Modern homes are often designed with acoustics in mind. However, how about old homes? It’s not like they don’t get affected by loud noise. Whether it’s consistent creaking from inside the home or loud noise from outside, effective soundproofing can help you take a breather in silence and win back your mental peace.
Whether you have an old home or find yourself graced by a loud construction project nearby, soundproofing home renovations in Vancouver can help solve the issue. They won’t just make your home quieter and more peaceful, but turn your abode into a more pleasant living space.
Tips for better home acoustics:
1. Find the root of the problem
Before you start investing in soundproofing materials and hire top home renovators, it’s important to find out the sources of undesirable noise. If your home isn’t properly insulated from noise, a lot of honking, loud arguments between the next-door couple and construction noise can easily make its way in.
Identifying external noise is easy since opening the doors and windows simply makes the noise louder. However, things get tricky when there is noise coming from inside your home. You’ll need to be a very good listener or use SPL (sound pressure level) metres to find the source. This helps you figure out if it’s just the kitchen that needs soundproofing or if you need to account for the full condo renovation cost.
2. Solutions for external noise
If the sound is coming from outside, you have a bunch of ways to minimize or eliminate it. Some of them include:
Installing triple-pane windows
As the name suggests, triple-pane windows have three glass panes with sealed spaces in between. They are usually filled with an inert gas like argon or xenon and work flawlessly to cut off most of the outside noise. These windows aren’t just great for soundproofing, but also increase your home’s energy efficiency.
Adding double stud walls
Transforming the external walls of your home into double stud walls is the best method to completely block off external noise. Think of double stud walls as two walls separated by a few inches of space full of soundproof insulation material. This method does attract high renovation costs in Vancouver. Given the silence you get, it’s absolutely worth it.
Using thick soundproofing curtains
This fix is the cheapest method that’s applicable in a few scenarios. Thick curtains with reflective external finish are great at blocking out external noise coming through the windows. However, this fix isn’t effective for very loud noises, especially if they aren’t coming from the windows.
Adding acoustic panels to your apartment walls
Apartments share walls and modern apartments share very thin walls. No wonder you can hear the loud neighbours around you. Whether the sound is coming from the condo right next to you or upstairs, acoustic panels can fix the problem. They sit apart from the walls and ceiling and add an insulating layer to prevent noise transmission. Get help from home renovation companies in Vancouver, BC for the job since this fix is certainly beyond the DIY realm.
3. Solutions for internal noise
If you have too many sleek and reflective surfaces in your home, they can amplify internal noise. Minimise sound wave reflection and amplification by placing soft and uneven materials strategically around the room. These materials may be in the form of:
- Dense and soft couches
- Acoustic panels
- Thick curtains
- Soft rugs
On the other hand, if you have luxury home renovations like a music room, a theatre room, a home recording studio, or something similar in the pipeline, it needs extensive ground-up work. The walls of these rooms need to be very thick and dense. If that’s not an option, you can always install MLV (mass-loaded vinyl) barriers over the existing walls of the room and hide them with another drywall. Finally, you can never have enough acoustic panels in a recording studio or music room. Choose one that fits the room’s aesthetic.
Consider the type of noise you’re trying to block. What’s the source, and is your budget going to allow for the solutions you have thought of? With a little planning and the right approach, you can achieve a peaceful home environment and finally win back the quiet time you’ve been craving. This newfound silence might just inspire you to discover your audiophile hobbies that are meant to be enjoyed in your quiet paradise and don’t disturb other members of your family.
