Peace and quiet is something we value as we are constantly barraged with the sounds around us. When we are home, the last thing we want is to hear the noisy neighbor, the children upstairs playing their guitar or traffic on the street.

Understanding how sound works and ways people have tried soundproofing their homes to no avail, will help you understand that with a professional, you can be on your way to making your home a place of more serenity.

In order to effectively reduce or eliminate the noise in your home, you must first understand the difference between sound absorption and sound reduction. Each of these two types of soundproofing utilizes its own techniques for handling unwanted noise that stems from inside or outside the home.

Sound absorption involves changing the character of the sound waves by ridding a room of the echoing that’s intrinsic to its design, rather than addressing noise that penetrates your home from the outdoors. Sound reduction is a way of blocking sound so that it doesn’t get into or out of a room.

People over time have come up with many creative solutions to reduce the sound in their home. To help you identify these solutions that ‘don’t’ work, and to save you money and time, see the following:

• Eggcrate" cardboard egg holders. You have no idea the number of people who tell us their trials and tribulations to find quantities of it, buy it and install it only to find it does little or no soundproofing! Some have told us that some sound transmissions seems to be somewhat enhanced!

• Foam rubber of the common sort, such as that of which rubber mattresses are made. While this has some possibilities, other disadvantages are durability and the cost isn't all that much different than "made for soundproofing" products when so much more of it is needed to be the equivalent of professional materials. Most important, foam rubber is highly flammable in contrast to professional safe products.

• Rubber Floor Mats. One would think a rubber material would be good for sound proofing and perhaps it is if properly used, but simply laying it on the floor will do little against noise coming in (or going out). Rubber and Neoprene are in the same class here.

• Old mattresses nailed to the walls. This technique has it's followers, but unless butted well together with no spaces, caulked edges, and only if you are willing to put up with the possible odor, mold and moisture they have or can accumulate, not to mention unwanted rodent critter type "guests" that may take up residence - are they a possibility.

• Cellulose, the material that is pumped into walls. While it's not useless, it's not very effective.

• Carpet - Old or New. Doesn't make much difference, it will all deteriorate and begin to stink. The newer will take longer, that's all. Same problems as with the mattress as explained above and carpet will increase the acoustic absorbency of a room, but do little in the way of soundproofing.

• Common fiberglass insulation makes a great thermal insulator, but not a very good acoustical insulator.

• Plywood panels/ particleboard are not good for soundproofing as wood transfers sound very well.

• Hay bales make fine soundproofing units, but are rather temporary, subject to fire and vandalism and obviously for outdoor use.


Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, sound proofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com.