Soundproofing Techniques For New Construction

In preparation for your new construction, consideration must be given to the sound insulation values you will be targeting when the project is complete. Discover here a set of tips designed to eliminate noise transfer between adjoining rooms.

The second of the two components that deaden sound bleed between two rooms is density. Imagine banging a tuning fork, and quickly grabbing the prongs with your hand. Once the mass of your touch makes contact, the prongs stop vibrating, the sound dies instantly. The same holds true for a common wall or ceiling surface. By adding mass to the surface, you impede its ability to resonate, which in turn kills its ability to produce sound. Just like the tuning fork.

The goal with any new construction project should therefore target the introduction of density to the common surfaces, and the disconnection of the framing. For finished wall or ceiling applications, add mass loaded vinyl to the surface, and then a set of resilient channels designed to produce separation between your structure and your finished drywall layer. This produces a dead air gap backed by the density of the mass loaded vinyl and fronted by the drywall layer. Channels produce a dead air pocket that helps force the collapse of the otherwise transmitting sound wave. But for new build construction, you are out ahead of the game. While the mass loaded vinyl is still the component you need to layer up to your framing for the density portion of your setup, you have more options available to you for the disconnection portion. Double wall or staggered stud wall assembly's are a popular way to force the disconnect, followed by the mass loaded vinyl and your finished drywall layer.

Note also that some clients like to double drywall for further sound mitigation. It is a good idea to vary the thickness of the second layer, rather than repeating the same thickness a second time. By double dry walling with the same panel thickness, you target the same frequency peaks of sound. To increase your sound isolation values, vary the thickness of your drywall layers, introducing two mediums of different densities that the sound wave will have to pass through. Go with 5/8" for your first layer and 1/2' for your second.

New construction also allows you to wrap your exposed pipes and ductwork with sound lagging products designed to jacket the containers and hold noise form liquid or air flow that would otherwise vibrate through the walls pipe or duct and spill into a room. You can also wrap the backsides of your electrical boxes with sound barrier pads to block noise from escaping through the cutouts. For new build construction, these tips can help deliver up to a 90% collapse in sound bleed through a common surface and should be something that helps produce more favorable sound environments in any residential, commercial or industrial setting.


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NetWell Noise Control hosts one of the most expansive online websites dedicated to the field of soundproofing. For more than 20 years, NetWell has been prescribing acoustical treatments for more than 10,000 clients, targeting customized vertical market applications that replicate themselves successfully over and over again. For more information visit NetWell online at www.controlnoise.com