Soundproofing with insulation (3 methods)

If you’re planning on soundproofing with insulation there are a few things you need to know before getting started as all soundproof insulations aren’t created equal! With that said let’s jump in.

Does soundproofing with insulation work?

Yes, whether it’s soundproofing a wall, floor or ceiling soundproofing with insulation can help. Firstly you need to find the right insulation. All of our soundproofing systems use mineral wool as soundproof insulation.

You need to consider the density of the soundproof insulation use anything below 45kg per meter cubed (often shown as 45kg/m³) would not be classed as soundproof insulation. 60kg/m³ mineral wool is the soundproof insulation we use in our systems. That being said you can go up to 100kg/m³ of acoustic mineral wool for the best results. As a rule of thumb, more mass equals better soundproofing.

Soundproofing with insulation isn’t your only option sometimes the addition of other materials alongside the insulation will offer the best results.

Can you soundproof a wall with insulation?

Yes, soundproofing with insulation on a wall is very common. Make sure you use high-density mineral wool (over 45kg/m³) for effective results.

Soundproofing a wall with insulation is particularly effective as part of an internal stud wall but definitely adds value to brick/party walls as well.

Hold on though! Before you break out your sledgehammer there are some other options to consider. Insulation is not the only way to soundproof your wall. Very quickly let me introduce you to the two main methods used in soundproofing.

Decoupling

Firstly we have de-coupling, which can take many forms some are clear cut creating a separation between two objects to reduce the amount of sound vibration that is able to transfer. Some are more of a ‘best effort’ to reduce the points of contact or create some form of air gap between two structures.

Adding mass

Now we have mass addition. I find the simplest way to think about it is as a drum kit you have attached heavy weights to. If you hit the cymbals with no weight attached, they will resonate and make a long trailing-off sound. If we were to add a heavy weight on top though you may hear a short sharp noise but the weight would absorb and dampen all that noise. This is essentially why we use high-density products in soundproofing. Mass addition does begin to have diminishing returns over time and sometimes adding a lot of weight is not ideal.

What products can help improve soundproofing a wall with insulation alone?

Our choice method for soundproofing is to use a clip and channel solution. For soundproofing quality vs cost, it’s the best value for money. At first, it may seem complicated but it’s actually not much more challenging than installing a stud wall. First, at spaced intervals, you fix isolation clips (called MuteClips) to your wall. These clips contact the wall with dual-density silicone. This silicone helps to absorb different sound vibrations that are travelling through the wall. It also works to isolate the metal clip that is embedded in the silicone. This clip then holds a slim metal channel that you can affix plasterboard (We always use acoustic plasterboard) to. Soundproofing with insulation alone could never match this technique but it does play an integral part in it!

Direct-to-wall soundproof panels

At the most basic level if you are undertaking soundproofing with insulation you will want to replace the plasterboard you removed with acoustic plasterboard. If you wish to upgrade this, however, you can use soundproof panels. These panels are a viable option if you can’t remove the existing wall to insert sound proofing insulation.

The options above are part of our MuteBoard range. They offer three different make-ups of Acoustic plasterboard combined with other soundproofing materials. If you can’t afford to lose much space in your room this is sometimes a desirable workaround. Though less effective than a clip and channel system they are cheaper per square meter and don’t require you to sacrifice as much space within the room.

Does soundproofing insulation have thermal properties?

Yes, it does, there are more effective thermal insulators on the market but on the whole acoustic mineral wool offers similar thermal properties to most mineral wool products. Our mineral wool offers a thermal conductivity of 0.034W/mk

Is soundproofing with insulation alone enough?

For most people, the answer will be no, our data suggests that adding acoustic mineral wool between two layers of plasterboard will reduce the sound by around 4 dB.  Technically a 3dB reduction is a halving of the sound but in practice, humans only perceive a halving of sound at a 10dB reduction.

The video below can give you an idea of what soundproofing with mineral wool alone will do. If your noise issue is low or you’re wanting a small upgrade for developing homes etc. Insulation for sound deadening alone may be enough but for most people dealing with noise problems, you will need to bolster the performance of the insulation with other materials.

(Match the volume of your noise problem to the volume of the video as best you can!)

What are my options if using insulation for soundproofing isn’t enough?

We offer more advanced systems for brick walls, floors and ceilings but below we can take a look at some of the options available for stud wall soundproofing.

Generally, the inclusion of a soundproof panel like MuteBoard 3 will offer a great performance boost. If the intrusive noise is causing you a big headache it may be appropriate to upgrade to the bee’s knees MuteClip and channel solution.

What is the cheapest way to soundproof a room?

The cheapest way to soundproof a room really depends on the desired results. If you need a fully isolated music studio there is no real ‘cheap’ way to achieve the desired results. If your neighbour’s tv is just a touch too loud you could or you need to reduce noise down to a more tolerable level you can soundproof some party walls (2.4 x 3m) for as little as £350 using an acoustic panel product like MuteBoard 2.

If the wall is a stud wall you can try soundproofing with insulation and a MuteBoard product, this could achieve a 7dB reduction or around the £500 mark. Ultimately if you need highly effective soundproofing, you will need a MuteClip System as far a dB reduced per pound spent it is the most cost-effective. For this highly effective ~15dB reduction the same wall could cost less than £800. You can listen to the difference below. (Match the volume of your noise problem to the volume of the video as best you can!)

How to soundproof an existing wall?

If you’re looking to soundproof your existing wall without taking a sledgehammer to it your best option is probably to buy some soundproof panels like MuteBoard. These panels can be fixed over the top of your existing wall. These will deliver a noticeable acoustic performance but they are your most effective option without tearing the wall down. Although they are a reasonably simple install you will still need to tape and joint the gaps or skim the plasterboard ready for painting.

If you want to go a bit further you can try soundproofing with insulation as well. With this technique, you can take plaster of an existing or build a stud frame then fill it with acoustic mineral wool. Although if you are at the point of building an independent stud frame you may find the installation, loss of space and effectiveness of a clip and channel system better.

How do you soundproof and insulate a room? (guide)

If you’re looking to soundproof with insulation. You’ll need to check what your wall is made from.

Brick wall soundproofing

If it is a brick wall with a single coat of plaster the best way to include soundproof insulation would be to install a MuteClip system. This way you can create a decoupled frame and include a 25mm soundproof insulation. This can then be over boarded with soundproof plasterboard. If you want to boost a system like this to a very high performance you can install two layers of acoustic plasterboard and a layer of dense viscoelastic membrane like Tecsound SY70.

Stud wall soundproofing

If you’re looking to soundproof a stud wall within a room. You will need to remove a layer of plasterboard. From here you can remove any existing insulation and replace it with soundproof insulation. After this, you can install a specialised acoustic plasterboard with additional acoustic material attached to it. These are referred to as soundproof panels and are a quick and cost-effective way to upgrade your stud wall.

Sound insulation ceilings

If you’re looking to soundproof your ceiling with insulation you can remove the existing plasterboard and install some acoustic mineral wool between the joists. You can then overboard the joists with a product like MuteBoard 2. Alternatively, you can Install a MuteClip product like MuteClip LP (Low profile) this clip gives you all the benefits of MuteClip without having to sacrifice too much ceiling height.

Sound insulation floors

Sometimes flooring solutions can be quite inexpensive and easy to install depending on the level of noise issue you’re dealing with. At the lower performance end, you can consider installing an acoustic underlay. These are generally foam or rubber underlays that are effective at reducing impact noise. If you require a more effective soundproofing solution you will need to lift your floorboards and install soundproofing insulation. You can then lay rubber strips called isolations strips on top of the joists before laying floorboards and an acoustic underlay on top.

Summary

Soundproofing with insulation is definitely possible and an effective method but for the best results you should consider adding other soundproofing materials. If you require advice for your project, you can contact us and our team will be happy to help.