In today’s blog, we’ll show you how to soundproof a garage for band practise so you don’t disturb the rest of the neighbourhood while honing your sound. Furthermore, practically all of the strategies we’ll cover in this blog are both cost-efficient and very effective.
Several amateur musicians begin their practice sessions in the garage unless they have access to professional music studios or practise spaces. Family members and neighbours will complain about the noise you make in the garage. As a result, you’ll have no option but to soundproof it, particularly the garage door, which is the source of the majority of the noise.
Soundproofing your garage may appear to be an impossible operation, but with the correct equipment and partners to assist you, you can do it. Continue reading to find out everything you need to know about keeping the peace in your neighbourhood while simultaneously achieving the highest sound quality outside of a professional home studio.
How to soundproof a garage for band practice?
I’ll try to show out some of the simplest solutions for dealing with noise from your garage. As a result, here are some of the finest solutions to soundproof a garage for band practice.
- The garage walls should be soundproofed
- Window Soundproofing
- Garage Door Soundproofing
- Soundproof the Ceilings
- Soundproof the garage floor
Garage Soundproofing Challenges
Soundproofing a garage has many of the same issues as soundproofing any other part of the house. If you have a detached garage, you will benefit from having a completely enclosed space with no windows, which will make soundproofing considerably easier. However, there will be one door that you will have to cope with, and on which we will place a specific emphasis.
A lot is dependent on your needs. If you want to turn your garage into a home theatre room or utilise it for band practice. This will necessitate a higher level of soundproofing, as well as significantly higher prices.
The garage walls should be soundproofed
You have a lot of options when it comes to soundproofing the walls. The strategies you use will mostly be determined by your needs and budget. Let’s take a look at each of the possibilities one by one. However, you must first remove the existing drywall from the interior of your garage and fill the spaces between the studs with loose fibreglass insulation.
Glue down an extra coat of drywall
One of the fundamental concepts of soundproofing is to provide mass to both sides of the wall. One of the most cost-effective techniques to do this is to double down on your drywall. The denser the drywall, the less likely sound will pass.
Acoustics will be reduced by adding mass to the wooden structure. Soundproof drywall and dampening compound, such as Green Glue, are excellent for reducing both airborne and impact noise.
Soundproof drywall is an excellent way to bulk up your walls. They’re also reasonably priced. This sandwiching damping method can be applied to both ceilings and walls to generate soundproofing.
The steps to accomplish so are as follows:
- Remove the old drywall to reveal the studs and cavity in the wall.
- Attach the robust clips to the studs with screws.
- To boost absorption and prevent resonance, fill the space with mineral wool insulation
- Using screws, secure the hat channels to the robust clips.
- Install the new drywall sheets and use acoustic caulk to fill any gaps with sealant.
You can do the same thing with the ceiling and the floor of the garage. You’ll need to use somewhat different materials for the ground.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| mineral wool insulation | Mineral wool saw |
| acoustic caulk | Caulking tools |
| Green Glue Noise proofing Compound | caulking gun. |
Room within a Room Construction
This is, obviously, the greatest alternative, but it is not a practical option in most circumstances due to space and expense limits.
To create a room within a room, you simply remove the old drywall from the interior and construct a new frame that is fully separate from the current framing.
You are separating or decoupling the inner wall from the outside wall by doing so. Decoupling reduces the number of contact points between the two frames, which reduces sound transmission.
Apart from the cost, the disadvantages of constructing a room within a room are assuring structural integrity and the fact that you will be sacrificing a lot of areas.
Considering that the new framework will overlap the old structure by an inch or two, the area loss on one side of the garage will be around 6 inches.
Try putting a coat of Mass Loaded Vinyl on the wall
Mass loaded vinyl is a soundproofing substance that comes in the form of rollout strips. They incorporated metal particles into this material throughout the production process to give it a high density and significant soundproofing properties.
This will stop vibrations from escaping into the neighbouring room if placed between two layers of drywall. It’s an extremely efficient way to absorb or dissipate any sound source.
How to apply mass loaded vinyl?
Hang mass loaded vinyl
MLV can be mounted directly on the wall, however, it works best when wedged between drywall sheets. Because the generally black, shiny MLV isn’t the most decoratively pleasing surface, doing so gives you more aesthetic possibilities!
Paint mass loaded vinyl
MLV comes in two colours: grey and black and is accessible to retailers. If that’s not enough, you’ll be pleased to learn that Mass Loaded Vinyl is paint-friendly. Latex paint is the ideal choice for coating MLV, and you can always get it repainted if you’re unhappy with the results.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| Mass loaded vinyl | Ewrap Vinyl Wrap Tools Set |
Add soundproof foam panels
The most effective approach to dampen sound waves is to use a soundproof foam panel. They’re designed to create clear recording situations, but they can also be used to soundproof a partition wall. Soundproof foam panels are very inexpensive and exist in a variety of sizes, colours, forms, and densities.
Some are constructed of fibreglass and are much more effective than conventional acoustic foam panels. These acoustic panels are simple to install. The majority of them already have.
Another advantage of these foam panels is their ease of maintenance. If they’re unclean, all you have to do is clean them and they’ll look brand new.
How to install Acoustic Panels?
Soundproof acoustic panels should be installed using the soundproof adhesive method, which I suggest.
- The first step is to sand the surface where your acoustic panel will be mounted. This equalizes out the surface, making it more receptive to the adhesive’s bonding capability. Any sandpaper with a high grit will suffice. Make sure to clear up any dust and debris after sanding.
- Mark the place where you’ll be installing your panel with a straight-edge leveller and a pencil. This will ensure that your panels are straight after they’ve been hung.
- The levelling brackets that come with the kit will then be screwed onto the top flange. This will ensure that your panels are installed correctly on the wall.
- Apply adhesive to the acoustic panel’s back. Begin by applying a line of glue down the panel’s perimeter, about two inches from the edge. Now, using the adhesive, create an “X” to split the rectangle into 4 equal halves. In these parts, place a 2- to 4-inch circle of glue.
- The final step is to hang the panel on the wall and wait for the adhesive to dry, which should take approximately a day.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| soundproof foam panel | Acoustic caulking adhesive straight-edge leveller |
| fibreglass |
Window Soundproofing
Keep in mind that windows and doors provide access to the outside world. As a result, you must use extreme caution when soundproofing your window. Bricking your window could be one of the simplest and most cost-effective solutions.
Closing down single-glazed windows with a blend of thick plywood and natural wool/fibreglass may be your best option if you can live without the view. However, in the vast majority of circumstances, temporarily eliminating the window is the best option.
The actions to take are outlined below.
- Check the hole’s height, breadth, and thickness to determine the size of the window.
- Cut a block of wood the length and width of the hole, and four pieces the same length as the thickness, for the plug’s sides.
- Cut your acoustic insolation and mass loaded vinyl to the same length as the main part of the plug.
- To make a 5-sided open box, attach the sides to the back piece.
- Using Green Glue, adhere a layer of mass loaded vinyl to inside the box.
- Place the second layer of mass loaded vinyl on top of the first.
- Finally, add a layer of acoustic insulation to the top.
- When everything is dry, you can put it in the window frame.
The biggest disadvantage is that it will block light from entering the room; nevertheless, it is simple to uninstall when not being used.
| Material Needed | Tools needed |
| acoustic insolation | Scissors |
| mass loaded vinyl | |
| Green Glue |
Another option is to include something like an acoustic plug for the window. Measure your window and afterwards cut the acoustic plug to fit. This procedure will assist you in creating something like an air seal, which will collect the undesirable sounds within the garage.
Because they are detachable, this method has recently gained popularity. If you practise band in the garage, for example, put these window plugs in before you start practising and take them out after you’re done.
Finally, you can use noise-cancelling curtains and moving blankets to reduce noise. Moving blankets are heavy and dense, as their name implies. The noise can be absorbed to some extent by these blankets.
Soundproof curtains are comprised of sound-absorbing materials that can absorb undesirable noise while also preventing outside noise.
These acoustic drapes are particularly beneficial for drumming sessions because they prevent sound waves from reflecting. You’ll notice a noticeable difference in sound quality once you’ve fitted these hefty soundproof drapes on the windows. These noise-cancelling drapes reduce echoes, reverberations, and vibrations.
The acoustic curtain will function best against unwanted sounds if it is thicker. Always invest in a soundproof curtain with grommets. Multi-layered curtains are what you’re looking for. Furthermore, the length and width of the curtain are important factors in reducing unwanted noise. I suggest that the curtains be at least 10 inches longer than the window pane and double the width of the frame for the best results.
| Material Needed |
| noise-cancelling curtains |
| moving blankets |
Garage Door Soundproofing
Soundproofing the garage door is just as crucial as soundproofing the windows. It’s not as simple as you may assume to soundproof a garage door.
Soundproofing a garage door might be difficult at times because it is the only movable portion of the garage aside from the windows.
Fixing the holes and cracks on the door is the first step in adequately soundproofing it. These areas are the most notorious for allowing sound to enter or exit.
Seal the gaps in the door
A rubber door sweep is the greatest type of door seal. This is an excellent insulator that will significantly decrease the quantity of leakage beneath the door. If you do decide to install one, stay away from brush-style door sweeps since they will perform little to no soundproofing.
How to install?
Using a tape measurer, determine the width of your door. If your door is less than 36 inches wide, use scissors to cut the door sweep to fit.
- Then, with the clear vinyl seal contacting the bottom of the door, place the door sweep against the closed door. Make a mark on the door surface where you want the sweep to go.
- Then, using the markings as a guide, remove the liner and force the door sweep into place.
- Finally, double-check for gaps between the adhesive door sweep and the door threshold.
It’s also a good idea to get acoustic sealant tape to plug in the remaining gaps surrounding the door. This device is low-cost and simple to order online, and it merely fills the gaps with a substance that traps sound waves that attempt to escape around the door.
| Materials Needed | Tools needed |
| door sweep | Scissors |
| clear vinyl seal | |
| acoustic sealant tape |
hang acoustic blankets on the door
These blankets are generally comprised of sound-absorbing materials like fibreglass or comparable elements. When installed on a garage door or other moveable parts, the acoustic blankets performs admirably.
Furthermore, because acoustic blankets are hefty, you’ll need a couple of extra hands to hang them on your door. Additionally, you will need to spend some extra time cutting and resizing these blankets to fit the dimensions of your garage door.
If you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford acoustic blankets, moving blankets are a good alternative. In terms of qualities and ultimate results, moving blankets are similar to acoustic blankets. It will, however, be less expensive than acoustic blankets. You’ll be halfway to thoroughly insulating your garage once you’ve finished insulating your garage doors and windows.
| Material Needed |
| acoustic blankets |
Soundproof the Ceilings
Ceiling soundproofing might help you get rid of noise from above. You may certainly soundproof the garage ceiling with acoustic sheets and moving blankets. Soundproofing tiles and acoustic foam panels, on the other hand, might be a better choice.
The acoustic foam panel can be cut into pyramid or wedge-shaped tiles and placed on the garage ceiling. It will significantly diminish echoes, reverberations, and vibrations by absorbing sound waves and preventing them from bouncing back. Even the backup waves will be kept to a minimum.
In audio recording studios, foam panels are utilised to improve sound quality. Acoustic sheets can also be cut to the necessary shape and mounted on the garage ceiling with an acoustic adhesive like green glue. Nevertheless, I’ve always favoured soundproof panels over acoustic sheets because they’re less expensive and easier to install.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| soundproof foam panel | adhesive |
| Acoustic sheets | |
| moving blankets |
Soundproof the garage floor
Soundproofing a garage floor might help to prevent sound wave reflection. Most floors are made of hard surfaces like wood, cement, and other materials, and when sound waves interact with these surfaces, they bounce back to the ceilings and walls. So, all you have to do to get rid of the hard surface of your floor is cover it with a soft fabric like a thick carpet.
The denser the carpet, the better the noise reduction. The carpet market is flooded, and to make an informed decision, you must be well-versed in the numerous characteristics of a carpet.
Carpets are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and patterns. A thick carpet, especially in the case of impact sounds, might be extremely beneficial.
If you’re not happy with the results after installing the carpet, you can add a couple of rugs and a foam layer between the floor and the carpet to improve the look.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| carpet | Non-slip area rug padCarpet tapeCarpet Cutter |
| rugs |
Conclusion
I’ve attempted to address the fundamental criteria and principles involved with soundproofing a garage for band practice in this blog. The requirements will, of course, be determined by a variety of criteria such as the form of the garage, its position in the house, and so on.
Each technique is a workout in and of itself. All of the strategies could not be described in full in a single article. However, most of the information you require has been addressed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How to soundproof a garage for band practice?
What is the best way to soundproof a roll-up garage door?
Soundproofing roll-up doors can’t be done by just putting soundproofing materials on the door.
Rather, a moving blanket, noise-cancelling curtain, or fibreglass blanket should be hung in front of the door. The noise reduction you’ll get is entirely dependent on the soundproofing products’ quality.
How much does soundproofing a garage cost?
I would advise my clients to turn their garage into a soundproof music studio because it will be far less expensive than purchasing a professional studio. It will cost roughly $100 to soundproof 8 the 8-foot garage. You’ll need to mix three walls and one robust wall, which will cost roughly $1000, to get the best results.
Why is my garage colder than the rest of the house?
The main reason your garage becomes so cold in the winter is that cold air is seeping right in, just like with cracked panels. This is much worse because it allows extra moisture, snow and ice to enter, as well as vermin who believe that your garage is a better place to be than outside.
What is the best way to soundproof a music practise room?
How to soundproof a garage for band practises? Image result
You need to add strong, dense, and durable materials to walls, ceilings, and floors to prevent airborne and structure-borne sound. Materials such as mass-loaded vinyl sound barriers, combined sound-absorbing acoustical blankets, and Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound can be used to achieve this.
Is it feasible to soundproof a garage completely?
In case you didn’t notice, a garage’s ceiling also needs soundproofing. Even though sound seeps outward rather than up unlike heat, you need nevertheless take care of the ceilings to make the garage entirely soundproof. Ceilings should be covered with soundproof tiles or foam panels.
In Garage Band, how do I get rid of white noise?
You’ll need to locate the noise gate tool in GarageBand to deal with background noise. The noise gate can reduce sound below a preset volume level across your recording. Any sound below the sound gate limit will be suppressed once you’ve set up your noise gate.
