How to increase sound insulation in a panel house apartment. How to make soundproofing walls with your own hands? Ready for soundproofing
Tired of being aware of the events taking place at the neighbors on the floor? Perhaps you yourself like to invite a noisy company to visit, or listen to good music, which, using headphones, cannot be appreciated. Conflicts over noise between neighbors in modern apartment buildings occur frequently. And this is due to the lack of good sound insulation of the walls. Fortunately, this lack of an apartment can be eliminated on its own.
Important point
It should be noted that sound insulation should perform two functions:
- Soundproofing. The sounds coming from the neighbors will be reflected, you will not hear what is happening behind the wall.
- Sound absorption. The sound waves propagating in your apartment will be absorbed by the sound insulation, the neighbors will not hear the noise coming from you.
Any of the three methods below will help you ensure soundproofing of the walls.
Ways to get rid of noise and order of work
We build a structure from drywall
What will be required
For this you need: drywall profile or wooden slats, hardware suitable for attaching the selected profile to the floor, ceiling and walls, sound-absorbing material, drywall and self-tapping screws for it.
Work order
- Before proceeding to the construction of a soundproof wall, it is necessary to eliminate all cracks and holes in it. Simply cover with cement mortar.
- Then we make a frame for future sound insulation. You should not fasten the profile directly to the wall itself, step back from it 2 centimeters. Under the profile, it is desirable to enclose a vibration-isolating material made of cork or rubber. After the frame is built, we put sound-absorbing material into it. It can be soft acoustic mineral wool, glass wool, or semi-rigid slabs of these materials. When choosing a sound-absorbing material, pay attention to the sound absorption coefficient - for soft materials, it is usually higher, and, therefore, sound insulation will be more effective.
- The next step is to fasten the drywall to the profile using self-tapping screws. Drywall is an excellent soundproofing material.
- Well, then everything is simple: we glue the joints of drywall sheets with a special mesh, putty plasterboard, glue wallpaper or paint the resulting wall.
Price
What will this pleasure cost? We consider approximately: drywall - 90 rubles per m2, sound-absorbing material - from 60 to 400 rubles per m2. These are the main costs, to which we add the cost of the profile and self-tapping screws.
The disadvantages of this method include the “dustiness” of the work, as well as the fact that each such wall will reduce the room by about 8 cm.
We buy ready-made decorative panels
There are several manufacturers of this type of panels on the market now. In the event that the wall is not perfectly flat, such panels will need a crate, to which they are attached to liquid nails and connected to each other using the tongue and groove method. This way to soundproof a room is quite simple, and the result is beautiful, since the panels have a ready-made decorative paper or fabric finish.
Issue price
The cost of panels is on average 750 rubles per m². The soundproofing properties of such panels will be comparable to the properties of materials from the first method. Among the advantages of mounting decorative panels, one should note their ease - one panel weighs about 4 kg.
This method should be used if you plan to insulate the entire room, and not just one wall. Decorative panels in this case will decorate the entire interior, and the area of \u200b\u200bthe room will decrease minimally.
We glue soundproofing on the wall: easier than ever and cheaper than cheap
The easiest and least expensive way is to buy rolled sound insulation, which you just need to glue to the wall with glue for vinyl wallpaper. For example, the Polyfom insulating substrate will cost 1310 rubles per roll, while covering 7 m² of the wall. Obviously, the option is the most budgetary, but also the least efficient - it will reduce the noise level by only 60%.
It is worth gluing such insulation if you rent a house and do not want to invest money in its repair.
Which way to choose? Decide for yourself, based on the calculation of your strengths and financial capabilities. Let the work done bring the expected result!
Video: an example of soundproofing walls in an apartment
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Discussion:
Uralets said:
I read the comments ... People have a strange vision of silence. I wandered here to catch the zen from true silence. And everyone has a problem only with the music of the neighbors.
At the right time, but loudly, and even more so at indecent times and loudly - it is decided for 200 rubles. You go to a hardware store - you buy a wrench (larger), come back, knock (on your neighbors) - and with all your foolishness hit them in the knee (them, him, her - who will open it). Mute mode is guaranteed.
Alexander said:
We have such a thing. On our side, the walls are insulated with 36 mm thick foam plastic, and the neighbors have drywall on the walls where there is a void between the wall and the drywall itself, they didn’t even lay mineral wool. T.K. Their Builders told them, they say, it is not necessary, and so the walls are thick. And the walls are made of cinder block and concrete in places. While the neighbors themselves lived, everything was fine, and now they have rented out housing and this has begun ...... Everything is heard. A lonely, loving lady settled there ... .., tell me, if the neighbors at least lay a mineral wool between a sheet of drywall and a wall, taking into account our warm wall, will this help us ???))))
Aldos said:
Lyuda, mineral wool is not very useful thing. Google it, you will find a lot of information about it. Some sources claim that mineral wool is a carcinogen!!! Better try foamed polyurethane, it seems to be more neutral.
Luda said:
We made soundproofing with mineral wool, but the sound from the neighbors decreased, but did not disappear, but a new problem appeared - dry air. Now we don’t sleep in the bedroom, but we cough, can anyone tell me what to do?
Vlad said:
A video about egg containers, not so stupid. As it may seem. I have experience with soviet neighbors who don't suck in heavy metal. For cardboard, especially uneven surface, the best sound absorption coefficient. Bonus: the best absorbent floor (for downstairs neighbors) 5 - 10 cm layer broken glass(bottle) pressed with boards on screws
I can only speak based on personal experience. My neighbors are avid “music lovers” and for a very long time they tortured me with specific music at different times of the day, often in the evenings. No complaints and exhortations helped, and there was no way to change the apartment, and the apartment itself is good. So I decided to repair and soundproofing. Let me just say that it helped a lot. Now I can calmly be in my apartment without any deliveries from the neighbors. but keep in mind that wall insulation takes up some of the footage: frame + material. I have a couple square meters ate. If the size of the room is large or medium - it's not scary, but if the apartment is small, then this is already problematic.
Antic said:
Mira, you need not worry. Any soundproofing will be useful for both you and your neighbors. And it will work equally in both directions. Of course there are certain nuances. For example, the noise of a perforator is almost impossible to reduce, because its impacts are transmitted by vibration.
mirabis said:
Finally found good advice regarding the soundproofing of the apartment. The issue of relations with neighbors is quite painful, especially because of the noise. However, in this article it remains unclear - who should isolate themselves from whom? It seemed to me that all three councils help neighbors more. That is, if any of the technologies is applied, then the sounds from my apartment will be absorbed. But what to do if it is the neighbors who get the noise? I would also like to know about the percentage of sound absorption from inside and outside the room, where all the above options for wall insulation were used.
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We live in a world of constant noise pollution, and this significantly affects our emotional and physical state. If at work and on the street we perceive noise as inevitable, then at home we want silence and a relaxing holiday. However, in your own apartment sometimes there are extraneous noises from the street and from neighbors. Then we think about how to provide the desired level of acoustic comfort in our own home. Let's try to pick one for you optimal solution this task by hand.
CLOSING FROM THE NOISE FROM BOTTOM
We must be prepared for the fact that we will not be able to completely get rid of the noise coming from the lower neighbors. The structures of multi-storey buildings are interconnected and inevitably transmit sounds along walls and ceilings. But these noises can be noticeably muffled - then life will become more comfortable. There are few ways to soundproof from noise from below. The bottom line is to lay porous sound-absorbing materials in the base of the floor, followed by laying the finish coat.
WE SOLVE THE PROBLEM COMPREHENSIVELY
The best soundproofing result can only be obtained with a comprehensive interior decoration, when we isolate the walls, floor and ceiling. You can soundproof the floor, but there will be noise penetrating from the walls and ceiling. This is a rather complex acoustic problem, especially in panel houses with thin partitions. In fact, you will have to create structures that are defined as "a room in a room", which will significantly reduce the area of \u200b\u200bthe apartment and the height of the ceilings. In addition, even the best soundproofing materials do not cope well with vibration (structural) noise from a working hammer drill and knocking on concrete. These sounds easily propagate through walls, ceilings, heating and water supply pipes. With the usual "air" noise from a loud conversation, music, a working TV, you can handle it yourself.
PAY ATTENTION TO WINDOWS AND DOORS
The front door sometimes does not cope well with the noise from the corridors and the stairwell. It is possible to improve its properties with the help of soundproofing sheathing, and fill the gaps between the box and the concrete opening with mounting foam. The gaps between the door leaf are closed with tubular seals on a self-adhesive tape. A more reliable option is to install a vestibule with an additional inner door. The sound insulation of windows is noticeably improved after the installation of double-glazed windows with a large number of chambers and different glass thicknesses.
WE MAKE A FLOATING SCREED
If you have an apartment in a new building and you have not moved in yet, it's time to take care of reducing the noise from the neighbors below. This can be done with the help of a new screed, arranged according to the floating principle. It will be separated from the floor slabs and walls of the room with soundproofing materials. The sequence of your actions is as follows.
First of all, we will close the floor slabs with dense polyethylene so that moisture does not leak to your neighbors. On top of the film layer, we lay sheets of extruded polystyrene foam with a thickness of 30–40 mm. This will be the soundproofing layer of the floor, but we still need to separate the screed from contact with the walls. The so-called damper tape, or foamed polyethylene, which is sold in rolls in stores, is suitable. We take the thickness of 8–10 mm. Strips wider than the height of the planned screed are mounted on the walls around the entire perimeter of the room, near the floor.
However, the screed still needs to be strengthened so that it does not crack. Typically, a masonry mesh is used with cells of 50x50 mm or 100x100 mm, with a wire thickness of 3 mm. We lay it on top of the foam plastic with cards and connect it with a knitting wire. For strength, we install the mesh with a small gap above the expanded polystyrene plane so that the reinforcement is inside the "body" of the screed. Then we fill in the cement-sand mixture with a thickness of 30–50 mm. This is quite enough to get a solid concrete pavement which has nothing to do with the design of the house. Then the screed dries, you prime it and you can lay any floor covering. Sounds from neighbors below will be reliably muffled by polystyrene foam and a massive concrete base.
A wonderful result will be that your neighbors below will also not hear the sound of your steps - the floating screed effectively dampens structural noise in the ceilings high-rise building.
Expert advice
As a soundproofing layer under the floor screed, you can use mats made of stone wool high density, which are used for insulation of facades.
WHAT TO DO IF THE FLOORS ARE WOODEN?
With wooden flooring in houses old building the matter is more complicated. Wooden coverings will have to be dismantled to assess the state of the lag. Perhaps they are in good condition, then you can leave them and you will have less work. enough to process wooden frame antiseptic and lags further strengthen.
After that, the space between them is filled with expanded clay or mineral wool. Leave an air gap for ventilation. Now you can mount the subflooring. We install the tongue-and-groove boards as tightly as possible to each other and attach them to the logs with self-tapping screws. If the lag installation step allows, you can mount the flooring from 20 mm thick plywood or moisture-resistant OSB board - this will be faster and more reliable. Finish coat can be made with linoleum, carpet, parquet board or laminate, with the obligatory installation of the substrate.
Expert advice
Well extinguishes the sound of high frequencies (TV, stereo systems, barking dogs) cork flooring. Its honeycomb structure can reduce noise levels by up to 50 decibels. Cork sheets are tightly glued to a flat subfloor, without seams. As a rule, they are already covered with a layer of polyurethane varnish and form a durable monolithic coating.
WE MAKE SOUND INSULATION OF WALLS
First of all, carefully inspect the walls. Various cracks, holes and niches can serve as good sound conductors. Cover them with gypsum plaster before starting soundproofing work.
We will cover the walls with mats from mineral wool- It is cheaper than other materials and absorbs sound well. Mats are installed using a frame. There are several nuances in his device.
This frame must not be attached directly to walls through which noise penetrates. We fix the profiles on the floor and ceiling through rubber gaskets. You can make them yourself from porous rubber or buy ready-made tape insulation.
When using mineral wool in the frame, followed by plasterboard sheathing, you can reduce the sound load by 40-45 decibels, which already makes the conversations of neighbors inaudible. Efficiency is equal to brickwork at 20 cm.
HOW TO GET MORE EFFECT
For maximum effect, you need to tightly close all the cracks with cotton wool so that there are no voids left, and fill the cavities of the profiles with cotton wool or mounting foam to reduce the resonant sound transmission.
It is better to sheathe the frame from the outside with a double layer of drywall with offset joints in layers. Drywall should not touch the floor and walls - leave a gap of 5 mm, which then needs to be closed with silicone sealant. You can use gypsum fiber sheets instead of drywall, which absorb sound better. Along the way, you will create additional thermal insulation of your rooms. Styrofoam in soundproofing walls is pointless to use. It absorbs little to no sound, and its high-density panels can even resonate in the frame, amplifying low frequencies.
To soundproof the ceiling, we recommend fixing mineral wool mats with glue and umbrella dowels (fungi). This is an option for the subsequent installation of a stretch ceiling, since the plasterboard construction is complex, laborious in execution and reduces the height of the ceiling by 170–200 mm.
In the methods of soundproofing an apartment, there are other technologies. We told you about the basic ones that you can do yourself. As you can see, this is a very simple task, as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is to understand how you can turn off extraneous sounds so that they do not penetrate your home.
From this article you will learn:
- What are the types and sources of noise
- What materials are commonly used for soundproofing
- What are the soundproofing methods?
- How to make soundproofing of the ceiling, floor, walls, front door, do-it-yourself joints
- What tips should you follow to properly soundproof your apartment?
- What myths and misconceptions exist regarding sound insulation in an apartment
Today, almost half of the domestic housing stock consists of housing that is characterized by poor sound insulation, which significantly reduces the level of comfort. Given this circumstance, the popularity of soundproofing services for walls, ceilings and floors can be explained with the help of modern materials. At the same time, it is quite possible to solve such a problem on your own. Companies that work in the field of soundproofing technologies offer a wide range of solutions that even a person who does not have special knowledge in the field of construction and installation can use. various designs. You will find more complete information on how to make soundproofing in an apartment in this article.
From whom and what do soundproofing in the apartment
Before deciding how to soundproof your home, you need to understand the main sources of noise that are present in apartment buildings (MKD). The correct definition of the source of sound vibrations greatly simplifies the task. In some cases, labor-intensive and costly operations can be avoided by insulating a single structural element.
There are two types of noise:
- wave noise- spreads through the air. Sources of sound waves: loud conversations, music, barking dogs, etc.
- vibration noise- distributed in building structures and engineering communications. Its sources can be construction tools (drill, hammer, perforator, etc.) or Appliances(washing machine).
The main sources of noise in the apartment:
- Noise from the street penetrates into the dwelling through window openings. You can get rid of the noise of passing vehicles or loud voices coming from the playground only after installation window system with triple glazing. Curtains made of thick fabric can act as additional noise insulation.
- Noise from the entrance enters through the front door. It is not entirely comfortable, being in an apartment, to hear the noise of a working elevator, the knock of doors and the conversations of neighbors on the landing, or, conversely, to understand that everything that happens in your home is heard in the entrance. Both problems can be solved by soundproofing the door structure. To do this, the door leaf must be upholstered with sound-absorbing material, and also use a high-quality seal along the contour. door frame.
- Noise from adjoining apartments enters through wall structures, through rosettes, gaps between floor elements, etc. Too noisy neighbors (lovers of loud music, parties, home repairs, etc.) are most often cited as the decisive factor that encourages soundproofing in an apartment. It all depends on the number of "irritating" sources. If these are neighbors “through the wall”, then soundproofing of the adjacent wall structure can be dispensed with. If noisy residents surround from all sides, as well as from above and below, you will have to make complete soundproofing.
- Noise from your apartment also goes through all the constructions described here. Therefore, if you yourself like noisy parties, are fond of music, or you have hyperactive children, then, in order to avoid quarrels and visits from the district police officer, it is better to make soundproofing in the apartment as soon as possible.
Another point is related to the quality of the soundproofing materials used. Manufacturers offer a wide range of solutions that differ in price, composition used and performance.
In order to reliably isolate wall structures from the penetration of external noise, it is necessary with the help of building materials to create conditions under which noise waves would be scattered and absorbed. In addition, an obstacle should be created in the path of vibrational vibrations and an opportunity should be provided for reflecting sound waves.
Sound waves attenuate when passing through various media. At the same time, multi-layer sound insulation is more effective than single-layer, having a large thickness.
Misconceptions and myths about soundproofing in an apartment
Myth 1: To make soundproofing in an apartment, it is enough to provide soundproofing of wall structures, behind which the noise source is located.
Noise is sound waves that propagate in a straight line. Thus, the sound from the TV working behind the wall will pass not only through the wall, but also through the interfloor ceilings, communication systems and technological openings (for example, ventilation). Noise isolation of the wall will only partially muffle the penetrating noise. In order to ensure comfort in the apartment, it is necessary to analyze the situation, which will help to identify the most weak spots in terms of soundproofing.
Myth 2: For good sound insulation, it is enough to paste over the room with expensive, thin, but effective rolled sound insulation for walls.
It is this information that can be found in various promotional materials that claim that various membrane technologies are already widely used in European countries. But in practice, things look a little different. Such membranes are ineffective on their own. They are usually used in conjunction with traditional soundproofing solutions, which only drives up the cost of the job.
One of the arguments that marketers use when promoting soundproof membranes is that in the automotive industry, membrane materials no more than 5 millimeters thick are used to soundproof car interiors. But in this case we are talking about a completely different noise suppression technology, which is effective only for thin plates. The thickness of the metal from which the car body is made is a few millimeters and less than the thickness of the membrane used. And now, let's calculate how thick this type of sound insulation will be needed for a wall structure with a thickness of, for example, 100 millimeters. In order to verify the information provided here, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the technical documentation for thin super sound insulation. In fact, it turns out that this is just a publicity stunt to increase the cost of soundproofing.
Myth 3: Solve the noise problem with sound-absorbing materials.
Popular sound-absorbing materials: Heradesign, Mappysil and Ecofon feature minimal thickness and high efficiency sound absorption, but are completely unsuitable for sound insulation. To understand this, you need to understand what is the difference between sound insulation and sound absorption. Insulating materials are designed to protect from external influences, and absorbing materials are needed in order to prevent echoes and absorb sounds, the sources of which are devices and equipment located inside the room (TV, telephone, music center, etc.). Noise-absorbing materials are commonly used in home theaters.
Myth 4: You can make soundproofing of the walls in the apartment using only foam.
It will be a big mistake to decide to make soundproofing with expanded polystyrene. After sheathing a room with such material, sound insulation may even worsen. Since Styrofoams are rigid and have a closed cell structure, when in contact with a solid wall, they can cause a resonance phenomenon for medium frequency sound waves. As you know, mid frequencies are typical for human speech, therefore, with such isolation, you can hear even better what your neighbors are talking about. Only an illiterate specialist can offer to make soundproofing using foam.
Myth 5: Before buying noise insulation, you should pay attention to the airborne sound insulation index (Rw).
The Rw index does not always accurately indicate the level of sound insulation of the system. The method for calculating the airborne sound insulation index was developed back in Soviet times, so it does not take into account some noise sources, which are modern household equipment. In other words, it focuses more on loud speech, TV sound, or music, but does not take into account low-frequency sounds produced by subwoofers, home theaters, and home appliances. Fibrous insulation with high Rw will be a high-quality protection against medium-frequency sound waves. But in order to absorb low-frequency noise, it, in addition to the sound absorber layer, must have a thick facing layer.
How to make soundproofing in an apartment with your own hands: starting with the basics
Construction professionals note that panel-type houses, which were built ten or more years ago, are distinguished by high sound conductivity. In some cases, apartments in such MKDs can be compared in terms of comfort with communal apartments, where you can hear almost everything that happens behind the wall. In this regard, for the owners of such housing, the question of how to make sound insulation in a panel house apartment is very acute.
First of all, it is necessary to determine the thickness of the walls and the material of their manufacture.
If the wall structures are sufficiently reliable, then the cause of good audibility may be incorrectly installed sockets and various defects in the form of cracks and crevices. In this case, it will be enough to perform work to eliminate the shortcomings, as well as to replace window and door structures.
If the walls are in order, and the noise still penetrates the apartment, you must do the following:
- Make wall preparation.
Before you make good sound insulation in the apartment, you must thoroughly clean the surface of the walls from dirt and check them for cracks and other defects. Identified cracks should be properly puttied, as they contribute to the penetration of extraneous sounds.
The next step will be the soundproofing of electrical outlets. If it is necessary to move the socket, then the remaining hole must be filled with mounting foam, and even better with gypsum or DSP. When performing electrical work, the safety regulations must be strictly observed.
At the end preparatory phase it is necessary to insulate the heating pipes in the places where they pass in the wall structure. An elastic sealant is used to seal all seams and joints.
- Choosing a soundproofing material
Repairing cracks in walls is only initial stage arrangement of sound insulation in the apartment. For reliable protection against extraneous noise, you will need high-quality soundproof materials, which are presented in a wide range in the catalogs of specialized companies. It is not necessary to choose expensive options. You can choose a proven sound insulation that perfectly combines price and quality indicators.
How to choose reliable soundproofing materials at an affordable cost? It is necessary to compare the sound insulation parameters with the characteristics of the apartment. You should take into account the area of \u200b\u200brooms, the dimensions of window and door structures, the thickness of the walls and their quality. The choice of soundproofing materials with an excessively large thickness can significantly reduce the area of \u200b\u200bthe apartment, taking away several tens of millimeters from each wall. In this regard, you can pay attention to cork wallpapers, which are distinguished by high-quality sound insulation.
How to soundproof walls in an apartment: choose a material
So, what materials for soundproofing are usually used?
Soft noise isolation
- soundproof membranes. They can be ordinary and self-adhesive. Such membranes are produced from synthetic or natural fibers. In the assortment of such products, bituminous polymeric sound insulation for floors with a layer of polyester fiber is separately presented.
- Acoustic insulation made of needle-punched fiberglass. Such materials are used for ceiling structures and walls. This is the most successful option in order to make high-quality sound insulation of frame structures.
- Polyester backing available for floating floors, but can also be used as a base for laminate flooring.
- Mineral wool- the most common material that differs affordable price and good heat and sound insulation characteristics.
Solid insulation includes structures in the form of plates and panels made of soundproofing materials
- Combined panels consist of two sheets and a layer between them. They are made from particle boards with the inclusion of synthetic or cork materials. Mineral wool or quartz sand is usually used for the layer.
- Basalt slabs are made from natural fibers. There are basalt slabs treated with special water-repellent mixtures.
- Polyester fiber boards are synthetic material, which has been widely used in frame building technologies.
- Staple weave fiberglass boards are used as a filler for the inter-profile space, as well as for sound insulation of suspended ceilings and frame wall structures.
- Cork slabs as finishing panels as well as cork flooring can be installed without the use of additional noise insulation.
- Foam boards are the most affordable soundproofing material. Despite the fact that in terms of their characteristics they are inferior to more modern sound insulation, such plates are still very popular when performing budget repair. The company "My Repair" performs high-quality and inexpensive repairs in Moscow and the Moscow region.
Liquid insulation
Soundproofing materials have a serious drawback - they take up a lot of free space. After their installation, the room will lose in area. The use of liquid sound insulation will help to avoid this.
For its arrangement, you will need a special adhesive composition, which does not take up much space. It is often used between layers of GKL, GVL and plywood. A small layer of such insulation is not inferior in quality to traditional materials of large thickness.
It is worth mentioning the improvised soundproofing
Many are interested in how to make soundproofing in an apartment if the wallpaper is already pasted. In this case, you can use a number of interior decor elements that will reduce the noise level by almost 30%:
- Large carpet on the floor or wall.
- The furniture wall, located along the wall, will turn loud sounds, the source of which is located at the neighbors, into a soft hum.
- Thick curtains on the windows will reduce the level of street noise in the apartment.
It should be noted that only right choice soundproofing materials will achieve a good result. When deciding what kind of sound insulation to make in an apartment, pay attention to other characteristics of such materials: thickness, thermal insulation performance, etc.
Ways to soundproof an apartment
There are three ways to make soundproofing in an apartment:
- Wireframe method involves the arrangement of guides on which the facing panels will be fixed. After installing the sound-absorbing material, sound-reflecting panels are placed between the rails.
The advantage of this method is that when correct installation panels achieve a high level of sound insulation. At the same time, this option is quite expensive and takes up a lot of free space in the room.
- Installation of plates and membranes involves the installation of sound insulation directly on walls, floors or ceiling structures. After installing the plates with the help of special fasteners or glue, they are covered with thin facing panels. In terms of the quality of protection against extraneous noise, this method is not inferior to frame technology but is much cheaper.
- "Floating" the method is used for soundproofing floors. To do this, a soundproofing material is spread on the prepared surface, which is covered with waterproofing on top. A reinforcing screed is installed on top of such a flooring, on which a floor covering is installed. Since this soundproofing option does not use rigid mounts, it provides reliable protection from vibration noise.
How to soundproof the ceiling in an apartment
The most practical and effective option for soundproofing an apartment from upstairs neighbors is to install suspended or suspended ceilings. Such work should be carried out by experienced specialists who are well aware of the features of the technological process. For high-quality repairs in Moscow and the Moscow region, you can contact the My Repair company.
In order to save money, you can independently make soundproofing of the ceiling in the apartment using multi-layer structures. This option is within the power of even a novice master. It includes the following steps:
- Dismantling of the old coating.
- The ceiling is pasted over with a special acoustic material, additionally fixing it with dowels.
- Hanging profiles for installing drywall must be fixed at intervals of 60 cm.
- Soundproofing boards are installed in the resulting structure in such a way as to leave a small air layer between acoustic coating and slabs (from 50 to 100 mm).
- The resulting structure is lined with sheets of drywall.
Pay Special attention on the quality of the materials used. This will ensure your comfort and coziness in the future.
Soundproofing the floor provides protection from noise coming from the floor below, and also saves you from complaints from neighbors living there about loud sounds coming from your apartment.
There are also two solutions here: make soundproofing with your own hands or turn to professionals. In the first case, it is necessary to strictly follow the installation instructions for soundproofing the floor.
- Sealing joints.
In preparation for installation work it is necessary to inspect the joints of interfloor ceilings and walls. If cracks are found, they should be repaired with cement mortar or polyurethane foam. Cracks in building structures most often act as a factor contributing to increased sound conductivity.
- Plinth installation.
Exists important feature installing the skirting board on the floor with a "floating" base. Such systems can move, which will lead to deformation and destruction of the baseboard, so it is attached only on one side. To increase the quality of sound insulation, strips of special material are installed under the plinth.
- Lag installation.
When installing the log, avoid direct contact with the walls and the base of the floor. In these places, gaskets made of rubber or other noise-insulating material should be placed. Do not use rigid connections for mounting the log, as they will be conductors of vibration noise.
- Substrate arrangement.
For floor coverings from the laminate, you need to use a substrate based on polyester fibers, which provides good sound insulation.
The carpet on the floor will help to increase the effect.
For any type of floor soundproofing, it is necessary to follow the procedure and use quality materials.
How to soundproof walls in an apartment
It makes no sense to soundproof all the walls in the apartment, including interior partitions. It is enough to isolate structures that are adjacent to neighbors and the stairwell.
Soundproofing membranes on "self-adhesive", combined panels or plates, which are placed on a special frame, are used as soundproofing for wall surfaces. It should be noted that thicker materials will reduce the amount of usable space in the rooms.
An important condition for high-quality sound insulation is the absence of through sockets. If there are any, the space between them should be filled with noise-absorbing material or mounting foam.
Before installing sound insulation, it is necessary to carry out preparatory operations:
- Dismantling of the old wall covering (wallpaper, decorative panels).
- Dismantling electrical outlets and switches. If there is a junction box for wiring, you need to remove the cover from it. Be sure to de-energize the wiring first.
- Pull the wiring out of the box and sockets for switches and sockets.
- Extend the wiring for the switch and sockets to the width of the future insulation.
- Temporarily insulate exposed wire ends.
- Fill the nests and the box with mounting foam.
- Check the wall for cracks.
- If cracks are found, they must be sealed with cement mortar.
If you do not have the relevant knowledge and skills, invite a professional electrician to perform electrical work.
The most effective soundproofing option in panel apartment – wireframe method. Let's take a closer look at its stages.
- Stick a soundproof membrane on the wall surface. For this, a self-adhesive membrane or a regular one, which is mounted on a special glue, is suitable.
- Make the frame of the frame using vertical guides along the edges of the wall and horizontal ones under the ceiling and on the floor. Dowel-screws are used for mounting guides.
- At a distance of 0.4 - 0.5 meters from each other, install vertical guides inside the frame.
- Install the noise insulation between the frame rails with glue or flexible metal tape that is attached to the rails with screws.
- In the resulting frame there should be no voids and gaps.
- Lead the wires of the switch and sockets through the soundproofing
- Fasten drywall sheets or decorative boards to the frame. Holes must be made in sheets or slabs for the junction box, electrical outlets and switches.
- Carefully seal the interpanel seams.
- Do finishing walls with wallpaper or plaster.
- Install electrical outlets, switch and junction box.
How to make soundproofing the front door in the apartment
The front door is one of the most significant structures in terms of soundproofing an apartment. The main condition that will help get rid of extraneous sounds penetrating from landing- no gaps in the door structure. To reduce sound transmission, rubber seals should be installed along the entire perimeter door leaf and equip a small threshold in front of the door frame. If there are gaps between the box and the wall, they should be sealed with cement mortar.
For more effective sound insulation, in addition to the main entrance door, you can install an additional one. The vestibule formed in this case will dampen sound waves.
How much does it cost to soundproof an apartment
The cost of sound insulation in an apartment depends on several factors, including the existing and required level of sound transmission, materials and quality of building structures, as well as the method of solving such a problem. For reference, we can say that the sound insulation of 1 m 2 of a wall costs from 310 to 400 rubles, and the installation of an acoustic suspension ceiling structure from 240 to 600 rubles. for 1 m 2.
When solving special problems of arranging sound insulation in rooms with special requirements (for example, a home theater, a recording studio, etc.), the cost of sound insulation will be higher than under standard conditions.
Residents of multi-apartment panel buildings most often suffer from poor sound insulation. High level noise in the apartment is provided by poor joining of panels, small thickness of ceilings between floors. Repairs, noisy festivities, loud TV or music sound ... All extraneous sounds can be left outside the door if you make good soundproofing in the apartment.
Soundproofing your home depends on what type of noise you want to eliminate. All noises are divided into two categories: vibrational (those that arise under the influence of shocks and propagate exclusively in a solid medium) and acoustic (which are transmitted in the form of vibrations by air). Impact noise can be well “felt” on yourself during repairs at the neighbors. Acoustic noise is what you hear during a noisy neighbors party, music, laughter, loud conversations. The soundproofing of the apartment should be comprehensive. That is, the walls, floor and ceiling are subject to special finishing. In addition, doors and windows should protect your home from extraneous noise as much as possible. It is best to take care of the soundproofing of the dwelling at the stage of its construction, however, since this option is not suitable for an apartment, it is possible to ensure silence in the room using special sound-absorbing materials.
Remember that the best effect is achieved only with an integrated approach to solving the problem of excess noise in the apartment. Use only high-quality materials, and if necessary, seek help from specialists.
Every person, regardless of the type of their activity, needs regular rest. For many people, the main place of rest is the apartment, which, unfortunately, is not always able to provide a suitable level of comfort for this. The reason is simple - in most apartments, the isolation of extraneous sounds is at such a level that there can be no talk of any rest. Repair, a party or a crying child - the sounds are heard so clearly, as if they are heard not from the neighbors, but in your own apartment. In such situations, additional sound insulation of the apartment, especially the ceiling and walls, usually saves.
Soundproofing in an apartment should be carried out comprehensively, if you ignore at least one small area, extraneous sounds can easily penetrate through it into your home.
Where to begin
Any serious work always begins with careful planning. First you need to decide on the available budget, which you are ready to allocate for soundproofing measures. After that, you need to decide what exactly you will work on: on the entire room or on its individual elements (for example, the ceiling and walls).
Floor soundproofing
It is best to start soundproofing a room from the floor. First, try to find all the holes and cracks that should be carefully caulked. It is not difficult to find them - they are usually located at the joints of the plates. Fill the gaps with a soft soundproof material (for example, mineral wool).
This is followed by the installation of beam logs on the floor, the cells of which correspond to the size of mineral wool slabs. Under the logs, a gasket made of technical cork is laid, and in the resulting mesh - mineral wool slabs with a thickness of about 45-50 mm.
floor soundproofing scheme Then, chipboard plates are laid on the created coating and screwed to the logs with self-tapping screws. This is followed by either laying carpet or pouring concrete screed(do not forget about the impregnation of the bars with special protective compounds). On this, the process of soundproofing the floor can be considered almost complete. The gap between the walls and joists is carefully filled with mineral wool and should not be more than 20 mm, otherwise extraneous sounds can enter your home through these holes.
Soundproofing the walls in the apartment
The process of soundproofing walls is somewhat similar to soundproofing floors, but there are still some differences. First of all, you need to get rid of all the defects and irregularities that are present on the work surface. In addition, sockets, slots, gaps between pipes and ceilings need to be carefully insulated. To work with pipes, you can use an elastic sealant.
Scheme of soundproofing walls using drywall and using the Knauf vibration profile After completing this stage, you can proceed to the main work. To begin with, a frame made of wooden or metal profiles is mounted on the walls, to which drywall slabs will be attached in the future. Mineral wool is laid between the drywall and the main surface, and a thin layer of soundproofing material is laid under the profiles.
Soundproofing the ceiling in the apartment
High-quality soundproofing of an apartment is not complete without work on the ceiling. Many people find that in such cases it is best to use suspended ceiling, but in reality a tension structure will give a greater result. At the same time, fiberglass or mineral wool plates should be attached to the main ceiling, which will further enhance the effect. On my own stretch ceiling capable of absorbing up to 38 dB.
Ceiling soundproofing scheme Naturally, in addition to mineral wool, you can use any other sound-absorbing materials, which today are of great variety.
- Isoplat. A material produced in the form of slabs from the fibers of coniferous trees. No adhesives or chemical additives are used in its manufacture.
- Izolon. It is a foamed cross-linked polyethylene, that is, the molecules form a single lattice. As a rule, it is produced in the form of rolls, which are used as a substrate for wallpaper.
- Isotex (softboard). The basis of this material are plates of soft fiberboard. It belongs to the category of environmentally friendly materials, since only components of natural origin are used in its manufacture. Perfectly absorbs any noise, which allows it to become an excellent material for almost all soundproofing work.
- Ecowool. The composition of this sound insulator includes about 80% cellulose (waste paper and special additives that improve the quality of the material). Ecowool is not afraid of exposure to rodents and fungi, so it is ideal for insulating walls and ceilings.
- Penotherm. In the manufacture of this material, foamed polypropylene is used, the quality of which is improved through the use of special additives. It has excellent impact sound insulation properties, making it ideal for soundproofing floors.
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The main mistakes in soundproofing an apartment
Unfortunately, no one is immune from mistakes, and during soundproofing work, people can sometimes make very annoying mistakes that nullify all efforts.
Electrical sockets
One of the most likely sources of noise from neighbors entering your apartment may be an ordinary socket, the installation of which fell on the inter-apartment wall. The reason is that some reinforced concrete wall slabs, even at the time of production, provided for the presence of through holes where electrical fittings would be installed.
In such cases, builders simply need to install sockets in two adjacent apartments, while leaving a through channel, which will be the source of extraneous noise penetration.
Here it is recommended to dismantle the electrical outlet and the mounting box (of course, observing all safety rules). It is likely that in the process of work you will see the bottom of the mounting box of another outlet. A layer of mineral wool, basalt cardboard or asbestos fabric must be laid in the hole. After that, the hole is carefully sealed with cement mortar or gypsum putty (do not forget to leave room for the subsequent installation of your electrical outlet). When carrying out these works, it is advisable to resort to the help of a professional electrician.
Remember that it is highly not recommended to use mounting foam to seal the hole without further plastering, since this combustible material is not a sound insulator.
Mounting electrical boxes
Mounting boxes, which are designed to connect electrical cables, are in most cases located in the central part of the inter-apartment walls under the ceiling. Usually they are hidden under the wallpaper, so you can find them only by "tapping". In addition, mounting boxes are often placed in through holes in the walls, covered with thin plastic covers.
Sound insulation of mounting boxes is carried out using the same technology as electrical outlets. At the same time, the help of an electrician in this case will already be a prerequisite, since it is highly not recommended to carry out these works on your own.
Heating and water supply risers
According to building codes, risers of water supply pipelines and should be laid through using vibration-isolated sleeves. To do this, it is necessary to install in the ceiling metal pipe, the diameter of which is greater than that of the riser. The gap between the pipes is filled with non-combustible sound-absorbing material, additionally sealing with a non-hardening sealant.
But in reality, these works are sometimes not carried out - they simply forget about the use of mineral wool or sleeves. As a result, after several years of operation, gaps form between the floor slab and the riser pipe, which are sources of not only extraneous noise, but also unpleasant odors.
To solve this problem, two methods can be used. In the event that the riser passes through the coating in the sleeve, then you need to carefully seal the gap between the riser and the sleeve using a heat-resistant silicone sealant. If the riser passes directly through the ceiling, then next to the pipe it is necessary to thoroughly clean and remove the damaged layer of cement mortar to the maximum depth, preventing it from entering someone else's apartment.
After that, the base of the pipe is wrapped with soundproofing material and the damaged area is cemented. Excess sound insulator is removed, after which the joint is sealed with silicone sealant.
Joints between floors and walls
In those areas where the floor overlap is adjacent to the walls, the formation deep cracks usually not uncommon. The main reason is poor-quality joints and low-quality leveling floor screed. Cracks that appear after a certain period of operation become an excellent conductor of sounds from neighboring apartments. 
To fix the problem, first of all, it is necessary to dismantle all the skirting boards around the perimeter of the room. If you can, then with a hammer and chisel, make a seam in the floor (along all walls), the width of which is about 30 mm for the entire depth of the screed. Then this seam must be filled with a cement-sand mixture. Once cement mortar dry, the joints are treated with a non-hardening silicone sealant.
In the event that partial dismantling of the screed is not possible, for example, due to the presence of parquet, the expansion joint is filled with silicone sealant. After that, you need to attach the skirting boards in place.
Joints between wall-to-wall and wall-to-ceiling slabs
In most cases, long-term operation is accompanied by the formation of deformation cracks located between the ceilings and reinforced concrete slabs. Basically, these cracks are located under the wallpaper, so it is not always possible to notice them in time and determine the source of extraneous noise in the apartment.
First you need to remove the old wallpaper and embroider the joints between the concrete panels. The resulting voids are filled with a cement mixture or gypsum putty. When the putty dries, all joints are carefully coated with acrylic sealant. Excess sealant is removed, and the room is pasted over with new wallpaper.
Window
Windows can be a source of penetration into a dwelling not only of traffic noise, but also of the sounds of a music center from a neighboring apartment. This problem can be fixed by replacing the old wooden windows on modern window structures made of metal-plastic. But it should be noted that certain noise from indoor sources may become more pronounced, which occurs as a result of the lack of masking of these sounds by street noise.
Modern plastic windows quite reliably solve the problem of the penetration of extraneous noise from the street into the apartment In this case, it is necessary to carry out a number of the following actions:
- To increase the quality of sound insulation of an old window, replacing existing 4 mm glass with thicker models, for example, 5 or 6 mm, will help.
- Before starting the installation of new glass, the mounting points of the window sash around the entire perimeter should be carefully smeared with transparent silicone sealant. Then the glass is pressed tightly into the silicone “roller” formed in the sash. After that, the installation of glazing beads and the removal of excess silicone is carried out.
- Along the contour of the narthex in each casement a rubber seal is attached, which has a section in the shape of the letter "D". If as a result of this the window has become worse to open, you need to seek help from a carpenter.
Alignment is highly discouraged. window slopes using drywall sheets, since resonance phenomena formed in air cavities can cause a decrease in the sound insulation of the window. In these cases, it is best to use cement-sand plaster, which is ideal for finishing slopes.
Entrance doors
Increased sound insulation of the entrance door, unfortunately, cannot always be a reliable guarantee of noise reduction that occurs as a result of the operation of an elevator winch or cabin (since these sounds are propagated through building structures). But, together with it, you can easily get rid of a lot of everyday noises, for example, the sound of heels on the stairs or the noise of elevator doors closing.
To get rid of this problem, the entrance group to the apartment should be equipped in the form of a vestibule. The inner door can be made decorative, but the outer door must be equipped with anti-burglary qualities.
Entrance door soundproofing scheme To ensure higher sound insulation, it is necessary to completely eliminate the various slots and holes that are located in the areas where the door leaf adjoins the frame at the moment the door is closed. To do this, it is necessary that the door frames must have a threshold, as well as a sealing gasket throughout the porch, for which it is best to use rubber profile seals.
In most cases, the mounting gap between the doorway and the door frame is filled with mounting foam, which does not prevent extraneous noise from entering the apartment. In such situations, the complete removal of the mounting foam is required, followed by the filling of all voids with a cement mixture. After the cement mortar dries, the areas where the door frame adjoins the wall structure are carefully treated with silicone sealant, which will prevent the formation of deformation cracks in the future.
