9 Soundproofing Ideas to Significantly Improve Acoustics in the Commercial Space and at Home

Home Theater

It’s funny, we live out our lives surrounded by noises and just have to get used to them. Cars, lawnmowers, a/c units, well pumps, toilets… These are the types of things that are typically all around us all of the time yet we think that’s just how it is. But what if we could get rid of them and increase peace and tranquility in our homes?

For example, I had a recent customer who opened a small office in a new commercial park that had a landscaping crew almost always around working on the grass and flowers. She had chosen the location for this setting specifically, and was paying a routine fee, like the rest of the tenants, for the landscaping service to keep the area beautiful and inviting, but all of that equipment was a constant noise issue within the office, negatively affecting efficiency. She called to see what could be done about it. The problem was the builder had gone cheap on the windows and this is where the sound was getting in from. (Even the smallest crack or weak seal can allow a LOT of sound in.) We proposed a cost-effective solution to address the windows in her office facing the areas where landscaping noise was routinely happening. She couldn’t believe the results, and said she could immediately sense the improvement of the office environment with a far more peaceful ambiance.

This is why soundproofing is my favorite aspect of working in the acoustics industry. Analyzing noisy problems and finding ways to significantly reduce or even eliminate them brings me joy, because I hear it from my customers once they have achieved the result. Sure, we can deal with noises and just get over it, but why not figure out how to get rid of them? Especially in the commercial space, how might we increase efficiency by improving the environment acoustically?

In this article, I’ll outline typical noises common to commercial spaces and the home and how we can apply soundproofing products and techniques to eliminate them.

What is Soundproofing?

Although the concepts are relatively simple, the language we use in acoustics can be a bit confusing. Our two main goals in acoustics are:

Soundproofing: blocking sounds from entering or leaving a space

Sound control: making the acoustics better in a space for an improved experience

We have a great write-up that details the two, but in this article we’re going to simply focus on soundproofing. I like to use its synonym, sound blocking, because it makes more sense. The whole point of soundproofing is to block sound from entering. In my example above, we used soundproofing techniques to block the sounds of lawnmowers and landscaping equipment from entering the office. The way we do this is to add mass and/or decouple materials so that sound rapidly loses its energy as it passes through walls, doors, etc. so that there is none or very little by the time it makes it through to the other side.

Soundproofing: Permanent vs. Temporary Solutions

Before diving into common examples where applying soundproofing can make a material difference to your business or household, it’s important to understand from the above that soundproofing is a technical matter. Because of this, there are invasive soundproofing measures to achieve the most control, and non-invasive measures that can achieve some level of soundproofing.

For example, when it comes to soundproofing walls, what we need to do is apply soundproofing materials to block the sounds. The non-invasive method would be to cover the walls with sound blocking panels. Because sound can leak through even the smallest of gaps, that means for effective soundproofing that the entirety of the wall needs to be covered. While this method can be effective, it may not be the most stylish. If you wanted the walls to look the same as they did prior without panels, then the drywall would need to be removed and an assembly of soundproofing materials would be added and then new drywall added. This invasive method achieves the most soundproofing because it offers the most control, in addition to the benefit of preserving the original aesthetic of the wall, but comes at the cost of renovation.

As we look through common situations where noise can be a problem, it’s important to remember these two types of soundproofing so you can consider which would be most ideal for your unique situation.

3 Commercial Soundproofing Ideas

You could argue that a synonym for “commercial” is “serious.” Whether an office, healthcare facility, retail store, or church, people go to these buildings for important reasons. Where there are important reasons, there needs to be an equally important environment to achieve those important goals. Here are 4 great ways to add soundproofing to common situations in commercial environments to cut down on noise and optimize the atmosphere.

1. Conference Rooms and/or Executive Offices

Barton Malow’s Main Conference Room using acoustic panels for teleconferencing

Speaking of importance, the goings on in conference rooms and executive offices top the list. They are the special places within small to huge offices where the hardest and largest plans are laid and decisions made. Because of that they need to be quiet, not just for the focus to execute difficult tasks, but to create a sanctuary-like space that exudes the bravada and confidence to run a business. They also need to be private.

Soundproofing executive and conference rooms mainly has to do with the walls. As mentioned above, there are non-invasive techniques and invasive techniques we can employ to achieve optimal soundproofing. Because of the seriousness of the atmosphere, it is likely that the invasive methods will be ideal as to maintain control over the aesthetics of the room. My suggestion then would be to apply AudioSeal^® Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Soundproofing Barrier with Green Glue Noiseproofing compound behind the drywall with the addition of Resilient Sound Isolation Clips (RSIC-1) to decouple the wall assembly for maximum soundproofing.

The results are no sound coming in or leaking out, with a finished wall that looks aesthetically-pleasing, ready to be complimented (or not) to achieve the look and feel you’re looking for in the most important of rooms.

2. Drop Ceilings

Agati Furniture – Open office plan using red AlphaSorb^® panels and Sonex^® Whisperwave^® Clouds in ceiling.

Drop ceilings are often denigrated aesthetically because we all remember being in an average commercial building with the same tired-looking, stained ceiling tiles. The benefit of drop ceilings is to allow the concealment of hvac equipment, plumbing, and wires that exist between floors, a situation common considering the way that floors are built in commercial structures vs. residential homes. Thankfully, there are many great ceiling tiles available today that are aesthetically pleasing and can make drop ceilings attractive.

That said, the main problem with the equipment above drop ceilings is the noise it creates. Thankfully, there is an easy way to fix this. PrivacyShield^® Ceiling Tile Barriers can be added to the back of any standard ceiling tile, with PrivacyShield^® Light Hoods to cover the lighting, installed with minimal effort. We offer a great kit for standard office spaces that will have you setup in no time, turning those noisy sounds from above into silence.

3. Outdoor A/C Units

The PrivacyShield^® Outdoor Absorptive Soundproofing Blanket used to mitigate sound coming from a commercial chiller in a residential area.

Air conditioning is a godsend component of modern life. It’s actually quite hard to believe we made it all this way through history without it up until recently! That said, A/C compressors are noisy, even when they are placed outside. Sure, we get used to it, but anytime it’s warm to hot outside, that a/c unit outside will be kicking on and making a bunch of noise. In the commercial space, it’s simply not possible to not have climate control. When looking for the best environment to coax the best from your employees, or to provide the right atmosphere for customers/guests, you can’t not have A/C.

You don’t always get to choose where those exterior units are, and they might end up being on the opposite side of important offices or even worship spaces, causing subtle but annoying noise pollution.

Thankfully, soundproofing exterior a/c units is quite straightforward. Since the unit is outside, that means we don’t need to entirely soundproof it, we just need to reduce it enough that once the sound makes it to the exterior wall of the structure, it doesn’t have enough energy to make it through. My favorite way to do this is to create a small fence between the building and the a/c unit and hang PrivacyShield^® AQFA-10EXT Exterior Soundproofing Blankets.

These soundproofing blankets are made to withstand even extreme weather conditions, and they come in 12 different colors so you can readily match it to your home’s exterior aesthetic.

5 Soundproofing Ideas for the Home

PrivacyShield^® Outdoor Absorptive Soundproofing Blankets were used to block and lower the noise emitted by this residential air conditioning unit

I love being able to find solutions to reduce noise in the home since we all have to live somewhere! After a long day hard at work, we should all be able to relax with a peaceful and quiet home. Let’s look at 6 ways to remove noise from your abode.

1. The Garage

The garage is a noisy place! From car engines to power tools and the like, some of our loudest equipment lives in the garage, and all of us would prefer our garages be attached to our homes rather than detached, meaning those noises are passed right through a wall into the home.

Soundproofing a garage can be more of a challenge because we need to focus on the walls, but the good news is a lot of garages come unfinished, meaning there is no insulation and drywall, just studs. By applying AudioSeal^® Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Soundproofing Barrier with Green Glue Noiseproofing compound, then covering with drywall, the fun but loud sounds of the garage can be contained in there, acoustically separated from the rest of the home.

2. Laundry and Mechanical Rooms

Our loudest equipment that exists inside the home are typically the washer and dryer. For those on wells, they know how loud a well pump can be, often found in a mechanical room. After all, the entire point of a laundry and/or mechanical room is to separate that noise from the rest of the house!

There are two ways to eliminate this noise, a better way and the best way. The better way is to simply hang PrivacyShield^® AQFA-10EXT Exterior Soundproofing Blanket to the walls to take care of most of the noise. Depending on where the laundry/mechanical room is, this might be all that you need. The best way if you want the sound totally gone is to add AudioSeal^® Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Soundproofing Barrier with Green Glue Noiseproofing compound to new drywall and decouple the wall from the studs with Resilient Sound Isolation Clips (RSIC-1). While this is more time and labor-intensive, it may be the ideal choice for you if the noise from these rooms is jarring.

I also like to advise adding anti-vibration products underneath washing machines and dryers as this equipment in particular produces kinetic energy that if improperly contained can lead to vibrational energy that moves through walls and the floor. A small bit of Iso-Step^® Rubber Gym Floor Mats can make a world of difference. You might even benefit simply from Isolation Cup Mounts, and the combination would certainly rid you of any vibrations making it away.

3. Bathrooms

One often overlooked source of noise, and embarrassing noise at that, is the bathroom. While we all have to use bathrooms, wouldn’t it be nice if no one else in the home had to hear what was going on in there?

Since bathrooms are one of the most common components of a home that is renovated, I highly suggest the mentioned combination of AudioSeal^® Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Soundproofing Barrier with Green Glue Noiseproofing compound when undergoing renovation, applied to the ceilings and walls. Typically the floors aren’t too much of a concern, but if you are redoing the floor as well, Iso-Step^® Soundproofing Underlayment is a great option to get you fully soundproofed.

For a detailed look at soundproofing a bathroom, see our dedicated article.

4. Home Office

Work from home continues to be a popular work arrangement. Whether working for a company or for your own business with an employee of 1, it’s imperative to have a nice, quiet home office from which to work. Similarly, the best way to soundproof a home office is to get behind the drywall and utilize AudioSeal^® Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Soundproofing Barrier with Green Glue Noiseproofing compound and Resilient Sound Isolation Clips (RSIC-1).

This is always my suggestion if ever you are building a new home or renovating, or aren’t afraid to take down and install new drywall and paint. If you’d like to avoid any renovation, I suggest PrivacyShield^® Soundproofing Composite Foam. If your walls are really leaky, you will likely have to cover the walls completely.

For more information about soundproofing a home office, see our detailed article about soundproofing bedrooms.

5. Windows and Doors

No matter the room or the house, we all have windows and doors. These are our literal portals to the outside world, and the entry and exit for sounds, too. Even the smallest bad seal or thin glass can allow a lot of sound in or out. For windows, I suggest PrivacyShield^® Window Seal Kit, a quick and easy install that boosts the ability of any window to block sounds.

For doors, it can depend on the type of door you have. Many doors are hollow cored because they are cheaper than solid wood. If you think your doors are hollow and simply transmit way too much noise, the best option is to replace it entirely with a solid core door. These can be found in most home improvement stores at a good price point. Adding our PrivacyShield^® Soundproofing Door Seal Kit will then “seal the deal,” providing powerful soundproofing.

Find the Best Products and Expertise for Any Soundproofing Project with Acoustical Solutions

I absolutely love helping clients soundproof their spaces, no matter the circumstance. From movie theaters, rental apartments, gaming rooms, and beyond, there’s no space that can’t have its acoustics improved.

Give me a call today and we can discuss your specific scenario and find the exact acoustical solution for you on your budget.