Return to Pool, Hot Tub and Spa artic

Stop The Noise! Proven Soundproofing Tech

and Products for Homeowners and Contr

By Brian Ravnaas, Technical Innovation M

The Green Glue Company

If there is one thing in life that is universally known to cause anger, frustration and annoyance, it is noise. From blaring car horns during rush hou
something we could all do without.

With noise such a common complaint, it would seem that effective soundproofing solutions would have been defined, tested and perfected long ag
soundproofing solutions only emerging in the past decade. Here we'll discuss some of the most common ways to stop the noise.

The Fundamentals of Sound

To effectively understand how to stop noise, it is first important to understand the basics of sound what it is, how it works and how it can be elim

To put it simply, sound is vibrating air. When the vibrating air strikes surfaces in a room it attempts to vibrate these surfaces, causing sound to be t
noise.
4 Keys to Sound Isolation
The scientific principles governing sound isolation are quite straightforward. The underlying premise is that to control sound and prevent noise

With that said, following are four steps that any consumer, contractor, or architect can take to begin to reduce noise, both on new builds and on ren
materials, each one can act as an effective soundproofing agent in the home, office and in other commercial spaces.
Increase Mass

Just as the heavier the object the more difficult it is to shake, the heavier a surface (wall, floor or ceiling), the more difficult it will be for sound to

However, while adding weight is an important part of isolating sound, it isn't the only technique available and often isn't the most efficient. Addin

an important component to soundproofing, but not the only component.

Use Viscoelastic Damping

Viscoelastic compounds used in and between drywall are one of the m

low bass sounds that are normally resistant to other forms of soundproofing. Viscoelastic compounds dissipate vibrations in room structures by co

Among other products on the market, Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound, is a viscoelastic compound that can be applied between two layers
products, Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound is extremely easy-to-use and has been proven through extensive independent batteries of lab te
Noiseproofing Compound is particularly effective at eliminating low frequency sound, the most common noise that comes from bass and the mo
eliminate that vibration, resulting in less sound transmission.
Add Mechanical Decoupling

Decoupling refers to the independence of one side of a partition from the other. Mecha
independently from the other. Use of staggered studs, double studs, resilient channel or sound clips can work to isolate sound and reduce noise tra

While decoupling can be an extremely potent means of soundproofing, its impact is less than viscoelastic damping at lessened low frequency soun

Green Glue offersGreen Glue Noiseproofing Clips, an effective way to cut most frequencies of noise, and, combined with our flagship Green G
construction, including low frequency sounds. Green Glue Noiseproofing Clips were designed with maximum low frequency sound isolation in m
Add absorbing material

The use of sound absorbing material in wall or floor/ceiling cavities can improve sound isolation. Many materials are available for this purpose in
as well as anything at a very low cost. This is one of the rare cases where pinching pennies won't put the pinch on your results!
Absorbing materials are an important part of any sound isolation project, but they tend to work best in combination with damping or decoupling.
conventional wood stud wall.
Ensure Proper Seal Quality

Any good soundproofing must take into consideration the cracks or gaps between floors and walls and ceilings and walls. No partition, regardless
cracks that allow air (and, therefore, sound) to pass directly through. Use of a proper soundproofing sealant such as Green Glue Noiseproofing S
transmission by 100 times or more.

Also important is to be sure windows and doors are properly sealed as these are areas where sound vibrations can easily travel and cut down on yo
Conclusion

Noise is one inconvenience we could all do without. By following some of the steps outlined above, it is relatively easy to make sure noise is not

Home Bookmark this page Log In

is empty
My cart:

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

SOUNDPROOFING PRODUCTS

ACOUSTICAL PRODUCTS

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

I WANT TO SOUNDPROOF A...

o
o
o
o
o
o
o

o
o

UNDERSTANDING SOUNDPROOFING

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
CATEGORIES

Green Glue

Mass Loaded Vinyl

Resilient Sound Clips

Acoustical Caulk

Door Soundproofing

Acoustic Material

Joist Gasket Tape

Ceiling Soundproofing

Insulation

Accessories

Sound Control Curtains

Window Soundproofing

HVAC
INFORMATION
Soundproofing FAQGreen Glue FAQGreen Glue Slide ShowGreen Glue CalculatorMonthly Specials &
CouponsShipping InformationHow to VideosReturn PolicyPrivacy StatementInternational ShippingFast & Easy
Product ListContractor ApplicationContact us

Cart is empty

View cart
TM Soundproofing

Soundproofing Basics

Soundproofing Basics
89

If you are considering a soundproofing project from a 30 story hotel to a bedroom in your home, chances are that
you have done some research and are feeling a bit overwhelmed and confused about what really works and how
many options you have.
This article is intended to give a clear and concise understanding behind the science of soundproofing coupled
with the most popular and cost effective sound deadening solutions. We will keep it short and to the point - if you
would like more in depth information just browse our soundproofing articles on the sidebar. We suggest that you
read through the entire article once before clicking any links.
How To Stop Sound
Sound is a form of energy that travels as a wave - when that wave hits a barrier as in a sheet of drywall, that
barrier will vibrate and cause the air on the other side to vibrate, thus transferring the sound through the wall.
There is no one-shot soundproofing technique that will stop noise in its tracks, rather we try to employ a
combination of solutions to achieve solid performance.
The four most important elements of soundproofing are:
1.

Absorption

2.

Damping

3.

Decoupling

4.

Mass

Absorption can be achieved by installing fiberglass of R-11 in 2x4 walls and R-19 in 2x6 walls and ceilings.
Although fiberglass is not a major player, only adding 3-4 points, it is still a step that should be done in any
serious soundproofing project. [Read more on insulation soundproofing].

Damping is the process of turning your barriers

(drywall, sub floors) into dead panels that do not
vibrate, thus preventing sound from passing through
them. Damping is achieved by applying a damping
compound in between two constrained layers.
Decoupling is meant to separate the attachment of
walls from the studs, thereby breaking the direct
path of sound, which can be done using resilient
channel, and more importantly - with resilient sound
clips. This decoupling technique actually adds
another component called resilience to the walls.
[Click here for an in depth explanation
to decoupling ].
Mass simply means creating a heavier wall by using
more (another layer) and/or thicker material.
Which Soundproofing Materials To Use
A damping compound is a must on every soundproofing project. The highest performing damping compound
is Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound, which can reduce up to 90% of your noise issues alone, and it's
performance at low frequency ranges (below STC testing) is remarkable.
There are 3 major players in the resilient sound clip market. Whisper Clip outperforms it's competition by 2-3
points, costs less and is easier to install, saving costs on labor.
At Trademark Soundproofing, we have installed and sold thousands of square feet of sound proofing material.
We can confidently tell you that aside from the third party test results, our actual field installation and consumer
feedback has shown that Green Glue products outperform any similar products by far.
Creating The Sound Proof Wall, Ceiling and Floor
Walls and Ceilings: The best performing walls and ceilings should be done by installing Fiberglass, Whisper
Clips, Hat Channel with 2 layers of 5/8 drywall damped with Green Glue in between.
Excellent results can still be achieved on Walls by just using the fiberglass insulation and 2 layers of drywall with
Green Glue on both sides of the wall. This should be given special attention in hotels and multi-family projects,
where a double layer of drywall is already in place due to fire rating of the walls. Therefore, it is extremely cost
effective to just add a layer of damping compound and achieve solid sound deadening performance.
Floors: For excellent performance, floors should be done in the following order. Floor Joists, Insulation, Gasket
Tape, Sub Floor, Sound Board (fiber board), Green Glue and a 2nd Sub Floor. TheCeiling underneath should be
done as described above, if possible.
Existing Walls and Ceilings: Additionally, you can install another layer of
drywall with Green Glue in between, on existing walls and ceilings. For
better results, it can be done twice (double up). This is really one of the only
options available when dealing with existing walls. For more details see our
article Soundproofing Existing Walls and Ceilings.
One important soundproofing tip to remember is to always seal your
perimeters and electrical boxes, etc. with a high quality acoustical caulk.
Doors: Doors and windows are weak links in any sound proofing project, fortunately you can still have a decent
door at an affordable price. Use a solid wood door, if looks are not an issue install a layer of drywall or wood over
the door with Green Glue in between (try getting a flat door). Use proper Door Gasketing and a Door Bottom to
seal the door completely. As doors have gaps on the sides and bottom sealing is very important when dealing
with doors. Before you put your molding up stuff the gap between the door and wall with foam or sound proof
rubber.
What To Avoid

Do not place resilient sound clips and/or channels over existing walls, as this will cause what is
known as the triple leaf effect.

Factory damped drywall is very expensive, more difficult to hang and does not perform as well as
the Green Glue damping compound. The reason for that is simply because Green Glue is a better
compound and is installed in a heavier wall.

Soundboard and/or resilient channel in walls and ceilings do not perform up to par, as anyone who
has installed them can attest to. You will get just as much or more by installing another layer of
drywall.

Expensive floor underlayments are also a source of post customer complaints, avoid them and use
cheap sound board for better results, get the most out of your floors by adding Green Glue in
between, as stated above.

How Is Noise Tested?

Let's take a look at a very popular term called STC (Sound Transmission Class) which is an industry standard to
calculate sound transmission through barriers. Many building codes now require condos and townhouses to meet
a STC of 50, luxury hotels and condos should be looking to reach 60 and higher.
STC
20-25
25-30
30-35
35-40
40-50
50-60

Performance
Very Poor
Poor
Fair
Good
Very Good
Excellent

Description
Low speech audible
Normal speech understood
Loud speech understood
Loud speech heard, but hardly intelligible
Loud speech heard faintly
Loud sounds barely heard

A standard 2x4 wood stud wall with 1/2" drywall has an STC of 32. An important point to keep in mind is that STC
testing only tests on frequency ranges from 125 - 4000 Hz. One problem with this type of classification is that a
lot of the common noise issues are due to sounds that fall below or above this range. Examples of such sounds
are bass drums, deep male voice, trucks, etc. - all of these can start at 50 Hz. High pitched female voices, shrill
ringing of phone and auto horns are good examples of sounds that reach above the 4000 Hz range.
This will explain why many big projects, after having paid tens of thousands of dollars for acoustical engineers
and getting thousands of pages of tested soundproofing materials with lab testing of STC of 50 and above, still
receive complaints for poor acoustical performance. Just look at this long list of sound complaints from seasoned
hotel travelers.

For good measure we will add one more reason for poor performance results: the fact that although material can
test to a STC of 25 for instance, does not mean that when added to a wall assembly of 32 (like a standard 2x4
wall) that the end result will be a STC of 57 (25+32=57). In reality, it may only add 2-3 points to the wall bringing it
to a STC of 35. A perfect example of this phenomenon is the much touted Mass Loaded Vinyl and all the other
brand names that it is sold under.
Conclusion
Here at Trademark Soundproofing, our results are based on actual field installations and customer feedback. As
you can see, the basics are simple and straightforward with less cost than you might have anticipated. There are
some fine tuning details which you can still pick up by browsing our site or by contacting one of our friendly
associates.
When you are ready to begin the actual process of sound proofing click on our soundproofing 102How to
Soundproof article, for detailed instructions.
2009 by Trademark Soundproofing
89
Home Green Glue Whisper Clips Acoustical Caulk Mass Loaded Vinyl Information Shopping Cart Contact us
Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Blog

2008-2014 Trademark Soundproofing

148 Horton Drive, Suite B, Monsey, NY 10952
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
Hours of operation:
Mon - Thurs 8am - 6pm | Fri 8am - 4pm | Sun 11am - 6pm | Sat - closed | Web - Open 24 hrs.
CALL US: 845-388-1200

Merchant Services
Email us