This blog will show you how to soundproof a wall cheaply. After reading this blog, you will have a good idea of how to soundproof a wall for various budgets, as well as how to soundproof existing walls and dramatically reduce noise pollution or bothersome sounds. In a residential structure, noise reduction is crucial for residents’ comfort, health, and interaction.
How to soundproof a wall cheaply?
We can make a soundproof wall cheaply in the following ways that can help reduce noise and enhance the space’s acoustics.
- Apply acoustic Sealant to fill any cracks or gaps
- Add mass to the wall using MLV
- Install drywall on top of the existing wall
- Make a decoupling zone
- Adding another drywall layer
- Fill the existing wall cavity with insulation
- Install acoustic panels on the existing wall
- Use soft materials nearby the existing wall
I strongly propose combining three or more of the above methods to achieve the most effective outcomes.
- Fill the cavity of the drywall with insulation first.
- Use the drywall’s various layers now. As a result, the insulation has already been increased.
- Fill the crevices with soundproof coatings, or use MLV to improve density.
- The acoustic panels should now be installed on top of the wall.
- Place all of the soft items around the wall next.
Material Required
We required the supplies listed below to soundproof a wall on the budget.
- To seal gaps or cracks, use an acoustic sealant.
- Sound waves are absorbed by decorative acoustic foam.
- Weather-stripping is used to keep the air out of windows and doors.
- Supple materials
- Drywall in case of major problems with an existing wall.
The above-mentioned materials, on the other hand, can assist us in soundproofing a room’s interior wall on a budget.
Apply acoustic Sealant to fill any cracks or gaps
Thin plasterboard walls with gaps and cracks have been spotted on several occasions, possibly at the corner or on the opposite side of the walls.
This allows soundwaves to readily flow through barriers and into your home, posing a significant danger to privacy.
The most crucial thing to do initially is to locate the gaps or holes and seal them with the best Acoustic sealant or acoustic caulk available.
Both of these could be used on the wall, however, the sealant is the most suggested due to its elastic nature when applied with a caulking gun.
How do you fill gaps or cracks with acoustic sealant?
- Simply cut the tubing and nozzle as required using this acoustic sealant, which arrives with a nozzle.
- You can squeeze out with your hand, however, the quart size Caulk gun is recommended for proper and easier dispensing.
- Direct the nozzle to the holes or gaps where you located them and fill them with steady pressure on the gun handle.
- Wipe all the excess sealant with the huge wipes.
- One tube of sealant would be enough to fill the 40-50 linear feet.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| Acoustic sealant | caulking gun. |
| acoustic caulk | Caulking tools |
Add mass to the wall using MLV
The essential premise for creating a strong noise barrier is to enhance the mass or density of the wall, and mass loaded vinyl is the cheapest option for soundproofing an existing wall.
Mass loaded vinyl is a lightweight, elastic material with a high STC that is used to block soundwaves. It’s constructed of vinyl, which is a type of synthetic plastic.
It does not soak sound waves because it has a reflective surface, but does contribute more mass to the walls to prevent noise waves from passing through.
The calcium silicate, which is an extra mass component in MLV, is the other most significant element in creating this powerful barrier for sound energy. MLV’s best feature is its thickness to mass ratio.
Everything larger in size has mass, but this is not the case with Vinyl, which has the highest thickness-to-mass ratio of any heavy substance.
MLV, which has the potential to cover the wall with the ease of installation, is suggested first because of its remarkable character.
How to apply Mass Loaded Vinyl?
- Cut the MLV sheet to fit the wall’s dimensions and make sure it’s in good condition.
- To obtain a better notion of which side is fitting good, begin at the top of the wall and work your way down.
- To acquire a proper coating or noise masking, begin from the edge of the top of the wall and work your way down to the floor.
- To ensure sufficient coverage and fewer cavities, overlap each piece of shit with others by at least 1 inch.
MLV is a bit more expensive than other sheets in pricing, but it provides an easy approach to create a robust barrier for the existing wall and improve acoustics.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| Mass loaded vinyl | Ewrap Vinyl Wrap Tools Set |
Install drywall on top of the existing wall
Drywall is a Gypsum panel formed of calcium sulphate dihydrate and a variety of various additives, depending on the application.
Drywall installation is undoubtedly the most expensive alternative, but it is also the most effective because you are now establishing an additional strong barrier with the existing wall.
It will aid in the reduction of the most sound, as sound now has to travel through numerous layers or powerful barriers rather than the previous light coating.
This will be an outlay of your hard-earned cash, but it is worthwhile to invest in for the sake of quiet, calm, and isolation.
How do you soundproof walls using drywall?
With single drywall, sound from a noisy neighbour is often an issue, so it’s best to use the resilient channel, so let’s talk about how to use Drywall efficiently.
First step: Resilient channel should be installed.
- You can’t just drill a hole in the existing wall and fill it with new drywall also you’ll need some kind of repair to help you lay down a layer of drywall.
- This can be accomplished via the resilient channel, which generates a decoupling between the two walls, trapping noise and slowing forward motion.
- It is a thin metallic rail that is attached to the current wall, and afterwards, the new drywall is placed on top of that as the initial layer.
Second step: Install drywall on top of resilient channel
- It allows us to add mass on top of the existing Drywall, resulting in an increase in the breadth of the current wall or decoupling owing to the screw with the robust channel.
- When it comes to drywall, there is a common stud that connects both sides of the wall. We can construct an air pocket between the two walls by installing a resilient channel and then covering it with another layer of drywall.
- When putting up drywall, make sure the framework is the same dimension as the wall and that you mark each place on the wall where you want it to go.
Make a decoupling zone
It is self-evident that drywall can be installed on top of existing drywall, which may aid in the creation of a decoupling zone in which noise waves can be caught.
This decoupling can assist us to isolate higher frequencies, but not low frequencies, because the captured lower frequencies will be transmitted to one of the walls by the air inside the hollow.
Green Glue might help to reduce the transfer of low frequencies to the wall. Green glue has the power to transform soundwaves into heat and is particularly excellent in dealing with low-frequency sound energy and reducing sound in the building’s interior.
It’s inexpensive and recommended if you’re having trouble with low noise frequencies.
How to use Green Glue?
This is a three-step procedure for using green glue.
- On the backside of the second drywall, apply many coats of green glue; preferably, 1-2 tubes should suffice.
- Now press down this drywall on top of the existing wall, keeping in mind that it will dry in 15 minutes.
- Attach the second drywall to the existing drywall with screws.
As a result, green sealant can help us damper soundwaves and minimise resonance indirectly and is the most appropriate method for soundproofing existing walls.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| Green Glue | Dispensing gun |
Adding another drywall layer
We already added drywall on top of the wall to increase its density, but it will be more beneficial if you can add another layer of drywall to the several layers already in position.
With the new drywall arrangement, it’s a good idea to establish a decoupling zone between the two drywalls and, if feasible, utilize Green Glue to disperse noise energy into the heat energy.
The use of drywall can be an expensive option but is the most effective way to reduce noise. Therefore, use soundproof drywall with a sound transmission capacity of 50 or higher.
Fill the existing wall cavity with insulation
We previously knew that noise moves significantly faster when there are no powerful batteries, and the same is true for a wall with a large cavity.
If there is a cavity in your existing wall, we will need to fill it with insulation materials. Insulation comes in a variety of forms, including:
Spray foam insulation
Fibreglass insulation
Mineral wool insulation
Cellulose insulation
Spray foam insulation is the most commonly suggested insulation because it is made up of two chemical substances: isocyanate and polyol rasin.
How to use Spray Foam Insulation?
Unfortunately, professional installation of foam insulation is required; but, if you want to give it a go, here is a fast guide on how to do it yourself.
- Make a tiny hole in the drywall to allow space for the foam to be inserted.
- With the use of a blow-in pipe, inject the spray foam insulation.
- Hold it in place until it fills the cavity, then remove it.
- On the drywall, then seal pack the hole.
If spray foam insulation is too costly, cellulose-based insulation that has an STC score of 44 can be used to insulate an existing wall.
| Materials Needed |
| spray foam insulation |
Install acoustic panels on the existing wall
Acoustic panels are one of the most trustworthy and recommended noise absorption solutions; indeed, they operate as a noise absorber rather than a noise barrier.
It’s most commonly used in music studios to soak noise and increase sound quality, but it might also be used to soundproof an existing wall. The top ten best acoustic panel collections are shown below.
- Egg crate Acoustic Panel
- Flat-panel acoustic panel
- Pyramid Acoustic panel
- Grid Acoustic Panel
- Wedges Acoustic Panel
The flat panel acoustic panel is recommended for soundproofing existing walls.
How to install an acoustic panel on the wall?
When used in conjunction with all of the other soundproofing materials recommended, the acoustic panel can be quite effective.
- Clean down the wall with a dry cloth or towel to remove any dust.
- Compare the size of the wall to the size of the Acoustic foam panel.
- Now, using the knife or any other cutter, cut the acoustic panel to the proper size.
- To ensure accurate installation, sketch an outline of the panel size on the wall.
- Spray the reverse of the acoustic panel with an adhesive spray.
- Next press the foam on the wall for another 30 seconds, or till you’re satisfied that it’s set.
- Continue the process till the entire wall is covered.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| Acoustic foam panel | Acoustic caulking knife |
Use soft materials nearby the existing wall
Identify every small element of the space that can absorb noise, particularly any soft materials such as books and other such items.
Move items next to the wall, as they are the most effective at absorbing sound or noise. As a result, arrange the sofas against the wall.
Hang soft materials like curtains or blankets on the wall, and if you have one, place it close to the wall. If the area has carpeting, make sure it reaches the wall.
Have a thick, thick rug and lay it against the wall, and you can muffle the existing wall by just moving a few things about.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| curtains | A piece of cloth |
Conclusion
Thin walls are a nightmare waiting to happen, particularly if you work from home or simply enjoy quiet time. Some homes are built with thin or poorly insulated walls, resulting in potential noise issues that cause homeowners headaches. Soundproofing walls do not have to be costly or difficult. The elements I’ve discussed should help pave the way for you. And, most of all, all of the above mentioned choices can be set up in a day or less.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How to soundproof a wall cheaply?
Is soundproofing a costly endeavour?
As previously stated, there are numerous methods for soundproofing virtually every type of wall. Fortunately, each of these solutions varies in terms of how simple and cost-effective they are.
However, this does not always imply that spending more money would provide greater results. Adding mass to your wall is essentially what soundproofing is.
How to soundproof a 2×4 wall?
Just insulate the wall well and use a double layer of 5/8″ rock to assist soundproof the wall will go a long way. Squirted foam insulation has excellent audio numbing characteristics than batts and fully closes the stud cavity when placed.
What is the best way to dampen sound between rooms?
Thick blankets, moving pads, tapestries, or quilts can be used to cover the walls. Any soft material will do, though thicker fabrics will buffer more sound than thinner ones. Attach sound-absorbing panels to the walls and, if needed, the ceiling if you don’t mind the space taking on an industrial look.
Is there anything negative about soundproofing a wall?
Soundproofing a space tends to make it warmer, so keep that in mind. If the rooms are entirely soundproof, it’s a good idea to install some form of air conditioning equipment.
Can I soundproof a wall that has a window?
Any wall, even one with a window or door, can be enhanced. It may take a little more effort because you’ll have to work around the holes, but it’s still possible. Every method of soundproofing we’ve discussed can be used on a wall with a door or window.
How thick do soundproof walls have to be?
A conventional stud wall, consisting of two sheets of drywall with an air cavity 5 to 6 inches thick, is sufficient to create a soundproof wall. A concrete block must be at least a foot thick to be soundproof.
