Description
We are increasingly receiving requests for bedroom soundproofing. Nairobi City dwellers are surrounded by constant noise: cars, re-laying curbs, construction works, fireworks outside the window… Even in your apartment, it is not always possible to find peace. Because of either the neighbor’s TV, a crying child, or a washing machine on the floor above. But these sounds are not equally annoying in all rooms. In some rooms, you may not even notice them. But in other rooms, you want complete silence. Needless to say, bedrooms need noise protection the most.
Noise from neighbors, cars outside the window, construction sites nearby, and other sounds often disturb the silence in the room. This prevents you from relaxing, and enjoying the peace and affects the quality of your sleep.
When it comes to the bedroom, associations with privacy and sleep arise. At the same time, the main condition for a good rest is a calm atmosphere and silence. Extraneous noise becomes a serious obstacle in this case. Because of it, instead of relaxation, you can get irritation, lack of sleep, and a bad mood. But there is a solution to the problem. It lies in high-quality bedroom soundproofing.
It is enough to provide high-quality sound insulation in the apartment. To choose the appropriate materials and type of construction, consider the purpose of each room. We tell you how to organize protection from extraneous sounds in the bedroom, children’s room, living room, kitchen, and bathroom.
The noise level in the bedroom should not exceed 20-25 dB. Louder sounds can prevent you from sleeping.
The procedure for measuring noise levels
You can measure the noise level in your bedroom or any other room with a noise meter. This device is a microphone that transmits the captured sound vibrations to a voltmeter. Specialists take measurements directly in the bedroom being examined.
The sanitary and hygienic condition of your residential, office, or industrial premises directly affects your well-being. The parameters for assessing the hygienic condition include the level of illumination, air temperature, the presence of ventilation, noise level, and other characteristics.
Noise level measurements determine violations of hygiene standards in your premises. This procedure is appropriate to carry out in industrial complexes, residential buildings, and apartments located near busy transport highways, office premises that do not have an equipped server room, and in classrooms, and workshops.
In offices, measurements are taken at the level of the head of a person sitting at a desk. In production facilities, measurements are taken at a height of 160 – 180 cm. The microphone of the noise meter is directed at known noise sources, which allows for reliable results.
There are 4 main types of noise: continuous, intermittent, impulsive, and low-frequency. The main differentiating factor between these types is how the noise changes with time.
Airborn noise
It is created by neighbors on the same floor when they talk loudly, listen to music, or watch TV.
Impact noise
It comes from the neighbors upstairs when they stomp, jump, or, for example, play ball.
Soundproofing walls with rock wool will help protect against airborne noise. It can be of 2 types:
Adhesive mineral wool
All layers (mineral wool, gypsum fiber sheets, or gypsum plasterboard and finishing) are glued with foam adhesive.
Rock wool slabs built-in frame
At a distance of 2-3 mm from the wall, a metal frame is mounted, into which stone wool slabs are built. Then the structure is covered with gypsum fiber sheets or gypsum plasterboard and the cladding is done.
The structure weakens sound waves due to solid elements (gypsum board) and disperses them due to the fibrous structure of stone wool and the presence of air layers between the layers of material. This increases the soundproofing capacity of the wall to 55-59 dB. These indicators can be increased by using mineral wool with a thickness of 100 mm instead of 50 mm or by adding a layer of gypsum fiberboard or gypsum plasterboard.
You can reduce impact noise from neighbors above by using a suspended ceiling with stone wool.
Master bedroom soundproofing
Although 28 dB meets regulatory bedroom soundproofing requirements, it can deprive an impressionable person of sleep. Therefore, it is better to strive for noise levels no higher than 20-25 dB.
You will have to protect yourself from two types of noise: airborne noise coming from apartments on the same floor (music, television, loud speech, etc.), and impact noise coming from the floor above (stomping feet, clattering heels, jumping, playing ball, etc.).
A bedroom soundproofing system with rock wool installed to the wall will help combat airborne noise. It can be adhesive, or frame. In the adhesive system, all layers (mineral wool, gypsum fiberboard, or gypsum plasterboard sheets and finishing) are glued with foam glue without mechanical fasteners. In the frame system, rock wool is mounted in a metal frame placed at a distance of 2-3 mm from the wall and then covered with gypsum fiberboard or gypsum plasterboard sheets and cladding.
Mass: a fairly straightforward soundproofing principle
This design works on the principle of “mass-spring-mass” and solves the problem of noise removal in a comprehensive manner. Solid elements (gypsum board) weaken the energy of the sound wave, and the fibrous material (rock wool) dissipates it by alternately passing through the fibers and air layers between them. As a result, the soundproofing capacity of the wall increases to 55-59 dB. For the bedroom, these figures can be increased even more. For this, the system uses mineral wool with a thickness of not 50, but 100 mm and an additional layer of gypsum fiberboard or gypsum board. Similar measures are suitable for the office if you are used to working in complete silence.
The best protection against noise from above is a “floating floor” system in an apartment where people stomp and jump. But if you can’t convince your neighbor to do the renovation, you can install a suspended ceiling with rock wool in your apartment. It will help reduce the noise level.
Children’s bedroom soundproofing
The child’s bedroom is another important room in terms of ensuring silence. Here you need to not only create peace for the small child but also remember that as soon as he grows up, his active games will begin to disturb the neighbors.
The already described wall structure with rock wool will prevent unnecessary sounds from coming from your neighbors to you. And from you to them. For people below not to be disturbed by the baby’s stomping, install a “floating floor” system. Rock wool is also used for this, but a material with high strength is selected that can withstand the load – after all, such a floor will be constantly walked on. Mineral wool is covered with a prefabricated or cement-sand screed, on which the finishing coating is laid. Such a solution, if installed correctly, will reduce noise to 34 dB.
To completely isolate or soundproof an enclosed space, a child’s bedroom, or partially an open area, prevent echo and reverberations, improve the acoustics of the place, and prevent sound from escaping to the outside, avoiding disturbing other people.
Among the most commonly used materials to soundproof children’s bedrooms are curtains, which do not have to be the classic ones we see on windows or balconies. These acoustic soundproofing curtains have many possibilities, as they can be adapted to any vertical and even horizontal design.
In the complexity of studying sound and its behavior to understand how it spreads when interacting with a given medium, there are two factors that almost always go hand in hand to achieve good soundproofing. On the one hand, there is the term “insulation” and on the other “absorption”, the latter being widely used in practice with porous materials, which have a sound-reducing function when it penetrates the interior of the material in question.
Frequently asked questions about bedroom soundproofing
1. What are the different methods of soundproofing a bedroom?
- Adding mass: Adding heavy materials like drywall, insulation, or soundproof curtains can help block noise.
- Creating barriers: Installing soundproof barriers between your bedroom and the noise source can help reduce noise transmission.
- Using sound-absorbing materials: Materials like acoustic panels, foam, or carpets can absorb sound waves, reducing their intensity.
2. How much does it cost to soundproof a bedroom?
The cost of soundproofing a bedroom can vary depending on the size of the room, the materials used, and the level of soundproofing required. However, it is generally a worthwhile investment for anyone who values a quiet and peaceful sleep.
3. Can I soundproof my bedroom myself?
While it is possible to soundproof your bedroom yourself, it is important to have a basic understanding of soundproofing principles and techniques. If you are unsure about how to proceed, it is best to consult with a professional.
4. Can soundproofing affect the temperature in my bedroom?
Some soundproofing materials, such as insulation, can also help to improve the energy efficiency of your bedroom. However, it is important to ensure that the materials you use do not interfere with proper ventilation.
5. How can I choose the right soundproofing materials for my bedroom?
When choosing soundproofing materials, it is important to consider the level of noise reduction you need, the materials you have available, and your budget. It is also a good idea to consult with a professional for advice.
Living room and kitchen
The comfortable noise level in these zones is up to 40 dB. If the developer of the house didn’t take care of high-quality sound insulation in advance, it can be done independently using the same frame or adhesive structure. In this case, 50 mm thick stone wool will do. It can be covered with a sheet of plasterboard – one layer will be enough.
If you like to invite guests and throw dance parties, it wouldn’t hurt to install a “floating floor” system. Thanks to this solution, you can have fun without worrying about disturbing your neighbors below.
As for soundproofing in the kitchen, remember: it is a little more difficult to combat extraneous noise here. It penetrates through ventilation and communication openings that cannot be sealed. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will be able to achieve perfect silence in this room.
Bathroom
If your neighbors like to take a shower or turn on the washing machine at night, soundproofing will not hurt in the bathroom either. However, it is better to install it outside the room. Firstly, then the material will not be under constant exposure to moisture. Secondly, it will save space in the bathroom.