Sound control: How to achieve a quieter home

Achieving a quieter home has become a priority for a lot of people. With so many people shifting to work-from-home scenarios, finding some peace and quiet in order to concentrate has become more important than ever. And for homeowners with income suites, reducing noise is an absolute must.

There are several ways you can reduce noise and achieve a quieter home, and it all starts with proper insulation.

One of the most important things to do is to make sure you’re using insulation that’s appropriate to the space.  ROCKWOOL COMFORTBATT® is a semi-rigid stone wool batt insulation for exterior wood and steel stud applications in both new construction and renovations. It’s used in exterior walls, attics, crawlspaces and basements. ROCKWOOL SAFE’n’SOUND® on the other hand is an acoustical soundproofing insulation for use in interior walls, ceilings, and floors to help create a quieter home. With SAFE’n’SOUND you can contain noise from laundry and furnace rooms, achieve quieter bedrooms and home offices, and reduce the blare from noisy home theatres. ROCKWOOL stone wool’s uniquely dense fibres act to absorb sound to reduce noise transmission between rooms, contributing to a healthier sound environment

Here are a few more insulation tips:

  • DON’T pack insulation too tight. Always leave an air pocket to help with sound absorption.
  • DO use ROCKWOOL 6” SAFE’n’SOUND in ceilings and between floors. Traditionally, you would put two, three-inch layers of SAFE’n’SOUND between floors to achieve optimal acoustic performance, but now you can achieve the same sound dampening performance with a single layer of 6″ SAFE’n’SOUND, speeding install and saving time on the job site.
  • DON’T forget about interior walls. To further reduce sound transfer put layers of ROCKWOOL between the interior walls of a space. It can add a level of privacy for people living in close quarters.
  • DO make sure to cover the insulation with a sound absorbing drywall.

If you’re not sure how much insulation you need check out ROCKWOOL’s materials calculator for some helpful information.

More Soundproofing Tips

The majority of your soundproofing will happen during the construction phase of your renovation, but there are some other things you can do after the fact to help achieve a quieter home.

  • DO seal the windows. Windows can create gaps and holes that can provide a way for noise to enter. Weather stripping and new caulk are simple and inexpensive solutions.
  • DON’T forget to look around for any other cracks or gaps. Sound can get through the tiniest of spaces so sealing everything will help prevent it from coming through.
  • DO use thick rugs and underpads. Sound bounces off hard surfaces and is absorbed by soft surfaces, so choose area rugs or carpets with a thick pile and make sure it has a good quality underpad beneath it.
  • DON’T use skimpy window treatments. Heavy fabric drapes will absorb more sound than light fabrics or materials such as wood, vinyl or rattan.
  • DO use soft furnishings to help dampen sound. Opt for upholstered furniture wherever it makes sense.

Nobody in their home office or bedroom wants to hear noise from kids yelling and playing downstairs, a television playing upstairs, or dogs barking outside. Noise creates tension, and the less noise there is, the happier everyone will be.

For more information please visit www.rockwool.com.