered a premium sound insulator. One side is covered with a fiberglass layer, which helps maintain the integrity of the mat and holds the basalt fibers in one position. This characteristic is especially useful if lining with acoustic panels is planned. Due to its low moisture absorption, it is suitable for use in wet areas.
  • Texound appeared on the market relatively recently. Its main advantage is that, due to its small thickness, it practically does not consume any useful space. The basis of the material is the calcareous rock aragonite, and harmless polymer compounds are used as binders, providing flexibility and elasticity. Even thin-thick canvases are very effective and are capable of dispersing high-intensity sounds, not only penetrating from the outside, but also occurring inside the room. The sound insulation index is 28 dB.
  • Acoustic foam. Foam mats are one of the most effective sound insulators in the budget price category. It is successfully used in concert halls, studios and large spaces. They perfectly absorb and dissipate sound vibrations and are able to drown out low-frequency sounds (for example, the bass of music). The material is quite durable and has a wide size range. The main condition for its installation is fastening directly to the base of the wall, without additional pads. If you soundproof not only the walls, but also the floor and ceiling with foam rubber, the room will become almost soundproof.

Sound insulation price


When purchasing sound insulators, you need to pay attention to such characteristics as:

  • Density.
  • Moisture resistance.
  • Resistant to fungus and mold.
  • Fire safety.
  • Resistance to tensile and pulling.

The better these indicators, the more optimal properties the material will have. Naturally, its price will be higher. Pricing is also influenced by naturalness - environmentally friendly material is safer and more expensive.

If we consider each type of sound insulation separately, then sandwich panels will be the most expensive. Their average cost is in the range of 1000-1300 rubles per square meter.

  • Plates based on mineral and glass wool cost between 200-300 rubles. per meter
  • Drywall sheets – 100-300 rubles.
  • The price of sound-absorbing materials in rolls varies from 170 to 300 rubles.

How to save on sound insulation


Prices for soundproofing walls in a country house with modern materials may vary, but in any case you should not skimp on indicators such as fire resistance, moisture resistance, etc. Then the soundproofing system will last a long time and provide additional safety to your home.

First you need to determine the type of noise you want to eliminate. For example, if your neighbors dog barks behind the wall, then the noise disturbing you is of airborne origin. In this case, there is no need to purchase expensive materials designed to combat several types of noise. Choose a sound insulator that eliminates only airborne noise. If constant renovation work– insulate the wall from structural noise.

Do not buy sound insulators intended for industrial and public spaces. They have high specifications, but for an ordinary apartment materials with lower performance are suitable. For residential buildings, systems with a sound insulation index of 15 dB or more are suitable. An index of 22 dB is suitable for rooms with special requirements.

How to choose the best soundproofer


According to experts, the best sound insulators on the modern construction market are materials based on mineral wool or fiberglass. They allow air to pass through, do not burn, are easy to cut and, at the same time, are affordable for most consumers. But there is still no universal material. Manufacturers offer dozens of options. To achieve the best effect, it is better to combine several of them. Most often used in homes:

  • To overcome airborne noise– ceramic bricks, wood structures, plasterboard, foam concrete, fiberglass, special multilayer panels, mineral wool.
  • To overcome impact noise– cork materials, polystyrene foam, bitumen-cork substrates, polyethylene, etc.
  • To overcome structural noise– vibroacoustic sealant, fiberglass, silica-based substrates and other highly elastic materials.

The consumer tries to give preference to the most durable and elastic sound insulators that have a budget price. When installed correctly, all sound insulators will create a pleasant and calm atmosphere in your home.

And if you still have doubts, watch the video from comparative characteristics different soundproofing materials:

The comfort and even the health of the residents depends on what kind of sound insulation is made in the apartment. Conventional fencing in residential buildings do not provide complete protection of homes from noise coming from the street and from neighboring apartments.

The only solution to the problem is reliable protection against. The photo below shows how a frame with heat and sound insulation is installed under drywall.

Before making noise insulation, you should first understand the types of sound interference and how to protect against them.

The types of noise are as follows:

  • impact - formed from mechanical impact on a building structure: the clicking of heels, objects falling to the floor, children jumping, etc.;
  • structural – periodic mechanical impacts on the building structure and the spread of vibration throughout the building: operation of power tools, rearrangement of furniture, etc.;
  • air - transmission of sound waves through the air from the street, from neighboring apartments from working audio, television equipment, spoken language, etc.

Before you fight the spread of sound and its entry into the apartment, you need to know how it is transmitted.

Sound waves travel in two ways:

  • direct – sound transmission through windows or adjacent surfaces;
  • indirect - passing through the supporting structures of the building, communications, holes and cracks.

The following factors influence the propagation of sound:

  • doors and windows lack seals;
  • building materials have poor sound insulation properties;
  • voids, gaps and cracks in structures have the property of resonance;
  • poor quality Decoration Materials.

What to deal with: noise or sounds

Many people consider sound insulation and noise reduction to be synonymous, but this is not true. There are differences between them. Soundproofing walls and floors involves changing the spectrum of unwanted sounds to such a level that meaningful components that can be heard by ear become inaudible.

Even at the same intensity, an indistinct sound causes less irritation, and with prolonged exposure does not cause harm to a person.

Noise insulation consists of the general suppression of extraneous sounds. The background noise remains, but is not perceived psychophysiologically. Even sharp sounds do not cross the threshold of comfort. You can hear them, but they are not annoying.

Complete silence is not necessary for a person and is even harmful. There should always be some background noise.

Noise levels

Soundproofing properties are incorporated into load-bearing enclosing structures during design and construction. First of all, they are provided by their massiveness. Protection from airborne noise by walls and ceilings is set in the range of 45-55 dB.

Now this is not enough: for acoustic comfort it should not exceed the level of 62 dB, and for interior partitions– 52 dB. Most building envelopes require additional installation soundproofing.

Sound insulation index and sound absorption coefficient

Protective equipment can reflect or absorb sound. Sound-reflecting materials are selected according to the sound insulation index Rw - a numerical characteristic in decibels showing their ability to reflect sound.

In sound insulation, mass and density play a major role. The larger these parameters are, the higher the protective properties. The most common are concrete, brick, MDF, plasterboard.

Sound insulation indices of materials

MaterialThickness, cmStructure weight, kg/m²Airborne noise insulation index, dB
Ceramic brick12 (half a brick)267 40
Sand-lime brick12 (half a brick)330 45
Aerated concrete blocks10 74 40
Gypsum concrete slabs10 92 40-45
GKL (one layer) with wooden frame8,5 30-40 35
GKL (one layer) with a metal profile frame10 21,5 40
Glass blocks10 65-75 45
Sliding made of wood, glass, aluminum- 6-20 -

Rw depends on the thickness of the partition and its density. It is advisable to attach lightweight soundproofing material to the walls, since doubling their thickness improves protection by only 10-15 dB, which indicates low efficiency. Here you can solve the problem if you buy in hardware store material with Rw = 15-20 dB and cover the wall with it. After this, the conversation behind the wall becomes inaudible.

Another indicator is used in the calculations - the sound absorption coefficient. Porous, soft and cellular structures have the ability to reduce the intensity of sound due to its absorption. In their environment, sound overcomes many barriers and weakens.

To evaluate sound absorption, a scale ranging between 0 and 1 is used. The closer the parameter approaches the upper limit, the better sound insulation of walls or floors protective material. Zero means total reflection of sound. The table below shows the sound absorption coefficient values ​​of some materials. It follows from this that its value is also affected by the frequency of sound.

Sound absorption coefficient of materials

Material, objectFrequency response, Hz
125 250 500 1000 2000 4000
Gypsum plaster0,02 0,026 0,04 0,062 0,058 0,028
Lime plaster0,024 0,046 0,06 0,085 0,043 0,056
Fiberboard (Fibreboard), 12 mm0,22 0,30 0,34 0,32 0,41 0,42
Gypsum panel 10 mm with a distance from the wall of 100 mm0,41 0,28 0,15 0,06 0,05 0,02
Parquet floor0,04 0,04 0,07 0,06 0,06 0,07
Plank floor on joists0,20 0,15 0,12 0,10 0,08 0,07
Glazed window frames0,35 0,25 0,18 0,12 0,07 0,04
Lacquered doors0,03 0,02 0,05 0,04 0,04 0,04
Wool carpet 9 mm thick on concrete0,02 0,08 0,21 0,26 0,27 0,37

The sound-absorbing properties of materials become noticeable starting from a thickness of about 50 mm. They are distinguished according to three categories of rigidity:

  • Soft - with a fibrous chaotic structure. These include felt, cotton wool, basalt wool. The advantage of mats or panels made from them is a high sound absorption coefficient (0.7-0.95) with a low specific gravity (no more than 80 kg/m³). A significant effect is achieved starting with a thickness of at least 10 cm.
  • Semi-female - slabs with fibers and cells. The materials contain mineral wool or foamed polymers. They have a slightly lower sound absorption coefficient (0.5-0.8), and specific gravity reaches 130 kg/m³.
  • Solid - products containing cotton wool in the form of granules or suspensions with fillers such as vermiculite or pumice. The sound absorption coefficient is about 0.5, and the specific gravity is up to 400 kg/m³.

Installing sound insulation from mats and panels requires a large amount of space in the room. The occupied volume can be reduced if panels are glued to the outside decorative finishing directly on the wall.


Soundproofing against airborne noise

They are part of structures where Rw is in the range of 0-20 dB. A person perceives this as a 2-fold reduction in noise.

Increasing the mass of the wall is ineffective and leads to an increase in the load on the base of the building. The thickness of sound insulation can be reduced by using multilayer panels, which use both the sound-reflecting and sound-absorbing properties of different layers.

It is important that air gaps are created between them. Especially the sound wave weakens when passing from one material to another through an air gap. Experts offer sound-absorbing materials as part of multilayer structures.

Homogeneous products give less effect than multilayer slabs. Hard and soft products need to be alternated, where the former are responsible for sound insulation, and the latter for sound absorption. Cotton mattresses are made no thinner than 5 cm and occupy more than half of the structure in thickness.

Sound insulation of walls is carried out using frame and frameless structures. Sandwich panels are placed between load-bearing walls and plasterboard cladding. At the same time, the fastening points contain vibration-isolating gaskets so that there are no sound bridges.

Sound insulation against impact and structure noise

To prevent sound waves from being transmitted through building structures, comprehensive sound insulation is used. Floor protection is especially important, for example with a screed up to 60 mm thick. An effective design is a floating floor, consisting of an elastic layer of sound insulation on floor slabs and a prefabricated or monolithic screed laid on it.


Nowadays buildings are often put into operation without finishing, where the floor consists only of the ceiling. If the upstairs neighbors do not protect their floors from impact noise, this will create further problems for everyone living on the lower floors.

Materials for sound insulation of load-bearing walls

A popular material is fiberglass with random small fibers. Elastic glass threads absorb sound waves well. The thin material is suitable for gluing joints of building structures and can be used for walls.

  • Expanded polystyrenegood material, which provides moisture resistance, heat, and sound insulation. The disadvantage is the flammability of the material.
  • Mineral wool- Not flammable material and the best sound insulation in terms of price-quality ratio. It is often used for laying under drywall, but it loses its properties when moisture gets into it. Therefore, it is used mainly in dry rooms and with reliable waterproofing.
  • Cork– high-quality and environmentally friendly material is used more often for flooring. The advantage is the thin coating thickness, but the material is not very effective compared to others. Application is limited due to high price.

Modern soundproofing materials

The increasing noise level leads to the need to create reliable protection against it. For this purpose, noise-absorbing materials are used in the form of thick mattresses or sound-reflecting materials. Wall panels. Better sound insulation is achieved by combining these methods.

Before you soundproof your walls, you must first determine the source of the noise. If city noise does not interfere, but sounds come from neighbors, external walls it is not necessary to isolate.

You need to know which insulating materials to choose for walls, their advantages and disadvantages.

Plasterboard structures filled with porous materials protect rooms well from noise and cold. The disadvantages are loss of space, complexity and labor-intensive installation, and accumulation of dust and moisture inside.

Wood-based decorative panels are easy to assemble thanks to the tongue-and-groove connection. On outer surface has already decorative coating, which eliminates the need for finishing. This soundproofing eco-friendly wall material allows you to quickly decorate a large room, although it is far from the cheapest.


Polyurethane sheets have good soundproofing properties. Moreover, their thickness is 15 mm. The material is convenient to install due to its low weight, elasticity and ease of processing. The disadvantages are the high price and flammability.

Expanded polystyrene or polystyrene foam is a foamed thermoplastic with microscopic air cavities. It is a reliable heat insulator, but it provides poor noise protection.

Soundproofing membranes are only 35 mm thick and can be used in combination with other materials. The material is highly flexible and quite dense. Its cost is also high.

Sandwich panels are sound-absorbing material placed between gypsum sheets. The material is more used to protect public premises, shopping areas, pavilions due to the large thickness of the panels. Fastened with dowels or self-tapping screws.

Soundproofing walls in an apartment

Do it yourself at the repair stage. It is advisable to carry out such interior decoration if the premises are of sufficient size, since up to 8 cm will be removed from each wall.

For work, you should purchase profiles, sheets of drywall, sound-absorbing material and fasteners. The effectiveness of sound insulation can be significantly increased if you use:

  • modern soundproofing and sound-absorbing materials;
  • soundproofing gaskets under the frame;
  • special profile;
  • cladding of greater thickness (can be double).

First, a strong frame is constructed along the width of the mat, for example, from mineral wool. A soft tape is placed under the guide profiles to protect against vibrations. It is better to make two layers of insulation. Soundproofing tape is also applied to the posts.

Then the electrical wiring is laid. Here it is important to follow electrical and fire safety rules, especially if flammable material is used for sound absorption. The ends of the wires are brought out.

Sound-absorbing material is laid tightly. These can be panels, mattresses made of mineral wool, fiberglass, etc. There should be no gaps in the joints or cavities inside the frame. It is also not recommended to apply a lot of cotton wool, otherwise bumps will form on the walls. Mattresses should be secured with wide-headed dowels.

An effective addition to mineral wool is a soundproofing membrane. It is mounted on top of the slab or on a layer of insulation.


The wall is covered with plasterboard. You can purchase acoustic gypsum boards with holes that reduce noise levels and a non-woven fabric glued on the inside. Double-layer cladding significantly increases the protective properties. Just the seams should not match. This will require more frame posts. Repairs will cost more, but they are worth it.

If the dew point is indoors, moisture will accumulate under the sound insulation. It is advisable to use external thermal insulation load-bearing walls. Then the wall inside will be dry and mold will not form.

When using external insulation with soundproofing properties, interior finishing may not be necessary. If you use noise-insulating material as part of the plaster, the effect of sound protection will be enhanced.

Manufacturers of soundproofing panels

PhoneStar panels from the German company Wolf Bavaria produce material of European quality. The presence of subsidiaries in Russia allows us to buy material at affordable prices. The panels are suitable for reducing airborne and impact noise with a thickness of only 12 mm, which gives them undeniable advantages over thick sound-absorbing mats that occupy a significant usable area of ​​​​the room.


The domestic company EcoZvukoIzol produces similar boards using German technologies. The small thickness of the panels (13 mm) and the availability of a range of sizes make it possible to use them in apartments, industrial and public buildings.

"Acoustic Group", a German company, has developed an innovative product with unique acoustic properties - panel system ZIPS. The basis is wood fiber with a magnesite binder, which has a high sound-absorbing ability. The company has also developed vibration-proofing materials that can be used in combination with sound-absorbing boards. The products feature numerous design options.

"EcoHor" - acoustic slabs with stylish design and good characteristics.

Video: floor soundproofing

Soundproofing walls is most effective when there is comprehensive protection, including reflection and absorption of sound waves, as well as thermal insulation. First of all, you should determine the source of the noise, and then select effective protective measures against it. Soundproofing walls can be done with your own hands if everything is done correctly.

High-quality sound insulation of a home requires additional measures: installing double-glazed windows, finishing the apartment with cladding with high sound-reflecting properties, etc.

Today we will talk about what measures need to be taken to ensure acoustic comfort in a private home, define the basic principles of sound protection, and debunk common myths about the sound insulation system.

Ask any owner of a private home if he knows what soundproofing is, and you will hear a confident positive answer. But most of them will note that their home is not comfortable enough from an acoustic point of view. The thing is that the culture of professional private construction is just emerging in our country. It is with us that work can begin without a detailed design; very often the customer himself manages the work, thus being left alone with the construction team. The developer plunges headlong into a sea of ​​technical problems and tasks, while sound insulation issues are usually relegated to the background or resolved on the basis of “experience” and “practice” rather than accurate calculations. Traditional ideas about effective sound insulation of a home, unfortunately, are filled with myths and misconceptions. As a result, the problem is identified already during the operation of the building, but fixing something at this stage is extremely difficult and expensive.

Optimal acoustic characteristics of a building are one of the most important components of the feeling of comfort and coziness from being inside a living space. In turn, constant sound pressure in a house can cause psychological and physiological discomfort, stress, deterioration of hearing and general well-being among its inhabitants. However, excessive silence (noise level below 10 dB) is the cause of restlessness and anxiety - a person needs sounds and noises, the main thing is to achieve a compromise value of their level. Noise levels in residential premises are considered comfortable within the range of 10-25 dB. Construction and sanitary standards for residential purposes the level of 45 dB is not allowed to be exceeded.

What is noise

What should we isolate ourselves from? Noise is our main enemy. In order to effectively fight it, it is necessary to study its main types, causes of occurrence, and nature of movement. Noises are chaotic combinations of sounds that do not carry any information for a person and negatively affect his nervous system. Sound, in turn, is a physical phenomenon that is caused by wave vibrations of the medium. Sounds are characterized by amplitude and frequency.

Noise sources can be located both indoors and outdoors. Unwanted sounds arise from the operation of household appliances, the movement and activity of people, the functioning of internal engineering systems and communications. Serious discomfort is caused by constant external noise coming from railway, highway, airport, as they have the highest level.

In building acoustics, there are several types of noise: airborne, impact, structural.

Air noise is caused by wave vibrations in the air (music, a crying child, a running car engine...) The efficiency with which structures reduce noise levels is assessed by the sound insulation index Rw and measured in decibels.

Shock noise occurs due to mechanical impacts on building structures, most often on floors (steps, moving furniture...) The level of sound insulation from impact noise Lw reflects the corresponding characteristics of walls and floors, it is also measured in decibels.

Structural noise is special sound vibrations that move through building structures. That is, this definition is based on classification according to the type of propagation, and not according to the principle of excitation. Both impact and airborne noise can become structural. For example, the sounds of a piano travel through the air to uninsulated partitions and ceilings, transform into structural noise and building structures spread throughout the house.

Depending on what type of noise appears indoors, a specific set of measures is used to isolate it. We must use artificial barriers to reduce the noise level to comfortable levels.

Methods and principles of noise control

So, our first task is to isolate the premises from external airborne noise. Everything here is quite simple; the characteristics of enclosing structures - windows, doors, external walls - come to the fore. The better their sound-reflecting properties, the less unwanted sounds will get inside the house. By choosing certain insulating materials and technologies, we can manipulate such properties.

Another task is somewhat more complicated - to localize and disperse sound waves in a room, preventing their transformation into structural noise. In this case, the sound-absorbing characteristics of internal structures are very important, which largely depend on the competent choice and correct use of certain building materials.

Designs made of massive, but at the same time porous materials are excellent for protection against airborne noise. Then the dense front surfaces reflect part of the sound energy towards its source, and the pores absorb and scatter part of the sounds. It is quite difficult and irrational to use elements that are too massive indoors, so multilayer structures that operate on a similar principle come to the rescue: cladding (brick, plasterboard, gypsum fiber board, lining...) reflects noise, and the layer is in the form of a fibrous material (mineral wool ) or soundproofing membrane - dissipates and absorbs.

Impact noise in a private home can be neutralized by using elastic porous materials in the floor structures as substrates and gaskets that dampen possible vibrations. It can be foam rubber, cork, dense polystyrene foam, polyurethane, porous PVC. Fiber materials laid in the voids of non-monolithic floors have proven themselves to be excellent in the fight against impact noise.

To prevent the spread of structural noise, structures that are especially susceptible to increased sound pressure are mounted to other elements of the building not rigidly, but through various gaskets. An example is the various designs of floating floors, frame partitions made of plasterboard, adjacent to load-bearing floors and load-bearing walls through damper tapes made of foamed polyethylene (dichtung), false ceilings on suspensions with gaskets that dampen vibrations.

Objective number three is to reduce the generation of noise inside the house. To do this, it is necessary to isolate sources of unwanted sounds - household appliances, communications. Firstly, noisy equipment (units forced ventilation, pumping stations, washing machines...) should be installed or mounted through elastic gaskets. Secondly, it is recommended to place it at the maximum distance from the protected rooms - bedroom, study, children's room. If possible, special, well-insulated utility rooms, such as a laundry room, boiler room, and so on, are set up for noisy engineering equipment. Sometimes some of its elements are even taken outside the building - for example, onto the balcony.

An effective method of increasing acoustic comfort in a home is competent design of the interior space. The rooms should be divided into those that especially need isolation from extraneous noise (bedroom, office, children's room...) and those that are a source of unwanted sounds (game room, living room with home theater, workshop, billiard room, utility rooms...). They are grouped and placed at a distance from each other. Moreover, sometimes it makes sense to have residential protected rooms with windows facing the courtyard, and other rooms - on the side of the facade.

Solving sound insulation issues is more effective and cheaper to solve at the design and construction stage. In any case, sound insulation of a private house must be considered as a complex system, where all elements are interconnected and have special significance. All acoustic factors acting on the building must be taken into account. One way or another, all structures, elements and components of the house should be insulated: external walls, partitions, ceilings, floors, ceilings, communication channels, windows, doors - more on this later.

Soundproofing of load-bearing walls

External walls made of massive materials themselves have good soundproofing characteristics, and the more “powerful” the structure, the better. Some materials do the job better than others. Walls reflect external noise well monolithic concrete, which do not have seams and possible cracks. Shell rock and foam concrete, due to their porous structure, not only reflect, but also dampen and absorb sound waves. Sand-lime and porous bricks (not to be confused with hollow bricks) work well.

To improve resistance to external noise, external walls are made multi-layered. Various combinations of several layers of brick separated by soundproofing mineral wool or with an air gap are possible.

Sound insulation improves with proper construction of hinged ventilated facades with a heat insulator, when extraneous noise under the cladding is excluded.

External walls lined with plasterboard on the inside have good acoustic properties. This must be frame technology using a layer of mineral wool. It should be noted that the brackets and guide profiles must be secured through elastic gaskets; the sheets should be screwed with a gap from the floor and ceiling, which will subsequently be sealed with a non-hardening sealant, for example, acrylic. In particularly serious cases, a completely independent frame made of a partition profile, the so-called screen, can be used, spaced at some distance from the main wall; naturally, it is also filled with cotton wool.

Facing outer wall sheets of drywall with the help of mounting adhesive practically do not improve sound insulation, and sometimes cause the exact opposite effect - the appearance of an oscillatory system, sound resonance. This also applies to double-layer walls insulated with polystyrene foam. wet technology. By the way, contrary to popular belief, polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam, being good insulation materials, do not help in any way to protect against airborne noise from the outside.

As you can see, the use of massive structures in combination with acoustic mineral wool is the most effective method improve the sound insulation coefficient of enclosing structures. However, it should be noted that slabs or mats made of fibrous materials must be securely fixed with soundproof fasteners and placed in cavities with minimal gaps. By increasing the layer of wool, we improve the acoustic characteristics of the entire structure.

Soundproofing of partitions

Interior partitions mainly prevent the spread of airborne noise. But measures should also be taken to prevent unwanted sounds from transforming into structure-borne noise.

Partitions made of mineral materials (brick, concrete, gypsum block...), as a rule, have fairly tolerable acoustic characteristics and do not require additional sound insulation. IN special cases they are sheathed with plasterboard on the side of the protected room, thus obtaining a multilayer structure with a layer of mineral wool. Massive partitions cope better with low-frequency noise than light frame partitions (home theater subwoofer, engineering equipment), therefore, in some cases they look preferable, even if their overall sound insulation index Rw is lower.

Frame partitions assembled on metal profiles or wooden beams, must be insulated with sound-absorbing fibrous materials. If there is a need to provide a more serious barrier to the propagation of sounds, then the thickness of the acoustic wool should be increased. For this, wider profiles are used, for example, the most popular sizes of galvanized CW and UW posts are 50, 75, 100 mm. Note that the wool must be laid across the entire internal width of the frame, so the parameters of the profiles largely determine the acoustic characteristics of the finished wall.

We must not forget that cotton wool, designed to absorb sounds, must work with an effective reflective layer. The more massive the cladding, the more reliable the sound insulation. Heavy sheet materials, GVL, OSB, GKL, chipboard for these purposes will be preferable to piece ones, such as lining. The sound is localized even better if several layers of sheathing are used with overlapping joints.

Sometimes they resort to constructing partitions with several independent frames, but they are not very effective due to the fact that the sound insulation index in complex multilayer structures increases nonlinearly. Thus, a partition with one frame 75 mm wide has only 25% lower sound insulation index than with a paired frame according to the 75+75 scheme.

To combat structural noise, guide profiles of partitions are attached to walls and ceilings using elastic tapes. Gaps are left between the sheet sheathing and the enclosing structures, which are carefully sealed with non-hardening sealants.

Soundproofing of floors

Overlap multi-storey building must withstand airborne and impact noise. This problem is solved by soundproofing the floor of the upper level and the ceiling of the lower level. Airborne sound waves are successfully retained by concrete slabs or a beam floor pie consisting of sound-absorbing materials and rough cladding. The situation is a little more complicated with the neutralization of impact noise.

In most cases you have to resort to various designs floating floors that do their job perfectly. They are not strictly connected to the main elements of the building. Concrete screed laid on a layer of polystyrene foam or extruded polystyrene foam. Wooden floor joists are mounted through elastic gaskets. Leveling bedding for dry screeding of prefabricated floors also dampens shock vibrations. Floating floors are installed after the partitions are installed, so they are isolated from the floors in other rooms and do not transmit structural noise. Between floating floors and walls, damper tapes made of foamed elastic materials must be laid.

Finishers play a certain role floor coverings, which can significantly affect the acoustic comfort of rooms. For example, linoleum, carpet, and cork perfectly dampen and absorb noise. Laminate and parquet board will also improve the acoustic situation provided that high-quality substrates are used.

Suspended ceilings play a major role in soundproofing floors. IN metal carcass Mineral wool can be inserted, and a simple air gap in the inter-ceiling space is involved in noise localization. To avoid structural noise and resonating vibrations, ceiling profiles should be mounted to the walls through elastic bands; it is recommended to install vibration-damping gaskets under the suspensions. Stretch ceilings, which are not attached to the ceiling at all and are made of non-resonating materials, have proven themselves well. PVC films and fabrics.

Soundproofing windows

The resistance of a building to street airborne noise depends not only on the characteristics of the external walls, but also on the quality of sound insulation of windows.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the glazing area, an increase in which will necessarily deteriorate the acoustic comfort in the premises.

Quite a lot important factor is choosing the right double-glazed window. A multi-chamber double-glazed window does not always insulate better from noise; the reason for this is the relatively small air gaps between the glasses. The widest possible multi-chamber double-glazed windows, which use spacer slats of different widths, have special soundproofing characteristics, thus avoiding resonances caused by strong traffic noise. They enhance the soundproofing effect by using massive glass of various thicknesses. In any case, the thicker the glass and the larger the air gaps between them, the less noise the windows transmit. If glass with special films or triplex is used in the production of double-glazed windows, this will also have a positive effect on sound insulation.

The shape and configuration of the window affects the acoustics. Rectangular windows are quieter than square ones. Dividing the light opening by profile partitions into smaller light fields using several double-glazed windows significantly increases acoustic efficiency.

For sound insulation, the degree of tightness of the vestibule is very important, which can only be ensured with well-adjusted fittings and a high-quality seal. A third, additional sealing circuit will also not be superfluous.

Naturally, it is necessary that the window be installed correctly in compliance with all the rules for organizing installation joints. The use of soundproofing materials in hollow slopes is highly encouraged.

The use of ventilation valves spoils the acoustic picture a little, but nothing more than a flap open for ventilation. And the new valves have a kind of labyrinth to dampen sounds.

Soundproofing doors

One of the noise transmission channels is doorways. This applies to both entrance group, so interior doors. The solution to the problem again lies in the use of the largest possible massive boxes and canvases. The acoustic performance of doors can be improved by using designs with a dense rebate.

Designs with a reliable D-shaped seal located around the entire perimeter have more effective sound insulation. Ventilation grilles and gaps under the canvas negatively affect the acoustic picture inside the room. Therefore, in certain cases, preference should be given to door blocks with a threshold and a solid leaf with an influx, naturally, without glazing or grilles.

They are often used to soundproof the entrance to a house. double doors, the resulting slopes between which are insulated with mineral wool. Moreover, the outer web may be filled with fibrous sound-absorbing material.

Soundproofing of engineering systems and communications

Communication channels are often not only original bridges for the transmission of sounds, connecting different rooms, but sometimes they become powerful generators airborne noise, often turning into structural noise. There are several ways to solve this problem:

  1. All communications should be fixed to supporting structures through elastic gaskets and fasteners.
  2. Heating, water supply and sewerage pipes (especially risers) are wrapped in acoustic mineral wool and lined with boxes.
  3. Ventilation ducts are insulated with noise-absorbing materials.
  4. Ventilation holes are covered with grilles with curtains, curtains, and blinds.
  5. Installation and mounting electrical devices (socket boxes, distribution boxes, built-in cabinets) are sealed as much as possible.

Soundproofing on site

Oddly enough, but most external air noise can be stopped even outside the private building. So in Europe, acoustic screens are often installed along busy roads that pass near residential areas. They are also actively used along railway tracks, near existing construction sites, production workshops, children's playgrounds, noisy sports and shopping facilities. The noise protection screen reflects or absorbs sound waves, forming an “acoustic shadow” behind it. Sometimes it acts in combination, combining in its design both sound-absorbing panels with perforation and fiber filling, and reflective elements made of rigid materials.

Such barriers are placed at the border of the site, as close as possible to noise sources. They must have a significant length and a height of 3 meters, which, however, does not always have a negative effect from a design point of view, since there are transparent screens made of special glass and polycarbonate.

Several rows of green spaces along the border of the site will also help reduce the sound pressure on your home. Climbing, densely growing plants on a fence or facade can also dissipate and dampen most of the noise.

Let's sum it up

We have looked at the main elements of sound protection for a private home and can already draw some conclusions:

  1. Sound insulation depends more on the type of structure than on the properties of the materials.
  2. Special attention should be given to the junctions of various building elements to each other, using elastic damper pads and carefully sealing the seams.
  3. The more massive the structure, the better the sound insulation.
  4. A wider layer of insulation or a wider air chamber provides more effective noise reduction.
  5. Instead of massive single-layer structures, lightweight multi-layer ones can be used.
  6. Sound-absorbing layers should alternate with reflective materials.
  7. Holes, openings, and cracks in structures reduce their level of sound insulation.
  8. Noise sources must be grouped and removed as far as possible from the protected premises.
  9. All soundproofing materials must be pressed tightly against each other and against the structures.
  10. Not all insulation materials have soundproofing properties.
  11. Acoustic comfort can be improved by using elastic finishing materials, pile floor coverings, upholstered voluminous furniture, and heavy thick curtains in the interior.
  12. You can begin to protect yourself from external noise already on the site.

In any case, sound insulation of a private house must be considered as a comprehensive system, the implementation of which is more efficient and cheaper to carry out at the design and construction stage.

Turishchev Anton, rmnt.ru

In modern Russia, most developers set themselves the task of minimizing the cost of building construction. First of all, the materials that go under the knife are those that do not have a significant impact on the final result - sound and waterproofing.

Sound insulation of buildings is pushed back, and then completely excluded from construction estimates. The building has been built, but let those who will use the premises worry about the acoustics. This approach, of course, saves money for the developer, but brings problems to the direct owners of the premises.

How to remove noise from a store on the ground floor?

The most common occurrence is a non-residential first floor. There are no regulations requiring special separation of non-residential premises from residential ones. It’s not difficult to imagine the noise difference between a busy store and an apartment. In any case, the problem needs to be solved. There are two possible options.

The first is when the owner of residential and non-residential premises agrees and soundproofs the floor and ceiling, each for their part. In this case, you will achieve the maximum effect. The second option is when one of the parties does soundproofing on its part, thereby reducing the negative consequences.

Sound insulation through floor and ceiling

Let's start from the first floor, for example, the owner of a store made sure that his neighbors did not complain about him to the supervisory authorities. As a rule, in non-residential premises the ceilings are high enough to install suspended ceilings. In this case it will be effective to use . They will play a dual role: on the one hand, they prevent the passage of sound waves through the ceilings, and on the other, due to their complex structure, they absorb sound vibrations, thereby creating acoustic comfort in the room.

The owner of an apartment above a non-residential premises will have to deal with the arrangement of the floor. Ideally, this should be done at the stage of renovation of the premises. We need to start arranging a “floating floor”. You need a sandwich of a membrane for soundproofing floors, a soundproofing material with a layer of lead foil, for example, and a polymer-butyme soundproofing material. This is described in more detail in the article "". This method will allow reducing impact noise to 27 dB and as a result will correspond to the current SNiP, according to which Rw = 57 dB.

For cases where the premises are on the same floor, everything is somewhat more complicated. As a rule, sound insulation of a brick inlay or concrete wall plus soundproofing profiles. Roll material is suitable for walls, or use. Polypropylene materials also effectively stop impact noise.

It is hoped that in the future, builders will pay attention to the sound insulation of brick and concrete floors even at the stage of building construction. Enough with saving and being rednecks, it will be built for many years after all. If the initial task is to comply with regulatory documents, then bringing sound insulation to the most comfortable state will be much easier.

A set of measures taken to reduce the level of noise penetrating into the premises from the outside. At all times, people's personal space has been a valuable asset. Violation of these boundaries is always perceived negatively and can lead a person to an aggressive state. In urban cities, noise constantly affects us.

Freight transport, trams, personal cars, the noise of flying airplanes, children screaming on the street, neighbors with renovations behind the wall - all these sounds create an unbearably exhausting, irritating background noise. The true salvation for people in this world of noise is the soundproofing of personal spaces. We hope the article will be good guide for those who want to soundproof a room.

In recent decades, the construction of apartment buildings is often carried out using panel technologies - this method does not protect against noise and sounds at all. Why do residents suffer? The reasons for poor sound insulation are numerous - thin walls, minor flaws in the construction process, some conflicts between the materials used - all this leads to a lack of comfort for residents. To correct such shortcomings of residential buildings, it is necessary to properly soundproof the apartment.

Soundproofing and noise insulation

Let's start with terminology: noise is a background set of sounds. The sound itself is a vibration of air waves. Noise can be structural or airborne. Concerning airborne noise, then it is created due to fluctuations in the air - voices, sounds of passing cars, screams outside the window, signals, sounds of animals.

Structure-borne noise, occurs when vibrations are caused by an impact on the transmitting material from which the building is made. Mechanical vibrations caused, for example, by drills or hammer blows are transmitted through walls and partitions to another floor of a residential building - they are drilling on the second floor, you can hear it on the eighth!

In a residential “Stalinist” building, the effectiveness of annoying noise is low. The noise is attenuated due to the massive walls and thick plaster partitions. Great attention was paid to the quality of building materials. Porous brick material and the plastered surface of the walls perfectly dampen vibration vibrations.

In panel housing construction, there is a problem of increased vibration conductivity of walls. Individual soundproofing of the apartment comes to the fore.Soundproofing the walls in an apartment assumes that modern materials will provide reliable protection from noise.

Types of sound insulation

A simple way to reduce the likelihood of noise entering a residential building is to increase the thickness of the walls. With increasing thickness, the effectiveness of sound insulation of a room certainly increases. But firstly, this must be done at the construction stage, and secondly, the approach will not protect residents from vibration noise (for example, drilling on the first floor).

The second method is more effective and involves building structures from numerous components. Such elements include porous and fibrous soundproofing structures. The modern market offers many options for noise insulation - with their help you can reduce structural vibrations. First of all, these are different and. There is also commercially available soundproofing foam that can also be effective.

Sound insulation can be:

  • full;
  • partial.

Complete soundproofing work is carried out throughout the apartment, for all load-bearing planes - walls, floor, ceiling, windows, doors.

Partial soundproofing is the soundproofing of only one room or one living space. It should be noted that a complete soundproof shell of an apartment will require much more resources and effort, but the result is worth it.

Preparing for soundproofing work

The first thing you need is to determine the source of the noise and choose the type of sound insulation. To do this, you need to define the following characteristics:

  • thickness of walls and partitions in the apartment;
  • floor type;
  • type of windows and doors;
  • presence of holes;
  • cracks and holes various types within your walls.

When choosing how to soundproof a room, you will also need to evaluate the ceiling height and area of ​​the rooms. If you choose standard sound insulation with plasterboard and, keep in mind that the area of ​​the room will visually decrease.

Knowing the cost of materials per square meter will help you preliminary estimate the costs of sound insulation. If the work is carried out by hired specialists, the cost of the work is usually 150% of the cost of the necessary materials. But performing soundproofing is not a particularly difficult process, so you can do the soundproofing yourself.

Procedure for sound insulation work

The full range of sound insulation works has the following stages:

  1. replacement of all windows in the apartment;
  2. door replacement;
  3. sealing holes and cracks in walls;
  4. installation of modern soundproofing sockets;
  5. soundproofing of walls;
  6. floor soundproofing;
  7. ceiling soundproofing.

Modern industry produces a wide range of soundproofing materials. The most popular means are corks and special soundproofing plasters. The classic combination of drywall and layers of mineral wool is still a priority. It should be noted that sound insulation also has thermal insulation properties, which will increase heating efficiency, allowing you to solve two problems at once.

If the apartment or house has wooden windows“old school”, one must understand that they do not protect residents from noise at all. In this case, you will need to change them to plastic windows. For apartments with windows facing a busy street or road, the windows should be double glazed. Installation plastic windows In addition to sound insulation, it is also of great importance for maintaining heat in the house.

The same rule applies to doors – both external and internal. High quality, well fitted interior doors perfectly isolate internal sounds. Brands and manufacturers that produce excellent modern soundproof windows and door sets are numerous on the domestic market today. You can choose products of acceptable quality and cost.

Soundproofing walls

The first step is to check the walls for damage. In case of detection of cracks or structural holes, old and unnecessary sockets, voids and other internal wiring, everything must be puttied. Defects must be corrected immediately, preferably with gypsum plaster.

Sockets are installed with the slots closed after installation. Most a budget option make good sound insulation - use regular decorative plaster. To do this, you need to purchase a ready-made plaster mixture, prepare a solution with the parameters when the spatula “stands in sour cream” to achieve the desired consistency and get to work. The optimal proportion is one part water / two parts mixture. When preparing a plaster mixture on your own from sand and cement, stick to the proportion: three to one.

To prepare the walls for plastering, you need to thoroughly clean and prime them. The walls must be completely cleared of old helmets, wallpaper or other things. If it is impossible to completely clean the walls (for objective reasons), then they should be treated with a special coarse adhesive primer. The composition will have to be applied at least two layers, the final stage in any case will be a pass with a traditional primer.

Next you will need to install beacons. Beacons are installed over the entire surface of the wall. Then plastering is done. The next step is leveling the wall. After complete drying, the walls can be painted or, best of all, covered with soundproof wallpaper.

Sound insulation: mineral wool and plasterboard.

If you decide to install an insulating structure made of mineral wool and plasterboard, you need to be prepared to reduce the size of the room. Installation is performed as follows:

  1. Installation of skeleton profiles on the floor or ceiling. The frame can be directional, ceiling or vertical. Frame pitch 60 cm;
  2. A frame made of plasterboard or gypsum fiber sheets is assembled along all walls;
  3. The supporting profile is inserted inside the structure. All profiles are marked with a marker. It is very important that the structure is not rigidly fixed to the wall - otherwise it will not isolate the room from vibrations and the sound insulation of the wall will not be effective enough;
  4. The profiles are insulated with rubber gaskets or damper tape insulation;
  5. The gap between the profiles and the walls should be 5-6 millimeters;
  6. The gap is strengthened and coated with sealant;
  7. The frame is filled with insulating filler (mineral wool). When working on soundproofing walls in an apartment, mineral wool should be laid as tightly as possible. If this principle is violated, the structure can become a sound-conducting device;
  8. Polyurethane foam can be used to fill profiles, which will also act as a noise absorber;
  9. The frame is covered with plasterboard. Drywall can be laid in two layers, but in this case the layers must be offset relative to each other;
  10. It is advisable to install layers of drywall with glue, which also reduces the possible noise level;
  11. The walls are leveled with putty, then glued soundproofingwallpaper or painting is done.

How to install soundproofing a wall in an apartment with your own hands and what materials are best to use, watch our video review:

Soundproofing using soundproofing panels for walls

In soundproofing measures, modern soundproof panels can be used. Such panels are attached to the walls or ceiling with special protected units. Soundproofing panels have excellent noise absorption characteristics. Wall panels are mounted as follows:

  1. Fiberglass is installed along the entire length of the wall;
  2. The connections are sealed with silicone sealant;
  3. The panels are attached to the wall with anti-vibration dowels, the drywall is attached with self-tapping screws.

An additional option for enhancing sound insulation is the following - after sealing cracks in even thick walls, it is better to use soundproofing wallpaper. Usually this is a roll type insulator, glued to the wall as a primer before sticking decorative wallpaper. The thickness of the cushioning layer is 5 millimeters. Soundproofing with zips panels is common in apartments; they have ready-made solutions.

Other popular soundproofing methods

You can also soundproof the walls of a room with mineral wool, stone wool or cellulose fiber insulation. The materials do a good job of absorbing noise due to their fibrous structure.

IMPORTANT! When performing soundproofing work with my own hands It is strongly recommended not to use sheets of polystyrene foam - it creates an unnecessary greenhouse effect and acts as insulation.

Soundproofing the ceiling in an apartment

The job of soundproofing a ceiling is basically the same as the job of soundproofing walls. Once again, we strongly recommend not to use profiles attached to the ceiling.

IMPORTANT! If the suspension is attached directly to the ceiling, the sound insulation effect will not protect against vibrations along the monolithic surfaces of concrete floors.

Soundproofing the ceiling in an apartment requires the use of special ceiling pendants or the installation of a frame wooden beams profiles fastened to them in increments of 60 cm, then cover with layers of plasterboard.

To do this, on both sides of the room it is necessary to mount metal corners with wings of about 8 centimeters at a height of about 7 - 10 centimeters from the ceiling. We fix wooden beams at the corners. We install rubber gaskets under the beam. Then you must attach the ceiling profile. The distance between the profiles is 60 cm.

The best do-it-yourself ceiling soundproofing. We look at the video for all the nuances and the whole process:

It is better to place rubber gaskets under the beams. you can buy finished goods or make them yourself. The profiles are laid on wooden rods in increments of about 60 cm. The profiles must be fastened very gently, since when working with wooden blocks they can go in bends.

The lattice design is preferred. Again, as with soundproofing walls, you should block voids and cavities with mineral wool, then cover them with sheets of plasterboard (or gypsum fiber). Better sound insulation will be provided by two layers of material. Then you must grout the ceiling with putty and paint it in the desired color. As always, we advise you to paste over soundproofing wallpaper, which will further enhance the sound insulation of the ceiling.

Sound insulation under a suspended ceiling in an apartment

Very often in modern rooms installed suspended ceiling. Soundproofing under suspended ceiling much simpler than the traditional method of reinforcing the frame on ceiling structures.

To install sound insulation for a stretch ceiling, you need to secure mineral wool in plates with special dowels. Then the usual stretch ceiling is assembled. Such designs are not associated with a standard ceiling concrete slabs through profiles, so the sound simply cannot travel!

The soffit ceiling refers to the so-called two-level structures. There are two ways to deal with suspended ceilings:

  • harpoon system;
  • wedge system.

The first is a very simple and convenient method that does not require special skills. Installation of locking harpoons occurs at the production stage, so it is very important to measure the size of the room very accurately. It is necessary to order slightly less than the actual size of the room.

The wedge method is carried out only by hired professional workers. However, this method is universal due to the lack of a harpoon. Precisely maintained film dimensions do not need to be maintained. It can be pulled out many times, cutting off unnecessary pieces.

How is soundproofing performed under - step by step method shown in video review:

Soundproofing the floor

To work with soundproofing floors, a special screed is used. The screed is made using a special vibration material, which performs the function of noise insulation. So, for the floor you will need a special screed. You can choose mineral wool as a material for the layer.

Operating procedure:

  1. removal of existing coating;
  2. floor cleaning;
  3. repair of depressions, leveling;
  4. installation of durable vibration pads along the edges of the walls above the level of the screed;
  5. installation of beacons;
  6. laying insulating material along the beacons;
  7. fixation of soundproofing material;
  8. cooking sand-cement screed(again, this is three to one) - it should not be too wet, almost semi-dry, without water coming to the surface;
  9. filling a soundproof connector about an inch thick;
  10. laying reinforcing mesh;
  11. laying a soundproofing solution of the same thickness as in the previous case;
  12. leveling the surface with a level, removing beacons and wiping the surface;
  13. applying a decorative layer to the floor covering.

Soundproofing a room is part of the soundproofing work for the entire apartment. To improve sound insulation in your room, you need to perform the same set of sound insulation work in all rooms of the apartment - corridors, kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, etc.

Soundproofing work is no longer a luxury. In our world, where the constant background noise acts like a destructive hurricane, causing great discomfort, maintaining an acceptable noise level is an important factor in maintaining the mental and physical health of people.

How to properly soundproof a floor so that the sound insulation is impeccable, watch a video of the installation process using Termozvukoizol (TZI) material.