Soundproof insulation is a material that is used to block out or reduce the amount of sound that passes through it. It is used in a variety of applications, from acoustical panels in recording studios to sound-dampening materials in cars and office buildings. But how you can do that?
According to the report of the National Insulation Association, the key to effective soundproofing is to “decouple” or separate the noise source from the rest of the structure.
In other words, you want to create a barrier between the noise and the area you want to keep quiet.
Because sound waves travel through the air, most soundproofing materials work by absorbing or deflecting the noise before it has a chance to reach the surface you’re trying to keep quiet.
That’s why you need to completely read this article. Because in this article, I have covered types of insulation, and how soundproof insulation works. It will help you to understand soundproofing better.
Also, I have shared how to select the best soundproof insulation. If you want to learn more, please keep reading.
So, Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What is Soundproof Insulation?
If we talk about the soundwaves, it travels faster in air space as compared to dense. This means to block unnecessary sound or noise, we need a strong barrier that creates trouble for soundwaves to pass through it.
Probably you heard about the drywall which screwed against the verticle studs left the cavity in between verticle studs and make them a weak barrier and compromise your privacy from the other side of the wall.
The insulation material is the best choice to fill the same gap. Usually, every single wall is filled with insulation material to cover that cavity and create a strong barrier for the sound coming from the other side of the wall.
They are made of loosely packed fiber, mineral wool or cotton, etc. Out of all three, the standard fiberglass insulation is cheaper as compared to mineral wool insulation but not that effective for soundproofing.
Well, most of the walls are made in the factory and directly installed at the construction site for easy, quick, and cheap construction cost but that does not provide you quality in terms of a sound barrier or privacy.
To avoid this, insulation is widely used to dampen the soundwaves while passing from one side to another side of the wall, it also helps to maintain the heat inside the room and save electrical energy.
Well, I imagine you got the idea behind the use of insulation let me help you classify what types of insulation are available?
Types of Insulation
Soundproof insulations are of different types and can be used for varieties of purposes and that is why it has been categorized into three parts.
I was searching on different websites to get an idea of categories or types of insulations and here are a few of them.
1. Batt or Roll Insulation
Batt insulation is made of fiberglass or rock wool and is probably the same as what you can imagine in your mind. These are available in varieties of thickness depending on your need but usually in flat pieces.
Batt installations are usually used to install in between the verticle wooden studs to fill the cavity behind the drywall, it could have a front-facing or maybe not.
Batt insulation is made of tightly fiberglass woven strands which come together to create a matrix, and because of the multiple strands layer, it creates a strong barrier.
It is one of the best fiber-proof insulation materials available on the market, which makes it an ideal choice for older homes.
Similarly, Roll insulation available in the rolls instead of flat pieces and is made of the same type of materials and both come under the conventional category of insulation.
2. Blown-In Insulation
It is another type of insulation that is excellent as compared to Batt or Roll insulation. Blown-in insulation is made of cellulose compound or loosely fiberglass materials, so it can not be installed using homeware solutions and must be applied by professionals.
In terms of insulation, it is similar to batt and roll type insulation but blown-in insulation is non-toxic and fireproof and less moisture seeping which in result zero chances of rodents finding into the insulation
Blow-in insulation is treated with boric acid and other substances which makes them flame-resistant and then it is packed in tightly packed bags.
This insulation is easy to mold and can fit or reach any area very easily as compared to batt or roll insulation.
This provides an R-Value (R-Value is a measure of insulation effectiveness) higher compared to batt or roll insulation and one of the best-recommended solutions to fill the studs wall cavity.
This is a favorite among those homeowners who prefer green products, as it is made of recycled materials like paper and wood products with the chemical involved through a synthetic process.
3. Spray-Foam Insulation
As the name suggests it is in liquid form which can be inserted into any cavity and is one of the most popular insulation which is ideally done by specially trained professionals.
It has the ability to expand 100 times then to its actual volume, which helps to create the airtight and fill all the gaps possible in the cavity.
Due to its strong airtight, it left very little space for air leakage, and that caused it specially used to fill ceilings, walls, and floor cavities.
Out of the three, it is obvious that blown-in and spray-foam insulation are among the most popular and highly effective insulation solutions and even expensive too.
If we talk about the insulation on its own then I think only Batt insulation is one of the cheapest and best insulation materials that can be inserted by basic DIY skills.
Let me brief you on how insulation material help in sound deadening.
How Does Soundproof Insulation Work?
There is one misconception in between soundproofing and sound deadening, here soundproofing means improving the sound quality however sound deadening means blocking the sound transmission.
Soundproof insulations are mainly used to block the transmission of the sound waves where most of them are made of vinyl nitrile and have cells in a variety of insulations while manufacturing.
So such Airwaves striking to the cells of the insulation and got dissipated their energy into a small amount of heat. Which results in no soundwaves left to pass through it and propagate further.
In such a way insulation helps us to block the unwanted noise coming from unnecessary sources but be aware, that it won’t help you to minimize the echoes.
Noise and Echos are different things where echos are generated due to the reflection of the soundwaves however noise, in general, is the mixture of different frequencies to learn more check our detailed guide.
Let me help you with parameters which should check prior to buying any soundproof insulation.
How to Select Best Soundproof Insulation Material?
There are many different types of soundproofing materials on the market. So it can be difficult to know which one is the best choice for your home. Here are a few things to consider when selecting soundproofing insulation:
1. Higher STC
STC stands for sound transmission class which is a unit to measure the soundproofing ability of any material. Almost every acoustic product is labeled with an STC score between 1-100.
The higher the number the best is for soundproof insulation or soundproofing. According to the insulation institute, they have specified the ability of any insulation material in STC numbers.
25 – Easily understood
30- Fairly understood
35- Audible but not intelligible
45- Must strain to hear
48 -Barely Audible
50- Inaudible
This means the higher the STC, is best for insulation and that is why it is recommended to have an STC of 52 for bedroom wall to avoid unnecessary noise.
2. Durability
We all know the efforts and money required for any insulation to install and purchase, so it is better to search for those which are durable and have great positive reviews.
Durability will specify the ability of any insulation material to be effective consistently for a long duration of time.
In these parameters, you can check its ability to resist flame, moisture absorption capacity, or any rodent nature.
3. Price of insulation
We learned three types of insulation and the price of each type will be varied based on the quality it offers. While considering the price of spray foam insulation it will range around 30-60$ per square foot.
But in general Batt or roll insulation is cheaper as compared to foam spray and Blown-In, so it is all up to you which one you chose for what purpose.
So make sure to identify the area you want to cover with insulation if it is wide and large then probably batt insulation can be the cost-effective solution.
But if filling the floor in a commercial building then most builders prefer blown-in insulation.
Well, you got an idea about the major factors you need to validate prior to buying any soundproof insulation, let me highlight the best available batt insulation.
Best Soundproof Batt Insulation
There are 1000s of products available for Batt insulation, which are providing the best quality material from the customer end review perspective such as.
Reach Barrier
This is an air double reflective polyethylene insulation roll that has the ability to retain its air longer and provides excellent insulation and sound reflection.
Which is ideal for the attics, exterior or interior walls, floor, metal or still building and garage ceiling, or many more other spaces.
This insulation roll is around 125 feet long,24 inches in height, and around 0.03 inches thick. This also helps to maintain the heat inside the room which saves overall electrical energy.
For the end, customer reviews and prices make sure to check out the below navigation link.
- Reflective Air² Insulation retains air longer and provides...
- Insulation is easy to install with no mess or fumes and will...
- Ideal for attics, exterior and interior walls, radiant...
Last updated on 2024-04-14/Affiliate Links/ Images from Amazon
Roxul Insulation
It is an acoustic mineral wool insulation with 6lbs per unit density. It is among the most popular acoustic insulation for soundproofing materials.
It is available in 3 pieces of size 48″*24″*4″ each which is a rigid board perfect for acoustic panels and bass traps. This can be installed to the walls to reduce the sound transmission but be aware this can not help you to minimize the echoes.
If looking for customer reviews and the latest price to buy do navigate the below link.
- Mineral Wool Insulation in 6lbs per unit ensity.
- Great as Acoustic insulation or as a soundproofing material
- Cost effective and Very High NRC Rating, better than Owens...
Last updated on 2024-04-14/Affiliate Links/ Images from Amazon
There are no limitations with the insulation products available, you have to create the best choice which fits your need. If you learned everything then this time is to learn a few basics on how to install.
How to Install Batt Insulation?
Batt installation does not require any professional skills if you know DIY will be good enough to set up or install Batt insulation.
Make sure to identify the face of the insulation in case you have been able to identify and I imagine you want to place this insulation to your existing wall, ceiling, or floor.
In all three cases you have to follow the instructions given by the product company or below highlights general steps to install Batt insulation.
- Clear the room or any unwanted material which does not require insulation.
- Cover yourself with hand gloves, shoes, goggles, and basic clothing to avoid any misfortune.
- Get scissors or any cutter for cutting the Batt insulation and do not forget to wear the mask.
- Identify the size of the wall or ceiling or cavity you want to fill using the Batt insulation, and get an exact idea of length and width, and height.
- Cut the Batt insulation into the defined size pieces and make sure to start from the edge of the roll or sheet to get a proper cutting of the insulation roll.
- Fit the insulation into the framing cavity and make sure to not push or press to avoid tear or damage to the insulation.
- If filling behind the drywall then make sure to take the help of the other people to give you the batt insulation and you can push that material to cover the entire space using the staple gun can attach the paper lining to the wooden stud.
- In case you have any plumbing pipeline connections then cut the Batt into two parts one place behind the pipe and other on top of that to make sure no cavity remains left.
I imagine you got an idea about the accessories you needed to set up batt insulation and a few general things to be cautious around the same time.
Wrap Up On Soundproof Insulation
In the late 1960s, people were using plaster walls as partition walls but now it this becomes popular to have drywall which as result there is a higher chance of sound or noise transmission from one place to another.
The best effective solution is by installing soundproof insulation which fills the cavity and overcomes the issues of cavity walls.
Traditionally everyone uses Batt insulation as it is cheaper in price and easy to install but foam insulation and blow-in become popular in areas where you are concerned about efficient soundproofing like music studios.
Quality will always cost you a higher price, so take your better choice and decide the best out of it. If you have experienced any type of insulation before then please let our readers know your comment.
FAQ: What is Soundproof Insulation
People have many questions related to soundproof insulation. Here I am answering some important questions.
Q1. How much does soundproof insulation cost?
Ans: The cost of soundproof insulation will vary depending on the type of insulation you choose. Because the average cost to professionally insulate a standard-size home is between $1,500 and $3,000, you can expect to spend a similar amount if you plan to do it yourself.
Q2. Which type of insulation is the most effective at blocking sound?
Ans: There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, including the type of noise you are trying to block and the specific properties of the insulation material. However, in general, denser insulation materials are more effective at blocking sound than less dense ones.
Q3. How much more expensive is foam soundproof insulation compared to other types?
Ans: The cost of foam soundproof insulation is estimated to be 30% more expensive than other types of insulation. Because it is more effective in blocking out noise, it is a worthwhile investment for those who want to achieve better soundproofing in their home.
