The first question one must ask is exactly why they need to soundproof a room, or a whole house. There is any number of great reasons so a number of answers pop into my mind – you might want your own recording studio, a quiet room for baby or older to sleep and not be disturbed, or simply to keep outside noise at a minimum. There really is not any one answer to the question; it's really up to your own imagination and desires.
In previous years it was not practical or affordable to do do it yourself soundproofing for your home but now dampening or eliminating the noise is easier with do-it-yourself kits being offered by soundproof foam manufacturers. There are a variety of products are now on the market, including convoluted and non-convoluted foam, faced acoustical foam, polyimide foam, 100% fireproof melamine foam and closed cell acoustical foam.
Now is a good time to list the room or rooms you wish to soundproof so as to make out your budget. Also you should take the following important considerations to mind:
Remember that windows are the path of least resistance for noise entering or leaving your home. In terms of windows, the most sound porous are single glass pains and wooden window frames. Using double pane glass alone can quickly reduce noise by as much as 20%.
If your home is older, like mine, your attic may lack insulation. Not only will adding insulation help reduce your energy bills; it can also help in your endeavor to soundproof your home. If you have an asphalt roof, adding extra layers of roofing material is an additional way to help dampen or eliminate noise, especially where aircraft or excess road noise is ever-present.
To prevent sound traveling inside your home, your hallways should be built so that doorways are never across from one another. Since air is what enable sounds to travel, drafts between rooms carries noise through open doors.
Because of the increasing popularity of home theaters DIY soundproofing kits have become more popular. For just a few hundred dollars, families can purchase all of the material necessary to complete soundproof your room, with direct results being more brilliant and better sound. With 4 'X 8' sheets of foam panel, you can quickly adhere the panels to your existing walls using Velcro dots that are easily removable without damage.
Some other helpful tips for soundproofing your home include:
Each room in your home should have at least 25% of some type of absorbent material such as carpeting, furniture or draperies. Meeting this minimum will reduce noise generated by footsteps, televisions, instruments, stereos, pets and other noise producers.
To further dampen noise in your home, you can add a second layer of drywall. For rooms racing streets, double drywall will greatly reduce the noise entering most homes.
Rooms over living areas should have some form of padding or carpeting for soundproofing.
So the important thing to remember about soundproofing your home is that you can not overdo it! Do your homework, write down your plan and go for it. Just go and do it yourself!