According to many solid and legit surveys by environmentalists, excessive noise is harmful to health. Using soundproof padding can be a solution to reduce noise, but how does soundproof padding work?
Many of us use acoustic foams and different padding to soundproof our apartments, offices, and rooms. But there is a myth about using the foam about being completely soundproof. Though the tale has a strong base that calculating it should block noise if the foam can absorb sound, is it true? To find out the truth, we have to know the science behind the traveling of the noise.
The Science Behind The Sound
Before you use any soundproofing material to reduce or block sound travel to your room, you have to know how sound travels. Well, we all know that a sound is a form of energy that travels like waves in the air. If you didn’t know it before then, you would know very clearly.
Sound travels through the air from the source, and as the air is everywhere, so is the sound. Basically, when a source vibrates, it pushes the air forward and creates sound. Later with the air traveling by vibrating each of the particles, the sound travels with it as well. And when the air hits a solid surface, only then does it stop traveling further. So a solid surface can block sound for good. It gets muffled and distorted if the sound hits a relatively soft surface.
Hence, as we are talking about padding or foam in this article, then the question is can it block the noise entirely, or does it just reduce it? To know how effective foam soundproofing is, we must know the difference between blocking noise and absorbing it.
How Well Does Soundproof Foam Work?
Now let’s come to the point where we will know does soundproof padding works or not. We are entirely sure that acoustic foams absorb sounds, and they are budget-friendly as well.
Okay, the acoustic foam does indeed absorb sound, but there are some soundproof foam materials that, if you use them accordingly, can block sound also. So below, we will talk about both sound absorbing and sound blocking using padding or foam.
Soundproofing Foam Helps to Absorb Sounds
Absorbing sound is compelling when you need to stop sound from going out of the room and reduce echoes inside the room. The foams will be like panels with different sizes from where you can cut your desired size and length. You can install them on the walls and on the corners if needed.
To get an effective result using padding, it will be good if you cover your entire walls with it. If not, then cover the areas where the sound comes the most. Sound-absorbing foams have surfaces like waves and spikes. So the sound hits the spikes of the waves and is redirected in different ways, which results in reducing it.
Ideal Situations To Use Sound-Absorbing Foam
We already know that absorbing sound reduces excessive noise from the room. So the ideal situation is where you can go for the sound-absorbing foam when you want to reduce the noise or the echoes from your room. If you have a space where you create loud noises or because of your work, you can use sound-absorbing foam.
So, according to your requirement, you will need to use different sizes of acoustic foams according to your space and stick them around the walls.
Soundproofing Foam to Help Block Sounds
Yes, you heard it right. There are foams that you can use to block sound entirely. Foams that reduce sounds are often soft, and thin, and the material molecule’s bond is slack. On the other hand, the foams that can block the sound are more rock-solid in feel, and the material molecules are denser.
And another noticeable thing is the surface of these sound-bocking foams is flat and hard.
Ideal Situations To Use Sound Blocking Foam
The situation is straightforward. You use sound-blocking foam when you want to block the sound of your space entirely. This might be for both sides, like sounds coming in or out. If it is evident from the start of the construction that you want to block sound, you can use sound-insulating foam inside your construction.
If you feel like blocking sounds after the construction is over or even after some years of using the space, you can use the super solid, thick, and flat foams with some glues and tapes.
Difference Between Absorbing Noise And Blocking Noise/ Soundproofing
Okay, there is a massive difference between absorbing sound and blocking it. Sound absorption reduces sound and its reflection from a specific area. This means the sound gets sucked into the material and makes it less loud from the source. Yes, this might seem confusing to you as you might know every material you use for soundproofing as soundproof material, but soundproofing or blocking sound means stopping sounds from coming in or leaving out entirely.
So not all the materials that you see marketed as soundproofing material can actually block the sound completely. Some of them are used to absorb sound as well, and soundproof padding or foams are one of them. These acoustic foams are installed inside the house recording studios, music composing studios, and dubbing studios, so the sounds don’t get leaked.
Frequently Asked Question
Does Soundproof Padding Actually Work?
The answer to this question is tough to give in short form, but I want to tell you that yes, you can find thick, solid, and flat soundproofing padding. This article is all about this. You can read it to get to know more details.
Where Do You Put Soundproof Padding?
If you want to block sound completely, it will be great if you put the soundproofing padding while doing the construction, but if you miss the opportunity, you can consult an expert and work according to it.
How Do I Block Traffic Noise in My Bedroom?
Put thick draperies or curtains over the windows. If nothing else helps, you might try putting heavy stuff on the next wall to absorb some sound. Place a rolled-up towel or other cloth at the bottom of the bedroom door.
Does Acoustic Foam Reduce Noise?
Acoustic foams alleviate noise pollution because they absorb rather than block sound, removing echoes and background noise. So the answer is yes, acoustic foams do reduce noise.
