Does soundproofing a wall work?
All of our wall soundproofing systems will reduce noise and are designed to exceed the UK Part E Building Regulations for the passage of sound (43dB reduction) and go up to 65dB reduction with our highest performing ReductoClip Independent Wall System.
Installing soundproofing will dramatically reduce noisy neighbour noise through a wall. However, it is important to use the correct soundproofing solution for your individual noise issue.
dB results will vary depending on several factors.
Learn more: Why dB results may vary
What is the best way to soundproof a solid wall?
The best way to soundproof a solid wall follows three main principles:
- Increase the mass of the existing wall. The heavier and more dense the wall is, the harder it is for airborne sound to pass through it. Use different high density materials, as different materials are better at blocking different sound frequencies. It is the law of diminishing returns if simply using more of the same material
- Add resilience to the wall. Soundproofing needs to be able to flex to dampen and absorb sound vibrations
- Decouple the soundproofing from the structure. Sound energy can travel more easily through connected surfaces and decoupling from the original structure (using a system like the ReductoClip System) greatly increases the sound reduction performance
Learn more: The 3 best ways to soundproof a solid wall
Learn more: How to soundproof a wall
Do direct to wall soundproofing panels work for impact noise?
As with all direct to wall acoustic boards, the SoundBoard 4 and Soundboard 3 are not recommended for impact noise.
if you are trying to block impact noise (such as doors slamming), or lower frequency noises such as the bass sounds from music, computer games, or the likes of deep voices or snoring then the recommendation would be to use a solution that decouples the soundproofing from the original structure such as the ReductoClip system.
Do I need to soundproof the chimney breast?
In most instances you shouldn't need to soundproof your chimney. This is because chimney breasts are usually made from a double layer of very dense fire bricks. This means the chimney breast naturally has more mass than the alcoves and is therefore better able to block sound. Learn more about soundproofing a chimney.
If you are unsure if the chimney breast needs soundproofing, do an ear test by putting your ear to the alcoves and then to the chimney when you can hear the unwanted noise and compare the difference.
Can you decorate on top of soundproofing?
All our wall soundproofing solutions have a 15mm acoustic grade plasterboard finish, so standard plasterboard decorating techniques apply. To decorate plasterboard, we normally recommend a skim plaster on top of the plasterboard to cover joins and screw holes, which helps to provide a flat even finish that you can paint directly onto.
If using wallpaper use a heavy-duty dry lining wallpaper first and then your final wallpaper finish.