Acoustic Insulation and Soundproofing Your Home

When you’re at home, you should be able to relax in a comfortable environment devoid of outside noise, neighbour chatter, or the sound of a TV in another room.

With the rise of urban living, open-plan designs, and work-from-home offices in the 21st century, noise has become more of an issue. Whether it’s the sound of city traffic, family activities, or loud neighbours, acoustic insulation and soundproofing can bring peace back into your home.

A home with soundproofing insulation can give you a greater sense of privacy, improve sleep and may enhance your property value should you decide to test the real estate market. If you’ve ever considered soundproofing your home, continue reading below.

Understanding Acoustic Insulation

What is acoustic insulation?

Acoustic insulation is specifically designed to reduce the transmission of sound within or into a building. Unlike thermal insulation, which focuses on temperature control, acoustic insulation often provides both thermal and acoustic benefits.

Sound transmission begins when vibrations travel through air, walls, and other building materials. Acoustic insulation works by either blocking or absorbing these sound waves to reduce their impact. In doing so, it minimises noise transfer from both internal and external sources.

Many types of insulation (such as glasswool or polyester) also have a sound reduction to some degree. However, acoustic batts are produced at a higher density, which makes them much more effective at absorbing sound.

Types of noise in the home:

When learning how to improve soundproofing in your home, the two types of noise to consider are airborne noise and impact noise.

Airborne noise includes conversations, music, and TV. Airborne noise travels through the air and can be dampened by installing acoustic insulation batts in the internal and external walls of the home.

Impact noise includes things like footsteps, furniture movements, and vibrations from heavy appliances. Reducing impact noise often requires creating a physical “break” in the structure to stop sound from traveling through solid surfaces.

Solutions like resilient mounts, rubber strips, underlays, and sound-absorbing green glue can be installed to help reduce vibrations and absorb sound.

Key Areas of the Home to Soundproof

Walls and partitions:

One of the key areas of your home when it comes to soundproofing is the interior and exterior walls. Insulating these walls will prevent noise from traveling between rooms and from outside the home.

High-density insulation batts and acoustic panels reduce noise transmission and are excellent wall insulation options.

R2.5 or 2.7 acoustic insulation batts are generally recommended for the internal and external walls. Common products include:

Between floors and ceilings:

Soundproofing a home, including the floors and ceilings, can make a noticeable difference. Soundproofing these areas can drown out impact noise coming from above or below and is especially useful in multi-story homes and apartment buildings.

To do this, try midfloor insulation between the floor joists, adding ceiling insulation, and using underlays beneath floor coverings.

R3.1 or R4.0 acoustic insulation batts are recommended for between floors of a double-story home. Common products include:

R4.0HD Knauf Earthwool Sound Shield Insulation
R3.1 Bradford SoundScreen Insulation
R3.1 Pink SoundBreak Insulation

Ceiling insulation products with a high R-value offer both thermal and acoustic benefits. Common products include:

R6.0 Knauf Earthwool Ceiling Insulation
R7.0 Knauf Earthwool Ceiling Insulation
R6.0HP Bradford Gold Hi-Performance Ceiling Insulation
R7.0HP Bradford Gold Hi-Performance Ceiling Insulation
R6.0 Pink Batts Ceiling Insulation

Windows and doors:

Believe it or not, windows and doors also play an important role in how much noise enters your home. Have you ever been house hunting and seen the words “double-glazed” windows?

Double-glazed windows consist of two panes of glass with a gap in between, usually filled with air or gas. This improves thermal insulation and reduces noise by creating a barrier that limits sound transmission from outside.

Simple soundproofing measures like weatherstripping your doors prevent noise from seeping in and adding heavy curtains or acoustic panels can provide additional sound absorption.

Acoustic Insulation Materials and Their Effectiveness

Common acoustic insulation materials:

Common insulation and soundproofing materials include glasswool, polyester, rockwool and acoustic foam.

Glasswool (also known as fibreglass) is great at reducing airborne noise. It is an affordable and available option for either thermal or acoustic insulation. Reputable glasswool brands in Australia include Earthwool Sound Shield, Bradford Gold and Pink SoundBreak.

Polyester insulation is low allergenic, safe, non-toxic, and is unaffected by moisture. Autex Quietspace is an aesthetically pleasing acoustic product range used in commercial buildings across Australia.

Rockwool (a type of mineral wool) is fire-resistant, moisture-resistant, and has great sound absorption and thermal benefits.. But rockwool is more expensive and itchy than glasswool insulation and will usually require professional installation. Rockwool insulation is not common in Australia and is typically only used in wall systems where it is specified for its fire-resistant properties.

Acoustic foam is best for absorbing sound and reducing reverberation. Acoustic foam is light and easy to install but it’s not the best at blocking low-frequency noise.

Choosing the right material for your needs

Whether you want to block out external noise in the bedroom or you’re trying to figure out how to soundproof a home studio, the right acoustic insulation depends on your specific needs.

Earthwool, Bradford, Pink Batts and Kingspan are among the top insulation brands available in Australia. These brands are known for their high quality thermal and acoustic insulation products for both residential and commercial buildings.

The right brands and materials will depend on your situation and budget. There are ways to get the job done for less but you should consider factors like budget, the room type, and existing construction when making your decision.

Doing it at the right time is also very important. The cheapest and most efficient time to install acoustic insulation is during construction or renovation before installing the plasterboard.

Soundproofing Techniques for Different Areas

Soundproofing a home office or studio:

For how to soundproof a home office or studio, focus on the walls, floors, and ceilings. Insulating these areas first and adding acoustic panels or soundproof doors can create a quieter workspace.

Soundproofing bedrooms for better sleep:

For bedrooms, try tips like insulating the walls, adding heavy curtains, and even using white noise machines to help block out disruptive sounds.

Enhancing home theatres or media rooms:

For home cinema soundproofing, insulate the walls, floors, and ceilings to absorb noise. You can also build panels with insulation batts covered in the material which can then be mounted on walls to reduce reverberation in the room or install acoustic panels which are made from polyester.

Try acoustic treatments like bass traps and diffusers to create the perfect sound environment.

Additional Benefits of Acoustic Insulation

Increased privacy:

Soundproofing and insulation increase privacy by preventing inside noise from leaking outside. Prevent private conversations and activities from being overheard in adjacent homes with soundproofing.

Improved home value:

Acoustic insulation can improve the market value of your home, as it’s often seen as an advanced feature for renters and buyers.

Enhanced comfort and quality of life:

Perhaps the best benefit of soundproofing and acoustic insulation is how it can improve your comfort and quality of life at home. Reducing noise creates a noticeably more peaceful living environment that the whole family can enjoy.

Soundproof Your Home with Pricewise Insulation

At Pricewise Insulation, we believe “saved energy is the most sustainable energy”. For more information on acoustic insulation and soundproofing, contact us today and see how Pricewise Insulation can bring peace back into your home!