Cheapest Way to Soundproof a Room

Everyone needs a few quiet moments to feel refreshed. This is only possible in the privacy of a room. Moreover, if the room is soundproof, it helps to concentrate even better. Here are a few cheap ways to soundproof a room.

The best way to soundproof a wall is to increase its thickness. With increase in the thickness and weight, the sound suppressing capacity of the wall also increases.

If the wall is already built, external soundproofing materials have to be used. Two layers of sheet-rock attached using silicone caulking soundproofs the walls to a great extent.
Also, a layer of viscous-elastic (sticky and stretchy) material can be glued between the two sheet-rocks or any other insulating surface.

Using lead sheets is an age-old method of soundproofing. Nowadays, Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) is used instead, due to the environmental hazards of lead.

Soundproof paint can be applied over the existing paint. It may not soundproof the wall completely but it does minimize the noise to some extent.

Sprayed-on cellulose is an excellent sound absorbing material. One inch of cellulose layer absorbs 75% of the sound caused by sound reflection from hard surfaces such as walls.

If you have a floating flooring installed in your house, a layer of acoustic foam or any other soundproof material can be placed between the sub-floor and the floating floor.

If the flooring is made of tiles or concrete, using acoustic carpets is beneficial.
Rubber flooring rolls or interlocking rubber flooring tiles can also be used for the same.
Along with walls, Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) sheets can be used on the floor for soundproofing.

Melamine, a ceramic-based material, acts as a very good sound-absorbing material. Fitting the floor with melamine tiles is another way of soundproofing the floor.
One-inch layer of sprayed-on cellulose sprayed on wood, steel, concrete, gypsum board, brick, glass, and plaster floors acts as an excellent soundproofing material.

Wall plugs are an inexpensive way to reduce the noise. These are thick plugs that are stuffed into the window opening.

Soundproof curtains have proved to be effective in minimizing the noise to a great extent. These curtains have quilted pattern and are one to two inches thick. Heavy weight added to the lower end of the curtain prevents them from being blown by the breeze.

Two doors attached back-to-back can also minimize the noise efficiently. The door should be thick as well as dense. Hollow doors do not block out noise. Medium-density fiberboard door is a great option.

The best way to soundproof the ceiling is to use sheet-rock and attach them using visco-elastic glue.
Resilient metal channels can be inserted between one of the drywall and the studwork to minimize the noise.

Basically, there are two ways you can get rid of noise. One method involves reducing sound coming from outside and other requires sound absorption.

Plastering the walls is a good idea for soundproofing as this makes it difficult for the sound waves to travel between materials of different intensities. However, this is effective only to a certain point.

Furthermore, you can just glue this material over your walls and cover it with a wallpaper. Other materials like QuietRock, Green Glue and Roxuls are also equally popular where noise absorbing materials are concerned.