Underfloor insulation is an often overlooked area of the home that deserve just as much attention as other exterior walls.  It has been said that up to 25% of your home’s energy loss can be attributed to poorly insulated floors.  However, there are certain circumstances when underfloor insulation is NOT necessary.  For example, if your basement is finished and heated, then insulating your main floor will not likely improve your home’s efficiency, unless you are trying to block unwanted noise from entering or exiting the basement.  In which case, not only should you use underfloor insulation, but an underfloor sound barrier such as mass loaded vinyl as well.
Another reason why you may not need traditional underfloor insulation is if you have concrete floors.

Types Of Underfloor Insulation

If you do think you will be able to increase your home’s energy efficiency by insulating the floors there are several types of materials that you can use.  Depending on you access to the floor joists (if you have an open basement) and the number of pipes, duct work, and wire conduit, you can choose a material that is cost effective and easy to install.

• Batt Insulation – Made from fiberglass and backed with paper, Batt Insulation is one of the most cost effective methods of insulation on the market.  It is extremely common in modern construction, and is favored because it is a flame retardant material.  The disadvantages of this type of underfloor insulation is it is somewhat bulky to manage and install especially in tight areas, or bays with multiple pipes and wires.
• Foam Board Insulation – Much easier to cut and manage, foam board insulation is a rigid foil backed underfloor insulation that comes in 4×8 foot sheets.  Easily cut with a straightedge and utility, knife, foam board can be measured and cut outside of the work area.  The disadvantage of foam board insulation is that it requires extra work sealing all of the cracks and seams with tape and silicone to ensure you eliminate all of your inefficiencies.
• Blown Insulation – The easiest and one of the most effective ways of insulating hard to reach areas is to use a machine to blow in cellulose or fiberglass fibers.  It does a great job of getting around pipes and wires, and creates a good seal from bay to bay.  The disadvantage of blown in insulation is the cost.  You must either rent a machine your self and learn the trade, or pay a professional to do the job.  Both require time and energy.

Comparing Underfloor Insulation

All insulation is compared with a metric called thermal resistance, or “R” value.  The higher the R value the better that type of insulation is at insulating your home. Therefore, underfloor insulation should be purchased based on it’s R value, not it’s thickness, density, shape, or look.  All of the above methods have an R value between 3.5 and 4 per inch, so the best underfloor insulation method is the one that fits your budget and space constraints.

Modern windows, such as triple pane windows, are constructed with multiple panes of glass in order increase energy.  Triple pane windows have three panes of glass, and outer, middle, and inner all separated by a thin layer of air.  The benefit of multiple layers of glass is that the air gap makes for an excellent insulator of both heat and sound.  Meaning, triple pane windows represent the pinnacle of energy efficiency.  The reason why triple pane windows are so much more efficient than than one thick piece of glass is the fact that triple pane windows have 6 surface areas to reflect heat compared to the 2 surfaces that single pane glass has.  With this extra surface area, window manufacturers apply materials such as a low emissivity coating which is designed to reflect heat and light without to each surface.  By reflecting light with invisible metal particles, windows treated with low-e coatings are able to reflect over 32% of solar heat from entering the room.  Now imagine how effective applying that same technology on 6 separate surfaces separated by an heat insulating air gap.  That is what makes triple pane windows so desirable, along with a host of other benefits.

Benefits Of Triple Pane Windows

Although triple pane windows may be cost too costly for some, the energy savings over time will pay for themselves if you live in any extreme hot or cold climate.  However, there are a number of other benefits that make them well worth the investment.

• 85-90% Efficiency – Compared to single pane aluminum windows, triple pane replacement windows can be as much as 90% more efficient.  Although they are a significant investment, triple pane windows pay for themselves over time.
• Sound Isolation – One of the primary benefits of a well insulated window is the decrease in sound transmission throught the window when closed.  If you have problems with noisy neighbors, or a noisy water pump or air conditioner, highly insulated windows should be the first line of defense in your in soundproofing technique.
• UV Protection – Most modern replacement windows, triple pane included have special UV blocking films to protect your curtains, furniture, and flooring.

Disadvantages Of Triple Pane Windows

While triple pane windows are extremely valuable, there are a few things you should be aware of before making your decision.  The primary disadvantage of triple pane windows is the cost.  Although those expenses will be recouped over time, the extra 25-40% percent cost upfront is difficult for some families to handle.  Additionally, a common complaint among triple pane window owners is that the weight of the panes is noticeably heavier than their double pane counterparts.  Although this is an insignificant compromise considering their benefits, you shouldn’t purchase triple pane windows without first testing them in a showroom or demo units.

Soundproofing ceiling sounds is one of the most difficult things to accomplish in acoustical engineering.  In general, there are two types of sounds that can be a nuisance to you when you’d like peace and quiet.  Airborne sounds are those that travel through the air to reach your ears. Noises like a neighbors TV set, a dog barking, or the construction outside your apartment are all sounds that use air a medium for travel.  The second type of noise is called an impact sound.  Most commonly a footstep on the floor above your head, impact sounds could be anything from a chair dragging its legs to a headboard hitting the wall.  Impact sounds are a result of something vibrating the structure of your room.

Impact sounds are very common in multi-dwelling buildings such as condos and apartments.  Unfortunately there is no quick fix for impact sounds, and even if you have the right to remodel your ceiling using soundproof materials, they are still very difficult to isolate.  The reason is because of something called flanking sound.  For example, when you hear the busy footsteps of the neighbor above you, the sound is not just traveling through the ceiling.  It is actually traveling through the joists, going into the studs, and entering your room from the ceiling and the “flanking” walls.

If possible, it is much easier to treat impact sounds from the source such as requesting your neighbor to install carpet with thick padding, or rip out their floor and replace it with a mass loaded vinyl and impact isolating underlayment.  Sadly this is hardly ever a reality, so we must do the best we can with the materials we have.

Soundproofing Ceiling Steps

Soundproofing a ceiling is very similar to soundproofing a wall. The steps are almost identical, the idea being to isolate the drywall from the studs to create a sound barrier.  Often, the best option is to use a combination of resilient channel and green glue to float a sandwiched drywall sheet.  Isolation is even more important on the ceiling than it is when soundproofing walls.  Make sure to overlap the joints of your sheetrock, and only screw directly into the resilient channel.  Any misguided screws that enter your joists will transfer the sound wasting all of your time and money.

Suspending Ceiling Tile Soundproofing

If your home or business has suspending ceiling tiles instead of drywall covering the joists, it can be even more difficult to isolate unwanted noise.  The best option is to use a product like mass loaded vinyl, carefully cut and taped to create a heavy and dense sound barrier that will block the airborne noises.  Another major problem with suspending ceilings is sound traveling through air ducts and reverberating through the space.  Using an in line air duct baffle will help further your soundproofing ceiling efforts.

Generally there are two reasons why you may want soundproof walls.  The first is that you want to keep unwanted noises out.  For example a neighbors television, the dog down the street, or even your own pool pump or air conditioner can interrupt your sleep making it difficult to be well rested and healthy.  The second reason why you may want soundproof walls is you may actually want to keep noise in.  For example, a young musician in the house wants to practice their instrument without disturbing their siblings.  Or perhaps, you like staying up late to watch TV, but the kids have a hard time sleeping.  Whatever your reason, the techniques listed below are sure to help.

How To Soundproof Walls

Whether you have a noisy neighbor you’d like to hear a little bit less of, or you don’t want to disturb your family when you enjoy you home theater, soundproof walls are the best way to make sure no sound can either enter or escape your room.  Unfortunately soundproofing walls isn’t as simple as throwing on a coat of special paint, or even using a certain type of insulation.  In order to effectively soundproof walls you must utilize several techniques to isolate your walls from the rest of the structure (studs, floor, and ceiling). This is accomplished using several methods, the most popular of which is called resilient channel.  Resilient channel attaches to the studs of your walls and uses as little material as possible to support the drywall on the studs.  Additionally, resilient channel allows you to float soundproof walls so that they do not transfer vibrations from the adjacent walls, floor or ceiling.

Other methods used to soundproof walls include using sound isolating adhesives such as green glue to sandwich two sheets of drywall together to make one thick and soundproof sheet of drywall.  These methods along with using the proper insulation, sealing receptacle outlets, and soundproofing your windows and doors will ensure you can enjoy peace and quiet for years to come.   Click here to read more details instructions about how to soundproof a room.

How Soundproof Walls Are Measured

In order to help us determine if our soundproofing efforts are working, a metric is used called the sound transmission class, to compare different soundproofing materials.  The higher the sound transmission class rating, the better that product will insulate your room from unwanted noise.  The average interior wall has an STC rating of just over 40 if well insulated, however using a few of the techniques above you can increase your rating to 60 or higher.  It is generally accepted that most noises are inaudible through soundproof walls with an STC rating of 50 or higher.

Before deciding to invest in sound panels, you must first determine what type of noise control you are hoping to achieve.  If you would like to try and soundproof a room by blocking sound out or in (acoustical isolation) then sound panels are not going to give you the results you are looking for.  Sound blocking (acoustical isolation) requires a specific type of construction of the walls in your room to eliminate the transmission of sound from one room to another.  See our article on soundproofing a room for more information.  However, if you would like to improve the quality of sound in your room (for example a recording studio, home theater, or auditorium) by reducing the amount of echo, reverberations, and ringing, sound panels do an excellent job.  There are a number of different styles of sound panels ranging from simple foam tiles, to custom made professional sound panels designed to absorb the frequencies you have trouble with.

Choosing The Right Sound Panels

With all of the sound panels on the market, it can be difficult to determine which panel will work best in your space, while staying in your budget.  In order to help consumers compare sound panels, there is a metric (similar to the “R” value of insulation”) called the noise reduction coefficient.  The scale of the noise reduction coefficient ranges from 0, which would be a perfectly reflective material, and 1 which represents a panel with 100% absorption.  The highest quality sound panels have an NRC of up to 1, meaning they absorb 100% of the sound that hits them.  High end acoustic panels can cost more than $100 per 2×2 section, however the sound improvement will be drastic compared a tile of sound dampening foam with an NRC of .7.

Selecting the correct thickness for your sound dampening needs is also important.  If you are building a vocal booth, or if you are trying to control the sound in a small auditorium, standard 2” panel will trap both mid and high frequencies (above 500Hz) effectively.  However if you have trouble controlling the sound of your subwoofers during a loud concert or similar, 4” panels are recommended to help trap the bass frequencies.

Installing Sound Panels

Most sound panels are delivered with fastening hardware such as clips or hangers to attach them to the walls, some just use silicone or adhesive.  How you fasten your panels to the wall is not as important as where you place them.  Although the sheer act of covering ample square footage of your walls with sound panels will dramatically improve your results, there are a few tips to get the most out of your sound dampening efforts.

• Sound panels are much more effective when used in the corners of rooms.  If you have a limited budget and want to get the most reduction out of your acoustic panels, line each side of the corners in the room.
• Try to imagine the first point of reflection from your speakers.  If your speakers face the back of the room hang your sound panels directly on the wall where the sound first hits.  If you have speakers on poles pointing in one particular spot, follow the line of the speaker’s cone and place a large panel on the wall in it’s path.
• While sitting in the center of where you want your sound to be the highest quality, have someone walk around the room with a mirror, or pane of glass.  Wherever you find that the sound reflection increases, place a panel in that position.
• Just using enough square feet of sound panels will give you decent results so make your room look good in the process of finding the reflection hot spots in the room.

Used as a way of comparing the sound absorbing characteristics between materials, the Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) is an average of the four absorption coefficients spread across a large spectrum of sound waves.  A noise reduction coefficient would represent a perfect reflection of sound, while an NRC of 1 would represent a 100% absorption of sound into a material.

Simply put, the noise reduction coefficient is a value given to sound absorbing products between 0 and 1.  The higher the number (closer to 1) the better that material is at absorbing sound.  For those building a recording studio, or engineering an auditorium, acoustic foam panels with a high NRC are best.

When To Use The Noise Reduction Coefficient

A common misconception is that the noise reduction coefficient determines how well a product or material will soundproof a room.  There is a big difference between sound blocking and sound absorption.  A material with a high NRC will not necessarily block sound better than a material with a low noise reduction coefficient.  In fact, quite the opposite.  The best sound blocking materials are heavy and dense, while the best sound dampening products are thick and airy.  Products like acoustical foam are lightweight and uncompressed allowing the sound waves to get trapped inside.

In practice, sound blocking products are used to eliminate the transmission of sound from one room to another.  For example, you have neighbor who’s dog barks all night long.  You want to block that sound from entering your room.  Putting products on the wall with a high NRC will not give you peace and quiet.  However if you are building a small home vocal studio and are having trouble with echos in the booth, covering the walls with sound dampening foam will improve the quality of sound in the room.

Comparing Noise Reduction Coefficient Values

The noise reduction coefficient offers consumers a way of comparing different sound dampening products.  A rough guide to judging which sound dampening materials are best is by determining how much sound control you need.  As a rule of thumb, a product with an NRC of .5 will absorb about 50% of the sound that hits it, one with a value of .62 will absorb 62% of sound.  Most professional quality sound dampening foam will have an NRC rating between .7 and .85.  Higher end professional sound panels can have a noise reduction coefficient as high as 1, representing a 100% absorption of sound.

If you are interested in temporary sound dampening for a mobile studio or event, acoustical blankets can offer an NRC rating of over .5.  Acoustical blankets are great for speaking engagements in open rooms where the existing noise reduction coefficient is not substantial enough to absorb the echos.

There are a number of insulating products that effectively increase the energy efficiency of your home, and you may be eligible for an insulation grant from the government.  In an effort to help cut the costs of heating and cooling for low-income families, in addition to creating a more energy conscious country, the United States government has several programs to help people pay for everything from insulation to windows and doors.  The construction is paid for by federal government grants distributed by the states.

You may be wondering, what a grant is and do you have to pay that money back?  The answer is, no.  If eligible, federal and state grants are free money from the government to increase the energy efficiency of your home and lower your heating bill.  They provide this service as a way of helping low-income families, creating jobs across the country, and decreasing the energy consumption of the country as a whole.  Navigating the insulation grant process can be difficult and confusing, but if you think you may be eligible the payoff can be worth it.

Insulation Grants In The United States

There are two primary insulation grants available in the United States.  The first of which requires you to earn less than a certain amount of money each year, and the second requires that you live within a certain distance of an airport.  The insulation grant that most people qualify for is called the Weatherization Assistance Program, run by the Department Of Energy.

• Weatherization Assistance Program - The weatherization grant is an insulation grant provided by the federal government, but distributed by each individual state.  Created in 1976, the WAP gives low income families up to $6500 dollars to weatherize their homes for efficiency.  The requirements for eligibility vary state to state but a good rule of thumb is that you must earn around 60% less than the median income of your state.  For example, in New York, you would need to earn less than $22,000 to qualify.  To apply, visit the application page on the Dept. Of Energy website.
• FAA Soundproofing Program – If you live near an airport, you may be eligible to have your home soundproofed to reduce the distraction of planes flying overhead.  However, distributions of the grants are not made to individuals, rather you need to contact the airport near you and request information and consideration.

Insulation Grants In The UK

If you are 70 or over, or if you make less than £15,460 and live in England you could qaulify for up to £3,500 in grants from the Warm Front Scheme.  To apply simply visit the Warm Front Website and check your eligibility.  If selected you can use your grant for loft or cavity insulation, hot water tank insulation, draught-proofing or many other energy efficient practices.  Even if you don’t apply for any insulation grants, you should consider insulating as the savings on your energy bill often offset the upfront costs.

Most people fail to realize that learning how to soundproof a door with have a much more dramatic effect on your soundproofing efforts that if you just focus on soundproofing your walls.  Believe it or not, most standard interior walls in the home have an STC rating of over 40 without applying any soundproofing techniques. However, trouble areas in your home such as windows, doors, and receptacle outlets often leave wide open gaps in your walls that offer sound the least resistant path.  Before you start start soundproofing any room, you should first learn how to soundproof a door and window to see if that eliminates your problem.  If you are still not satisfied with the results, then move forward and use products like resilient channel, green glue, or soundproof drywall to increase the STC of your walls.

How To Soundproof A Door That Leaks

There are striking similarities between the process of making your door more energy efficient and soundproofing it.  All of the same gaps and holes that let cold air inside are the same gaps that will allow sound to pass freely.  Similarly, if you have a thin or hollow door, there may not be too much improvement is sound transmission even if you make it airtight.  There is no need to pay extra for any type of special door, it should just be solid wood.  Most doors with hollow centers have and STC rating of less than 20.  If you have a solid wood door and are still getting sound leaking thorough, the problem is likely the door frame surrounding the door, not the door itself.

1.  The first step in learning how to soundproof a door is removing the casing or trim around it.  This will reveal the where the drywall meets the door frame, and often times there will be an apparent gap.  If you can see light, or feel air coming through the gap then you want to make sure to seal the transition with silicone or an expanding foam insulation like Great Stuff.

2.  Next, make sure there is no gap below the door and flooring when it is shut.  Even a gap as small as ¼ inch can contribute to sound transmission.  If you find that there is room for improvement, apply a self adhesive door seal to the bottom of the door to make the door air tight.

3.  Apply a closed cell high density foam strip to the inside of where the door meets the jam.  This tape will not only make the door airtight in the jam, but it will also reduce vibrations in the door causing impact noises that are very hard to control.

If you are unable to replace the door in your home, perhaps if your lease or rent, there are less aesthetically pleasing alternatives.  Acoustic curtains can be hung over the door during peak hours of noise, or at night to decrease the disturbances.  It will be inconvenient and ugly, but for those who are desperate, it can be a relief.  If the idea of removing casing, and applying foam are over your head and you still don’t know how to soundproof a door, call a licensed contractor and explain you’d like to seal all air gaps in the frames of your doors and windows.

A topic as broad as foam sheets can mean a variety of different things depending on the application.  The purpose of this article is to define and distinguish many of the most popular types of foam sheets.  Regardless of it’s intended use, foam has many advantages in construction, crafts, the arts, and even thermodynamics.  Foam for the purpose of this article will be defined as the trapping of gaseous bubbles in the form of a solid as opposed to a liquid.  The most common types of foam solids include, polyethylene foam such as in pipe insulation, polyurethane foam like in acoustic panels, or polystyrene foam strands that make up the foam board insulation you would see installed in homes or garages.  The most common foam sheets made for insulation and soundproofing in homes are called foam board insulation.

Foam Sheets – Foam Board Insulation

Foam board insulation has a number of benefits over traditional fiberglass insulation.  Primarily, foam sheets of insulation are much easier to manage, store, cut, and install.  Rigid and durable in construction, foam board insulation is very easy to install with a utility knife and a staple gun, or adhesive.  Additionally, foam sheets are much more efficient in terms of R value compared to the amount of space they consume.  A one inch foam sheet can insulate just as well as several inches of fiberglass.  This makes them a great solution for concrete or brick construction where there is no stud cavity to fill with insulation.  Finally, foam board insulation can also be used on the exterior of homes to provide an extra layer of insulation for improved energy efficiency in between the framing and siding.

Foam Sheets For Crafts

Used to make cut outs, stamps, and as a canvas for artwork, foam sheets have the potential of hours of fun for kids.  Bright colored foam sheets are great for making hats, animals and puppets.  To use, use a pair of scissors to help your child cut out fun shapes of animals, letters, or objects.  Then using markers, glue, glitter, and your cutouts make wonderful and vibrant 3 dimensional pieces of art that your kids will be proud of.  Or follow patterns you can print out online to make puppets or hats that your children will love.

Foam Sheets For Soundproofing
Using foam board insulation is a great way to improve the noise penetration of a room.  However there are plenty of foam sheets made to improve the quality of sound in a room by dampening the sound of echos and vibrations.  Sound dampening foam absorbs sound that would normally bounce off the wall and create echos or reverberations.  There are plenty of styles of foam sheets for soundproofing that are sure to fit your budget, ranging from egg crate foam to professional grade acoustic panels.

As you can see, depending on your application, foam sheets are one of the most affordable and convenient materials for everything from kids crafts to high end construction projects or soundproofing jobs.

Simply put, double hung windows are a type of window that allows for two panels to operate independently of each other. Most modern windows are made up of what are called sashes.  A sash can be a single pane of glass in a frame, or multiple panes of glass framed into one large panel.  Windows come in all types whether the panels like vertically, horizontally, or they may just tilt out a few inches providing a small gap for ventilation.

Most modern replacement windows however, operate either vertically or horizontally.  A double hung window is made so that both sashes (either top and bottom, or left and right) are able to slide freely on the frames track.  Meaning if you could open your window in the traditional sense, sliding the bottom sash up in front of the top sash, OR you could slide the top sash down behind the bottom sash.

Benefits Of Double Hung Windows

The primary benefit of double hung windows is ease of use and versatility.  Depending on the location of the window, opening your windows from the top may provide better circulation, while opening from the bottom may be more convenient.  Having the option to operate your windows both ways is an affordable luxury with double hung windows.  However, they are host to a number of unseen benefits as well.

• Easy To Clean – The primary reason most people choose double hung windows over sling hung sashes is the fact that cleaning your windows is much safer and much easier.  In order to clean the outside of single hung windows, you would need to use a ladder from the outside of the home.  However, with double hung windows you can simply slide down the top sash and hinge it into the room for convenient cleaning.  No ladders, ropes, buckets or hoses needed.
• Thermodynamics and Ventilation – Knowing that hot air rises, we can create better ventilation in our home by opening the lower level windows on the bottom sash, and opening the higher level window’s top sash.  This creates a naturally airflow where the breeze enters the room from the bottom, heats and escapes through the top.
• Safety – If you have kids or pets at home, having a double hung window will allow you to only open the top sash preventing escape from curious children or pets.
• Curbside Appeal – Many sling hung windows only have screens on the bottom half of the window which can seem unbalanced and less desirable than a screen that fit the entire exterior of the window like in most double hung windows.

Soundproofing Double Hung Windows

Any type of window can be made soundproof including double hung windows.  Soundproof windows are manufactured using multiple layers of glass such as triple pane windows where each pane is separated by a thin layer of material that dampens the sound.  It is important to realize that soundproof windows and double hung windows are two different things.  Double hung windows can be either soundproof or not, and not all soundproof windows are double hung.