Soundproofing walls in a wooden house: myths and reality

assets/from_origin/upload/resize_cache/iblock/c92/600_450_2/c9220aebdee21a2fab860315d50e5ef5.jpg From this article you will learn:

• What myths exist about soundproofing walls in a wooden house?
• What types of noise are there?
• What materials are used to soundproof walls in a wooden house?
• How to soundproof walls in a wooden house

Many people dream of having their own wooden house or cottage made from SIP panels. The imagination immediately paints an idyll of peace and tranquility, far from the city noise and bustle of neighbors, playgrounds, and parking lots that are familiar to residents of apartment buildings. Suddenly this idyll is disturbed by the noise of a highway, railway or industrial enterprise located next to the cottage village. Suddenly it becomes noticeable that hail, rain, wind and other natural phenomena also create noise. In the article we will talk about how sound insulation of walls in a wooden house should be; we will consider in detail how effective such insulation is.

Content:

• Types of noise
• What materials are used to absorb noise
• Cork sound insulators
• Loaded vinyl or sound block
• ZIPS
• Substrates
• Fiberglass
• Drywall
• Mineral wool
• Foamed polystyrene
• The process of soundproofing a room
• Walls and partitions
• Floor
• Ceiling
• Video on soundproofing a wooden house

The problem of sound insulation is relevant for any home, especially if it is located near busy areas or a road. It is believed that wooden buildings transmit noise more than others. This is due to the fact that wood is a porous material that transmits sound waves of different frequencies. After drying, the material becomes even more vulnerable, as the seams dry out, and, allowing sound to pass through, resonates - amplifying it. This factor can negate all the advantages of living in a wooden house.

That’s why sound insulation in a wooden house is so important, which needs to be taken care of during the construction stage. There are also household tricks that can reduce sound conductivity: the use of textiles in decoration, upholstered furniture, carpets and bedspreads. Conversely, the amount of tiles, metal and stone should be minimized.

Nuances of the process for improving sound insulation

Before selecting and purchasing materials with soundproofing properties, it is necessary to examine the walls for problem areas. Especially, pay attention to cracks and gaps at the junction of communications. Then, it is advisable to carefully close all holes near the sockets. The best option for this would be fiberglass. Also, the level of sound vibrations can increase:

1. If the building materials of a wooden building have a low level of sound insulation.
2. Poor quality fittings are used, there are gaps in the window and door frames.
3. If you choose the wrong finish, which has weak absorption of sound vibrations.

Principles of distribution
To improve the final result, in addition to finishing the walls with sound-absorbing agents, you need to additionally carry out a number of actions:

1. Be sure to replace the old door with an updated one, with sealing pads around the perimeter.
2. It is advisable to replace wooden windows with PVC structures or double-glazed windows.
3. Attach sealing gaskets to the interior passages.
4. In private homes, it is advisable to carry out work on finishing the exterior with a sound-absorbing coating.
5. In order to reduce the transmission of structural noise, it is advisable to finish the façade with materials that have reflective properties.

After completing the preliminary work, the level of vibrations inside the room will significantly decrease. Also, most of these materials retain heat well in the room.

Types of noise

Sound vibrations in air are called noise. It can have a negative effect on the human body. There are these types:

• acoustic – propagating in space through air;
• shock - from mechanical influences, impacts or steps;
• combined.

There are standards that determine the permissible sound volume in residential premises.

What materials are used to absorb noise

The noise absorption system must be carefully considered during the construction phase. The following materials are used to soundproof a wooden house:

• mineral plate;
• cork;
• drywall, foam plastic - effective and durable, not subject to corrosion;
• OSB and chipboard - mounted without rigid fastening, which helps dampen noise;
• mineral wool, glass wool - placed between beams and joists in order to eliminate contact between the wooden parts of the house;
• sand - suitable for soundproofing the floor, placed on a substrate;
• expanded clay - used for sound insulation between floors
• felt - used between floors and for insulating joints.

In addition to the function of noise protection, they can cope with the task of thermal insulation of the room. Any of them can be used to cover the walls of a wooden house.

These soundproofing materials make it possible to qualitatively insulate rooms and protect wooden houses from acoustic influences.

When starting work, you should carefully seal all the cracks through which sound can pass with special mastic or putty. All voids provided for electrical wiring and switches must be filled with foam. Using elastic sealants, the entrances of water and gas pipes into the building are sealed.

We work with wooden partitions

Wooden partitions are considered the most reliable and suitable for insulation. These designs allow not only to distribute zones, but also to protect the room from noise coming from other rooms. When designing sound insulation for a house, you need to figure out what is the best way to make insulation, since the abundance of materials is very great.

@peregorodki

If you do not have construction skills, then even such a simple job as installing a partition can take a lot of time and effort, so it is better to entrust the matter to those who are well versed in this matter.

It is important to know! The soundproofing and soundproofing qualities of a structure directly depend on the timber used. If the material does not give the required result, then additional insulation with foam plastic can be done.

Cork sound insulators

Cork sound insulators
Cork panels are often used in interior decoration. They serve both a decorative function and protect against noise penetration. If you lay cork slabs in all the walls, you can ensure excellent sound insulation of interior partitions - noise from outside will practically not penetrate into the room.

The advantages of cork include:

• high decorative properties;
• good sound insulation;
• ease of installation;
• durability.

The only drawback of the material is its high cost.

Installation and design of partitions from boards

If at the end of the construction work there are wooden boards left, then they can be used to make an interior partition with your own hands. It is necessary that the dimensions of the beams match the requirements of the partition. The length of the board should be 1.2 meters and the width 60 centimeters. The entire structure is assembled using tongue and groove. Before installing the exterior finish, the surface of the structure should be sanded.

@peregorodki

Using boards, you can also make shields, which are then assembled into a single structure. Boards of various sizes can be used as material. Today, the use of different textures and sizes is quite popular when creating interior design. Waterproofing materials with a sealant are laid inside the structure, and everything is sewn up.

It is important to know that when making a partition it is necessary that it rests on a reliable base. In such cases, additional beams are installed. They can be installed either in the middle of the house or in the foundation. If a house is being designed from scratch, then the partition can be planned initially. When installing a partition, you should allow the material to take its natural shape. If the floor of the house is made on the basis of beams, then you can try to place the structure directly on the support, thereby ensuring reliable fixation.

Loaded vinyl or sound block

When it comes to insulating a house from sound penetration without taking up a large amount of usable space, loaded vinyl (sound block) is used. This is a modern material that combines the functions of polymer and mineral and exhibits maximum efficiency even with a thickness of 3 mm.

It can be used to soundproof partitions in a wooden house or apartment. Advantages of the film:

• elasticity;
• moisture resistance;
• sound absorption of one layer is 25 dB.

To achieve greater efficiency, you need to use an insulator in two or more layers.

Which is better to use?

In order to conclude which insulator will work better under certain conditions, it is important to know what sound level needs to be dampened.
This is done with a sound level meter and if, for example, it is necessary to suppress Rw = 20 dB.

You should not buy expensive material with protection Rw= 50 dB.

When choosing a scheme, it is better to choose external wall protection, it is more effective with an NRC absorption rate of 0.8 to 0.95.

With an external noise level of 50 dB, with an NRC of the material equal to 0.95, the protection will dampen 50x0.95 = 47.5 dB, the remaining 2.5 dB will be damped by a wooden wall with Rw = 35-45 dB, that is, there is no extraneous noise entering the house will pass.

If we analyze the effectiveness of the material by cost per 1 m2 and the achieved NRC level, we can obtain the following rating.

List of TOP materials for external noise protection :

№	Name	Price, rub. for 1 m2	NRC	Rw,db	RUR/NRC	rub./Rw
1	GREENGUARD ACOUSTIC	121	0,95	127
2	Rockwool Acoustic Butts	141	0,85	166
3	Akulite	200	0,9	222
4	AKUSTIKNAUF	120	57	2
5	Shumostop-K	298	32	9
6	ROCKWOOL Floor Butt	197	0,8	246
7	StopSound BP S	275	0,9	306
8	TECHNONICOL	260	0,85	306
9	Schumanet-BM	309	0,85	364
10	StopSound	447	0,95	471

Materials for internal sound protection have a higher price, with lower efficiency; their rating is based on the level of cost and the ability to absorb Rw, dB.

List of TOP materials for internal noise protection :

№	Name	Price, rub. for 1 m2	NRC	Rw,db	RUR/NRC	rub./Rw
1	ThermoSoundIsol	396	30	13
2	ABEX-M soundproofing self-adhesive membrane	783	50	16
3	SoundGuard EcoZvukoIzol	1020	60	17
4	EcoQuartz	720	36	20
5	Topsilent Bitex	1025	27	38
6	Soundproofing membrane Tecsound 70	1670	28	60
7	Self-adhesive membrane Tecsound SY 70	1894	28	68
8	Sonoplat Combi	1600	13	123
9	ZIPS-Vector	1712	11	156
10	ZIPS-III-Ultra	2488	11	226

ZIPS

Sandwich panels or ZIPS modules are a modern material for sound insulation; they are a slab with basalt fiber inside and a solid sheet of plasterboard on the outside. Their advantages:

• light weight, which allows them to be attached to the ceiling;
• wide range of applications in any type of premises;
• ease of installation;
• corrosion resistance;
• can be used in damp areas.

The use of ZIP panels makes it possible to reduce energy costs by 30%.

Cost per 1 m2

Soundproofing materials are expensive, so they must be selected in the price-quality ratio based on operating conditions.

Cost of the most popular noise insulators for residential buildings:

1. Shumanet-BM, Russia, basalt slab, 310 rub.
2. StopZvuk BP, Russia, basalt slab, 450 rub.
3. Shumostop-K2, Russia, basalt fiber 300 rub.
4. ROCKWOOL Floor Butts, basalt material, 200 RUR.
5. Rockwool Acoustic Butts, Russia, basalt slabs, 150 rub.
6. StopZvuk BP S, Russia, basalt slab 280 rub.
7. TECHNONICOL, Russia, Technoacoustic brand, basalt slab 260 rub.
8. GREENGUARD ACOUSTIC - sound-absorbing stone wool 150 rub.
9. Akulite, Russia, KNAUF brand, basalt mini-slab, 200 rub.
10. Self-adhesive soundproofing membrane Tecsound SY 70, Spain, Tecsound brand, RUB 1,900.
11. Sonoplat Combi Russia Sonoplat brand, soundproofing panels, 1600 rub.
12. SoundGuard EcoZvukoIzol, Russia, SoundGuard brand, 1050 rub.
13. TermoZvukoIzol soundproof multilayer fiberglass mat, Russia, TermoZvukoIzol brand, 400 rub.
14. ZIPS-III-Ultra, Russia, ZIPS brand, sandwich panel with tongue-and-groove connecting system with fasteners, 2500 rub.
15. Soundproofing membrane Tecsound 70 in rolls, Spain, Tecsound brand, RUB 1,700.
16. ZIPS-Vector, Russia, ZIPS brand, sandwich panel with fasteners, 1,700 rub.
17. ABEX-M soundproofing self-adhesive membrane, Russia, ABEX brand, 783 rub.
18. EcoQuartz Standard soundproof seven-layer panel made of cardboard and sand, Russia, Ecoquartz brand, 750 rub.
19. Topsilent Bitex in rolls, Italy, INDEX brand, 1050 rub.

Substrates

This is an affordable means of soundproofing a wooden house with your own hands. There are wallpaper backings that are used to cover walls at the preparatory stage. In addition to sound insulation, such wallpaper performs the following functions:

• home insulation;
• level the walls;
• protect against dampness and fungus.

To protect against floor noise, laminate underlays are used, which can also smooth out minor surface irregularities.

Fiberglass

The principle of making fiberglass is as follows: recycled glass is melted at high temperatures and pulled into very thin fibers. Due to the fiber length (150 m or more), a high degree of sound absorption is ensured.

It comes in the form of slabs and mats, and is characterized by ease of installation and a minimum number of joints. Fiberglass will be an ideal solution for soundproofing attics, attics, and walls.

Drywall

Drywall is often used to insulate walls from noise and cold, but this material itself is useless. For effectiveness, it is recommended to combine it with some kind of filler, for example, mineral wool. A modern development is plasterboard acoustic sheets in which there are a large number of holes, and a non-woven fabric is glued to the surface. Thanks to these details, maximum damping of sound waves occurs.

It is worth considering that the use of drywall “steals” square meters of the room.

Foamed polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene is an environmentally friendly, heat-resistant, safe, soundproof material. Its quality characteristics have been known for a long time and are in great demand.

When using penoplex and expanded polystyrene to insulate wooden houses, a number of positive aspects can be highlighted:

• ease and ease of processing;
• possibility of use without additional precautions;
• non-susceptibility to deformation.

However, it should be remembered that polystyrene foam is afraid of exposure to chemicals.

Owner reviews

What do owners of laminated timber houses say? Often the cause of reduced sound insulation is cracking of timber. Yes, such a nuisance does happen, but, as a rule, when low-quality material was used during construction. If you want to build a house from laminated veneer lumber, you should choose based on its quality. It is ensured by fulfilling production conditions.

Only then can the high quality of laminated veneer lumber be guaranteed if the raw materials for its production have been carefully selected. It is necessary to pay increased attention to such a stage as drying. During this stage, the moisture that the wood contains due to its naturalness is removed. This helps prevent the development of other problems. So, if the timber is not dried well enough, significant shrinkage of the built house occurs.

Floor

The “floating floor” technology is used, which makes it possible to reduce the impact of impacts and steps when soundproofing between floors. To increase the level of sound insulation of the floor you need:

• increase the thickness of the screed and the thickness of the insulation layer;
• limit the screed with spacers on the sides.

It is recommended to use mineral wool as an insulator.

If we are dealing with a floor on joists, then we need to increase the surface mass of the wooden covering and the height of the joists. For installation, use elastic fasteners, and fill the space between the joists with insulator.

Required Tools

Soundproofing a wooden house is not an easy task, and without using the necessary tools it is almost impossible. Depending on the choice of insulation, the appropriate tools are selected. Considering the fact that for a wooden structure the best option would be mineral or basalt wool, for the work you will need: a knife, a screwdriver, a screwdriver and a hammer. As consumables you need to take: waterproofing, insulation, slats. You also cannot do without measuring instruments: a tape measure or a long ruler.

@instrument

Ceiling

For interfloor insulation, it is recommended to use suspended ceilings covered with plasterboard. To increase the protection of the ceiling structure from sound penetration you need to:

• use fasteners with a low resonant frequency;
• increase the thickness and weight of the ceiling;
• use flexible facing material.

The greater the distance between the floor covering and the ceiling cladding, the more insulation will fit between them and the higher the sound insulation performance will be.

After the insulator is installed, you can begin finishing the premises. The use of modern technologies and high-quality materials in the construction of a wooden house allows you to create a comfortable home without overloading it.