Living in a crowded neighborhood has its own perks. You get to meet people from various cultures, different mentalities, professions, etc. All these are sufficient to make you feel good. However, if you live in an apartment that has thin walls, you are going to get irritated by noises in no time. So, how to soundproof a wall between apartments?
These days, most apartment buildings are made with fragile materials. Hence, your thin walls may not be strong enough to keep the outer sound outside of your home. If your neighbors are being unreasonably loud, you should take the necessary steps to protect your mental health. Either talk to them or soundproof your wall.
Insulating your wall is also a way to protect your privacy. No one wants other people to know about their personal life. And if you can hear others by just sitting in your bedroom, they can hear you as well. Hence, soundproofing your wall is the best option for a healthy and peaceful life.
How to Soundproof an Existing Wall?
Sound can be of two types, airborne and impact sound. When you are attempting a way to block noises, first, you need to be sure of the kind you keep hearing. With thin walls, you have to suffer from both types of sound. While soundproofing your home isn’t too hard, insulating the flimsy walls is a bit tricky due to the delicate material.
If you are on a budget, soundproofing the wall can be done easily with some regular household objects. Or if you have no issue with spending money, you can hire professional help as well.
Pile Up Furniture Against the Wall
This is by far the easiest way to protect the walls from loud sounds. We all have several pieces of furniture lying around in our room. Choose some of the heavy ones and stack them in front of the thin wall. This method will help to thicken the wall. Make sure the fixtures aren’t touching the wall, or else the sound waves will pass through it.
To make this more efficient, you can add some extra layers as well. A thick blanket, foam, etc. can be placed between the furniture and the wall. Thus, the wall would have more body and can absorb the soundwaves better.
Use Blankets or Curtains
Using blankets or curtains on your wall may sound odd to you, but you would be surprised to see how effective this method is. You won’t be spending too much as these are our regular household items. Take some of the thickest blankets from your collection. Put some mounting putty on the edges of the blanket, and place it on the wall.
You can also nail them instead, only if there is no problem regarding the slight damage. Go ahead with adding more blankets to cover the whole wall surface. If you don’t want to use the regular ones, soundproofing curtains or moving blankets are also a better choice considering they will add more to the aesthetic.
Use Acoustic Foam Panels
While acoustic foams are not best at blocking noises, they certainly can maintain the acoustic nature of an indoor environment. This one is quite useful when you don’t want to disturb the neighbors with the noise you make, intentionally or unintentionally. Try to use wooden framed panels rather than regular ones.
You can purchase them or make them yourself if you want. All you need is wooden boards, fabrics, soundproof paddings, and you are good to go!
Add Drywall Layer
Having an extra layer of drywall will make your room wall much thicker. This technique doesn’t take much time or effort. You can make insulating drywall using gypsum, viscoelastic, and ceramics, or just thicken up drywall by adding more layers to it. Use some green glue to attach the layers, and this drywall sandwich will enhance the soundproofing impact.
Mass-Loaded Vinyl
Apply some rubber-based material or MLV to make sure the thin walls of your room are providing you with enough solitude. You can use MLV on the acoustic foam, the curtains, or under the drywall sandwich mentioned above.
Build A Thicker Wall
While you can make your wall thicker by adding different materials, these are not permanent solutions. However, you can enlarge the room wall by building an extra barrier on top of the existing one. You can use a wooden frame or studs to build the extension.
Use Soundproof Paint
If the incoming sound isn’t over the top and you just need to muffle them slightly, painting your wall with soundproof paint is perfect for this job. This paint is not like the regular ones, as it has more acoustic properties and density. Think of it as a fun project that beautifies the interior as well. Moreover, you can paint the wall yourself without any help!
Final Words
We all want a place where we can have comfort and serenity after a hectic work-loaded day. A noisy apartment can ruin that tranquility for you. Your neighbors may be decent human beings and might pay attention to your problem by toning down their way of work. Regardless if you are sensitive to sound and unfortunately live in a thin-walled flat, nothing can protect you from stress. Soundproofing your wall can be the only saving grace you need. Besides, you can free yourself from these troubles within a minute. Some of these methods
