10 smart tips to isolate yourself from noise

More than one in two Ukrainians say they are bothered by the noise inside the house. Noise from the street, neighbors, cars... When noise pollution is of a daily and repetitive nature, life at home becomes unbearable. Annoying noise in our interiors! To reduce noise related stress and gain peace of mind, let's furnish and furnish our accommodation. Simple tips or small jobs, here are some good ideas on how to protect yourself from noise.

Noise control in the home is relatively complex. Noise penetrates walls, penetrates through leaks, resonates in walls... It is often necessary to combine devices in order to eliminate it successfully. It is best to eliminate the source by limiting the emitted noise or by absorbing it with suitable carpets, curtains and furniture. Sealing doors and windows is relatively simple and gives good results, but pay attention to the ventilation of the dwelling, the acoustic improvement should not come at the expense of deteriorating indoor air quality.

Install a false ceiling to reduce noise from above.

Clicking heels, kids running and jumping... Overhead kicks are some of the most stressful. Sound travels through the ceiling, but also travels through walls. Installing a false ceiling improves things a lot, as long as you are willing to part with at least 13 cm of ceiling!

Lay a metal frame, fiber insulation, then special drywall boards for soundproofing. You will get a much better result if your false ceiling is separated from the ceiling either with anti-vibration hangers or with a wall-to-wall long-span frame.

This system solves the problem of direct transmission and saves about 25 decibels!

Insulate walls to block sound transmission.

To decorate existing walls and block direct transmission, you have the choice between several methods. Paint noise exists. It is placed on a sound-absorbing substrate, which reduces the noise level from 3 to 15 dB, depending on the frequencies. You can also choose thin acoustic panels (50mm) ready for installation. Acoustic gain will be about 15 dB. These two solutions are shown for interior partitions.

To further reduce noise levels, for example on a wall with a noisy neighbor, choose a metal frame overlay. You will fix the mineral wool with two drywalls. The final thickness will be about 70 mm and the acoustic gain about 20 dB.

You can also install insulation and install a brick or plaster tile partition. In order not to transmit noise, the counter-partition must be separated from the existing wall with elastomeric tapes.

Replace windows to block outside noise.

Window insulation is the best protection against external noise, traffic and human activities. To choose the right new window, know that soundproofing is better if the two panes that make up the double glazing are of different thickness, because the difference between the two masses isolates the noise.

The result is further enhanced by reinforced insulating glazing, one of the two panes of which is laminated. It is top, sound and thermal.

Finally, if you are in doubt between two windows, look at their classification. The ability of the window to attenuate external noise: from AC1 to AC4 (for the most effective). With an AC3 class window, road noise will be reduced by approximately 36 decibels (dB). This is a lot.

Improve waterproofing of old windows.

If you can't change windows, you need to improve their airtightness so that there is no noise. To do this, change the seals. You will find several models in your DIY store. Rubber pads are effective and very easy to install, they are sticky tapes. The silicone comes in a cartridge and is applied with a gun. Installation is a little more complicated, use the online manual if necessary. Seals are placed on the window frame. They are practical, effective, but not necessarily very aesthetic. Also, on the windowsill, place them rather under the openings (under running water), they will be more restrained.

Install acoustic air intakes that allow air to pass through but are not noisy.

One of the principles of noise reduction is to make everything waterproof: windows, doors, shutter boxes. If the air does not pass, the noise does not pass. However, it is very important to maintain good ventilation in the house, which ensures the renewal of indoor air. A good compromise exists with acoustic air intakes. For VMCs, individual hoods, roller shutter boxes or even masonry installations, choose so-called acoustic air intakes or equipped with acoustic silencers.

Close the front door so you don't hear noise from the landing.

You can hear everything that happens on the landing or on the stairs. Your staircase door is not insulated enough. If possible, replace it with an armored door (the heavier it is, the better it insulates!). Otherwise, you need to silence it. The noise barrier is the first solution, it consists of several layers of heavy fabrics and reduces the noise level by about 20 dB. Nothing prevents you from doing it yourself. Make sure it covers the door well and even "overfills it".

Then install the gaskets around the door and also the brush gasket at the bottom of the door. You should have as little space as possible. You can also use mats, as some doctors do. Ready-to-install upholstery kits are available. If you do it yourself, create your own upholstery using, for example, cork sheets.

Put on curtains, drapes and furniture to prevent resonance and reverberation.

Newer homes often have problems with reverberation (echo effect) and resonance. Invite friends over for dinner and the sound level will quickly become unbearable as every word resonates. If the floor is tiled, it's even worse. A few simple solutions allow you to curb the phenomenon, for example by setting:

• rugs
• thick double curtains on the windows
• the fabric is stretched on the wall, laid on a layer of fleece
• anti-noise painting canvas
• or sound insulation in sheets or rolls for wall covering.

Furniture also has a significant impact on noise. A large open library with shelves of different sizes and various items will enhance the soundproofing of the room.

Lay rugs, carpets, and floating floor underlay so that they absorb sound.

Install carpets to reduce floor noise. A large carpet reduces sound transmission by about 10 dB, a thick carpet by 20 dB. Also consider resilient underlays under floating floors. Do not place Hi-Fi speakers directly on the ground, preferably use stands or small pieces of furniture whose feet are provided with rubber pads.

Choose quiet equipment.

When buying a refrigerator, washing machine, or vacuum cleaner, check their noise level, which is indicated in decibels (dB) in the technical instructions. A quiet washing machine emits about 40 dB in the wash mode and 60 to 65 dB in the spin mode. If your equipment is old, install anti-vibration pads under the feet of the device. Finally, for the peace of mind of your neighbors, do not run the washing machine at night.

Buy means of protection of organs of hearing.

It is these small wax, foam or silicone ear tips that are very useful. Do not leave without them, they reduce the noise level from 25 to 35 dB, depending on the model. Indispensable in a noisy hotel or in the countryside to survive the crowing of a rooster.

If you are working on improving the acoustics in your home, look into the thermal issue at the same time. Many products insulate you from both noise and cold. You kill two birds with one stone!

Acoustic Suspended Ceilings Acoustic Foam Pyramid Acoustic Panels