How to Build a Soundproof Drumming Shed (5 easy steps)
As a musician myself, finding a good place and time to practice can be a real challenge. Some people, like my old music teacher, own it and enjoy the acoustics of a tiled bathroom for saxophone practice. However, most of us have neighbours to consider and none more so than drummers. Many drummers end up having to hire practice rooms, which, while quiet for their neighbours is not very convenient!
How to Soundproof a Wooden Garden Room for a Drums Shed
How to Soundproof a Drumming Shed
Step 1 – Preparing the Drum Shed
Identify holes/gaps in the drum shed and fill with wood filler.
Ensure the door and any windows are properly sealed.
If the door is too light weight, apply a layer of Tecsound to the back of the door.
Over the Tecsound, fit a sheet of MDF.
Fit any socket boxes with the acoustic socket box inserts.
Read here for more advice with this step.
Step 2 – Soundproofing the Floor (optional)
Fit a carpet inside the drum shed, or, a large rug.
Have your MuteMat 2 ready to lay down before the drum kit is added.
Soundproofing the drum shed floor is not usually needed.
Step 3 – Soundproof the Drum Shed Ceiling (budget option)
Fill cavities between joists with acoustic mineral wool.
Seal the perimeter and any other gaps with acoustic sealant.
Board this in with MuteBoard 2 fitted to the joists with Drywall screws.
Seal between the soundproofing panels with acoustic sealant
Scrim tape all joints if skimming
It’s ready for your chosen final finish, i.e, MDF or skim.
Step 4 – Soundproofing Drum Shed Walls (budget option)
Insert acoustic mineral wall into joist cavities.
(Optional) cover joist surface with isolation strips
Screw MuteBoard 4 to the walls
Skim joins if skimming the walls
Cover with your desired final finish, i.e, MDF or chipboard
Step 5 – Acoustic Panels
Decide on the location of your drum kit.
Fit your first acoustic panel directly above the drum kit.
Fit the remaining panels to your walls.
Roll out your MuteMat 2 and install your drum kit!
Tools:
- Drill
- Screw Driver
- Saw
- Sealant Gun
- Stanley Knife
- Hammer
- Filler knife
Materials: MuteBoard 2 Soundproofing Pane, MuteMat 2 Soundproof drumming mat, Acoustic mineral wool insulation, MuteClip and Channel (Isolation clips), Isolation strips, Tecsound, Drywall Screws, Self-drilling Screws, Acoustic Sealant, Acoustic Panels, Scrim Tape, Acoustic Socket Box Inserts, Wood Filler (optional), Sheet of MDF (opiotnal),
Preparations for creating your drumming shed
Here’s a little extra advice on preparing your shed. Step one is to prepare your shed, this means tackling those spiders and finally chucking out all that unused rubbish. When your shed is empty, you need to check that it’s water tight and plug up any holes.
Get out your wood filler and remove loose knots in the wood. Fill any holes with your wood filler and tack any loose planks back down in place. Use the socket inserts to reduce flanking transmission through the plugs, too.
It’s also a good time to address the fit of the windows and door. If these need adjusting then get that done before your start to soundproof your drumming shed. If possible, look at installing double glazed windows, too.
Remember you can increase the soundproofing quality of your door by adding mass with a layer of Tecsound and MDF. You could also replace it with a fire door, as these are incredibly dense and block sound effectively.
Cheapest Options for Soundproofing a Drum Shed
Let’s break down the different soundproofing options you have for a drumming shed. I’ll give you two options for every stage; one at the higher price and maximum performance point and one at the lower price point with a good performance.
Cheapest Floor Soundproofing for a Drumming Room
- MuteMat2
- Add carpet
MuteMat 2 – Drumming Mat
Use as a single piece under the drumkit or as an underlay for the whole drum shed.
As the floor is an area you can save a bit of your budget on, this soundproofing option is probably suitable for most projects. Ideally, to reduce the vibrations that can pass from the drum to the floor, we need a layer of soundproofing that is somewhat compressible. This will act as a soundproof drum mat, which is an easy solution!
For this, the MuteMat 2 is a great option. The MuteMat could even be laid as a single piece under the drum kit, to save money fitting the whole room. Over your MuteMat simply install a carpet and this will ensure that there is a degree of insulation and absorbency to the drumming shed floor!
Maximum Performance Soundproof Music Room Floor
MuteCradle – Floating Floor
Create a floating floor to decouple noise and layer MuteMat 2 Premium over the new floor for maximum performance.
However, if you need a high performance floor because the drumming shed is actually connected to another room, or, you plan to record in your garden studio and need the highest sound quality, then look to the cradle system. This is most appropriate for a high end garden room as the system is an investment. Your top choice for soundproofing the floor would be to used a decoupled solution, known as a floating floor system. You need a concrete base to your shed for this method. Over the concrete base, a MuteCradle is added which will support your floating floor.
The MuteCradle decouples the new floor with a high mass rubber foot. Between the timber joists that rest on the cradle system, we pack acoustic mineral wool to absorb sound. The structural panels are laid over this along with high mass vinyl roll and soundproofing floor panels.
This is a blend of two systems; the MuteCradle and MuteMat 2 Premium. In general, for a drumming shed in the garden, however, this level of soundproofing is probably not required. As the drumming shed is not connected to another building and there is nothing but earth below it, your budget is better spent on the walls and ceiling.
Cheapest way to soundproof a drum shed ceiling
MuteBoard 2 – Soundproof Panels
A direct to ceiling solution for fast, cheap and easy wall soundproofing. Add acoustic mineral wool for an improved performance.
The cheapest way to soundproof your ceiling is with a layer of the MuteBoard 2. This is a panel of soundproofing plasterboard that is adhered to a layer of high mass vinyl. If you can, stretch to installing acoustic mineral wool between the joists. We recommend a 100mm thickness, however, if your budget is too tight, try the 75mm option instead.
If you wonder whether you could simply stick the high mass vinyl, Tecsound, directly to the ceiling and then place a layer of soundproof plasterboard over it, we wouldn’t advice this. The Tecsound is unlikely to stick to the wood ceiling particularly well, hence using the MuteBoard 2 is a much better method.
Most effective drumming shed ceiling soundproofing
MuteClip Double – Decoupled system
A layered system of acoustic mineral wool, isolation clip and channel, as well as, layers of soundproofing panels.
To properly soundproof your ceiling, you want to add a layer of insulation to the system. You’ll need joists for this method, but as it’s a timber shed that should be no problem! As much as this method is pricier, it’s only 20-30% more expensive but gives you over double the performance.
The MuteClip Double consists of a layer of acoustic mineral wool between the joists and then isolation MuteClip attaches to the joists. This is a decoupled structure that is capable of reflecting multiple frequencies of sound. Over the clip and channel we fit two layers of acoustic plasterboard and a layer of high mass vinyl, too.
Cheapest drumming shed soundproofed walls
MuteBoard 4 – Soundproofing Panels
Two layers of high mass vinyl, a layer of absorbent closed cell foam and backed with acoustic plasterboard.
As your budget solution, look at the MuteBoard 4 which is a direct to wall solution.
Firstly, pack the cavities between the joists with acoustic mineral wool. Ideally, we recommend a minimum of 100mm thickness for your acoustic mineral wool. The most cost effective acoustic insulation would be the RW3 60, at 60gk per m3. With acoustic insulation for your drumming shed, the denser and thicker the better. However, as this is the budget option, RW360 will be the best choice.
Over the acoustic insulation, add the soundproofing panel, MuteBoard 4. This is a clever combination of soundproofing plasterboard, two layers of mass loaded vinyl and closed cell foam. The MuteBoard 4 will be extremely effective at reflective sound and preventing it passing through the walls and outside.
The best soundproofing for drumming shed walls
MuteClip Double – Decoupled Systems
This decoupled system includes 100mm of acoustic mineral wool and several layers of soundproofing panels.
The best way to properly soundproof your shed walls has to be with a mix of decoupling, high mass and insulation. This system is around 20% more expensive that the cheaper offering but is going to improve your soundproofing by more than 100%!
The MuteClip Double is similar to the ceiling solution mentioned above. As with all of these solutions, it’s good to use all the correct materials, such as acoustic sealant between the soundproofing panels. This reduces the chances of sound flanking and sneaking around. You also want to use isolation strips with a decoupled wall to make sure the second wall is never in direct contact with its support.
Step 5 Creating the best acoustics for music studio sheds
If you’re working away in your music shed, then you need good acoustics! That’s where the final step comes in with the finishing acoustic panels. There are such a huge range of acoustic panels that you can find something to fit whatever budget or style guide you have.
Most cost effective acoustic panels for a drumming shed
NudeNote – No Fuss Acoustic Panels
Our Class A rated absorption panels that are fuss-free in design and ready to install.
We have class A rated absorption panels that can be customised by size, by thickness, colour, even print! Of course, the more final touches you decide to go for with these, the pricier they become. That’s why the NudeNote is the best option for budget projects. This Class A rated acoustic gives you all of the performance with none of the frills!
In terms of how many acoustic panels you need, just give us a call as we have a handy calculator to work out the best number for your garden music studio. Usually you’d be looking to cover around 1/3 of your surfaces with acoustic panels. However, to accurately work this out, we need to find you the RT rate, which is your reverb time.
Acoustic panels for a drumming room
SoftNote – Custom Acoustic Panels
Our Class A rated absorption panels which come in a variety of colours, or, can have a custom print wrap.
If you fancy something with a high end finish, then we have you covered at iKoustic! We have a wide selection of colours to choose form for the SoftNote range, so you can create the right atmosphere for your drumming practice.
We can also provide a custom print for your acoustic panel, which could personalise your drumming shed! Why not have an acoustic panel with your own logo printed over it to give your drum shed a bit of character? Lead times for custom printed acoustic panels is usually around 2-3 weeks.
We can also provide acoustic panels in a wide range of thicknesses, sizes and shapes. Really, with acoustic panels for a drumming shed, the sky is the limit!
Do Soundproof Drumming Sheds Work?
A drumming shed might sound too good to be true when you want to practice like the next John Bonham. However, with the correct preparation and materials you really can create an incredibly soundproofed shed for drumming.
For a drumming shed to work at its best, you must consider the science of soundproofing and be sure to hit all aspects of it. The difficultly with drumming sheds is that the drums aren’t just ‘loud’ they produce a variety of noise. This means we need to employ all our soundproofing prowess to effectively stop that sound escaping.
Soundproofing technology, mercifully, has improved a lot and it’s much easier to source specialist materials even if you’re not a trade person. A drumming shed conversion that began planning in 2004 only had one real option at the time, which was to install a second room within the drumming shed. It was a whole prefabricated structure. However, we have a variety of options for you and at various price points.
Can I Soundproof a Wooden Garden Shed for Drumming?
Yes you can! We have known musicians with wooden sheds soundproof them for music practice and, specifically, the drums! The main consideration with a wood garden shed is that the walls are thin. Less mass will equal less soundproofing, so it’s really important that we address this with soundproofing materials.
Wooden Sheds You Cannot Soundproof
We must also be careful here about what a shed is. The sort of shed that has cost you £100 from B&Q and you could accidentally put your finger through is not structurally strong enough. These are usually beach hut style sheds, you know the ones, and as well as being very flimsy they are really small. You would also find that these shed are too short for soundproofing.
Wooden sheds you can soundproof
However, a sturdy wooden garden shed, or garden room, can be soundproofed. These may cost more but soundproofing itself is not cheap so make sure your structure can stand the test of time…and stand at all.
Getting a good quality wooden shed will ensure your drumming shed is less likely to ‘leak’ sound, too. With better sheds you will get tighter seals around the windows and doors. Ideally, windows should be made double glazed and this is usually the case for garden rooms.
Creating a soundproof drumming shed from a normal garden shed can be a great, cost effective solution to your practice problems. Good preparation will yield you the best results and areas to consider are:
- Holes in the wood
- The doors/gaps around it
- Stability of the structure
- Ventilation
Holes in a wooden drumming shed
If you have knot holes or gaps between the wood, then these need sorting before any soundproofing is added! Firstly, your shed needs to be water tight, or else there will be problems down the line.
However, from a soundproofing perspective, we need to plug up gaps to prevent noise escaping. Think of sound like water; if there’s a hole then it’s going through! Use a good quality wood filler to fill holes and seal gaps.
Doors for Drumming Sheds
If you have a light weight door, then this would be something to reinforce or replace. Fixing your door is going to dramatically improve the soundproofing qualities of your drumming shed.
To prevent the door becoming too thick, try rolling a layer of Tecsound over the door and sealing this in with a sheet of MDF. The Tecsound is going to add mass and help reflect sound!
Is my shed ok to soundproof?
If you are converting an existing garden shed into a drumming shed, then check the structure before you begin. If the shed itself is too weak, you will either need to reinforce it or replace it.
This is because soundproofing will always add mass (it’s a science thing), so if your shed can’t take the weight then you cannot safely soundproof it! As you’ll see, there are options to build a room within a room structure for your drumming shed, so this can be another way to ensure the structure can hold the new weight.
Do I need ventilation in my soundproof shed?
As we are going to be sealing your shed to reduce the sound that can escape, you may need to consider ventilation. If the shed studio is small and you have a window, then perhaps you simply need to remember to let the drum shed air after a practice session.
However, you can also install simple air vents which you would need to soundproof around…or else it becomes one massive grammar phone! Some shed conversion include a little too much ventilation, like this ambitious star gazing shed.
How do Soundproof Drumming Sheds Work?
This is the question you need to be asking. For soundproofing to work, we need to consider mass and absorption. High mass materials reflect airborne noise extremely well to stop it passing through the wall. This is really important as it keeps your drumming beats inside the shed.
However.
If all those notes are trapped inside the shed with you, bouncing from wall to wall endlessly, then it’s going to get very loud. Whilst reflecting sound is important, it can also amplify noise by bouncing it around. This is why we have to add absorption into the drum shed.
Absorption is key for your drumming shed to be well soundproofed. It’s going to take that sound energy and convert it into heat energy. This dampens the noise in your drum shed and reduces the echoing effect of reflection. Your drumming shed is suddenly starting to soundproof really well!
But there are still more aspects of soundproofing to look at with a garden shed. When it comes to a drumming shed we need to consider flanking transmission.
Flanking Transmission in a Drumming Shed
Flanking transmission is when sound finds other, cunning methods of travel. Instead of going through the wall, for example, it might use holes in the walls which have been created by electrics, pipes or ventilation. The sound can travel through socket boxes and along plumbing work.
So, considering that a drum set is placed on the floor and will be vibrating with sound, we need to look at how this sound can sneak around. The vibrations could easily travel along the floor of your drum shed and then up the walls and out. This is why we would use perimeter flanking to help decouple the floor and the walls. We would also look at soundproof drum mat.
Decoupling and Soundproofing your Drum Shed
Decoupling is when we take away links between two structures. This is to prevent sound travelling through the materials and reaching the other side of the wall, floor or ceiling. This is why you may have heard of a room within a room for a drumming shed.
A room within a room for drumming works really well as the sound vibrations cannot travel through the materials and straight outside. You may be wondering how to make a room within a room for your drumming shed and this is where a few specialist soundproofing materials make a real difference.
A Room Within a Room Drumming Shed
For projects with larger budgets and for those drummers who need the very best results, decoupling sound with a room within a room is the best system for soundproofing. The idea is that a secondary timber stud frame is built inside the existing space, (a suspended ceiling and floating floors are other examples). This secondary timber frame is a second skin and between it and the original wall we add acoustic mineral wool (to prevent an echoing space).
To this timber frame, we add isolation clips (MuteClips) that further help to decouple structures. The clip is made of a dual density silicone. The dual density allows it to reflect different sound waves which makes it more effective than other isolation clips which commonly only use one density of silicone. To this clip, a channel is fitted that can support the soundproofing panels and soundproof plasterboard. In between any cavities that are created, we add acoustic mineral wool.
The combination of these materials mean that we have high mass at different densities which can reflect different sound waves and then extra space to install more acoustic mineral wool to absorb sound. To top it all off, the first line of defense, our second wall, doesn’t touch the outer wall which would allow the sound vibrations to travel. This is why a room within a room makes for an excellent drumming shed.
Need help soundproofing your drumming shed?
We have a team of technical experts here who can give you advice tailored advice on creating the best soundproofed drumming shed. Whether you want the most cost effective solution or the best performing solution, we can help you out!
So get out to your shed and get planning. There’s nothing better than a proper music room to practice in and the answer might be just down the garden path…
