Sound insulation of the building

Acoustic insulation, i.e. protection of buildings against noise

What should we pay attention to in order to soundproof our rooms?

How to prevent unpleasant sounds and noises in a house built directly by us?

Which elements of the building must we pay attention to in terms of acoustics?

Protection of buildings against noise and sealing of windows, insulation of the roof, floors and doors

Acoustic insulation, i.e. protection of buildings against noise

Each of us, when choosing an apartment or building a house, pays attention to the aspect of acoustics. The lack of specific care for soundproofing may turn out to be a real problem for us in the future. It is therefore worth thinking about it in advance and considering the best possible ideas for building insulation. Architects and construction workers should be involved in the discussed issue, if of course we delegate all construction work. If, however, we are considering buying a house or apartment from the secondary market, it is necessary to talk to the neighbors about the acoustics of the potential property. In the case of deficiencies, however, it is worth considering which of the possible soundproofing methods would work best for our property. There are a lot of factors that would influence making a specific decision and we will focus on them in this article. Let us remember that protecting buildings against noise is our priority when it comes to comfort and hygiene of mental health.

What should we pay attention to in order to soundproof our rooms?

If we are in the process of choosing an apartment or house from the secondary market, it would be good to consider the choice also in the context of acoustics. Similarly, in the case of buying an apartment in a block or terraced house on the primary market, when we do not directly participate in the process of creating our apartment. There is no need to explain how much undesirable sounds can make life miserable: both those between neighbors and those coming from outside. What can we do about this? What to pay attention to in order to minimize shortcomings in this matter?

First of all – if we choose an apartment, it is worth considering those on the lowest floors and in a convenient location. What does this mean in practice? Let it not be a block of flats in the immediate vicinity of increased traffic, the headquarters of the fire brigade or a football stadium.

Let’s also look at the materials from which our potential property was built. In particular, we should pay attention to such aspects as:

• The materials of which the building is made, including the thickness of the load-bearing walls. Preferred means are classic brick, ceramic and silicone hollow bricks. The more irregular, rough surfaces, the greater the chance of suppressing noise and eliminating the echo effect.
• Number of additionally implemented insulation surfaces. We will mention here all polystyrene foams, mineral wools, rubbers and polyurethane foams. When it comes to buying an apartment from the primary market, the developer is currently obliged to detail in the notarial deed the materials from which our apartment was built

How to prevent unpleasant sounds and noises in a house built directly by us?

In the case of self-monitoring the progress of building our house, we can certainly better monitor acoustic issues and choose the best possible soundproofing methods. Here, we do not have to struggle with making the best possible decisions, because we have a direct impact – from beginning to end – on what our house will be like. Acoustic issues are also entirely up to us. Therefore, if we care about the maximum leveling of nuisance noise resulting from, for example, traffic or sounds coming from factories, let’s choose the quietest possible neighborhood.

If this is not fully possible, let us use the building materials referred to in the previous paragraph. Let us remind you that any tapes or tube lagging are welcome. It is worth knowing that sound dissipation is facilitated by a special perforated, so-called acoustic plate. It is a relatively new product, but it is already gaining popularity. Let’s also make sure that the walls in our house are as thick as possible. This will not only help to reduce unnecessary noise from the outside, but also ensure the right temperature. In order to achieve appropriate acoustic and thermal parameters, it is also worth using insulation made of various types of wool suitable for our needs.

Which elements of the building must we pay attention to in terms of acoustics?

If we care about favorable acoustic conditions, let’s take care of the installation of a massive ceiling. Preferably, it should be made of reinforced concrete or decent prefabricated concrete. If we have decided on a ribbed ceiling, we should take care of additional insulation in the form of selected wool, polystyrene or a rubber mat. Without additional insulation, the ribbed ceiling will transmit impact sounds that will spread to the walls. Let’s not forget that any insulation should be done before we make the floor underlayment. The wooden ceiling is the weakest in terms of noise protection. As for the walls, it would be good if we focused on soundproofing materials. Popular ,,dampers” are ceramic bricks and silicate and clinker blocks. The use of cellular concrete or traditional hollow bricks requires the installation of insulating wool. In order for the frame walls to dampen the noise, we should take care of the installation of the so-called acoustic spacers between the wall and the ceiling. They are made of rubber tape and mineral wool.

Protection of buildings against noise and sealing of windows, insulation of the roof, floors and doors

If you want to eliminate unwanted sounds as much as possible, let’s put on a flat, concrete roof. In addition, it is worth insulating it with wool. Sloping roofs have the disadvantage that they are less effective at damping noise. So we have to cover it with heavy materials. We have a choice of fiber cement boards, slates and roof tiles. The greatest additional insulation is needed for a sloping roof with a profiled sheet metal roofing.

In order for our doors not to absorb noise from the outside, we should insulate them. There are many ways to insulate the door. The process of sealing them should start with the panels around the door. Vinyl and neoprene strips will come in handy here. The door itself can be covered with upholstery, mats and other insulation materials.

In our homes, the subfloor should be an integrated system, consisting of screed, sound insulation and anti-moisture insulation. In the case of windows available on the market, we have a lot of soundproofing gaskets and tapes at a reasonable price. Silencing rollers are also popular. All of the above methods will neutralize the impact of the so-called. acoustic bridges. The definition of this phrase is popular today and simply means places through which sound passes. Soothing to the ear also turn out to be the so-called. green zones around blocks of flats or detached houses.