It seems to be the appropriate time for such an article. It is tough to make a decision to soundproof your home when home values are dropping and you may not be able to recoup these scarce dollars. Personally I feel that home values will soon be on the rise again and that makes soundproofing a wise investment.
In many cases bad economic times have made the soundproofing business what it is today. Fifteen or twenty years ago, most folks owned a nice single family home in the suburbs or in the country, but today with cost of housing, people are now living in condos, townhomes and coops where noise issues are a common problem. Whenever people live is the multi family dwellings, noise control is always and issue. Whether it is a noisy next-door neighbor or the footfall noise of the people upstairs, soundproofing can give you peace and solitude and will make you feel like you are the only one living there.
Soundproofing does not have to break the bank. Determine the areas in your home that are the most annoying and concentrate your soundproofing efforts and dollars on those areas. For example, if you main issue is with the bedroom, then only soundproof the bedroom. Also try to pinpoint the exact source of the noise. If the noise issues are only with the next-door neighbor and the not the upstairs neighbor, then concentrate your efforts on that particular wall.
Many larger cities are enacting laws, which require certain soundproofing standards be met before a condo, or apartment complex can be approved for construction.
If you are a contractor tasked with meeting these standards, where do you turn for help?
The Internet has a wealth of information regarding soundproofing, but if you have done any research at all, you will discover that there are many conflicting methods out there for the installation of soundproofing materials. Many soundproofing companies inflate the ratings of the materials that they sell in order to make the sale, therefore it is essential to find a reputable company that carries proven soundproofing materials with realistic sound ratings. Remember the old adage that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Soundproofing doesn’t have to break the bank if you do your research and treat only the areas that need to be treated. To read more about soundproofing your single-family house apartment or condo go to: www.soundproofingamerica.com
This is Dr. Bob…Out!!
