subject: 10 Soundproofing Material Myths [print this page] 1)Egg Boxes 1)Egg Boxes
Possibly one of the most suggested alternatives to proper domestic soundproofing, its a shame that after spending the necessary time and effort to accrue enough egg boxes to cover a room you would find it has little or no soundproofing properties whatsoever.
2)Dark Paint
Whilst dark paint will absorb more light than say, lighter paint, it will not provide any sound insulation and make the room appear smaller and dingier too.
3)Plywood Panels or Particle Board
Decorated correctly they can add a certain 70s chintzy charm to a room, however unfortunately wood tends to be a rather good transmitter of sound - hence its popularity in the manufacture of musical instruments.
4)Old Mattresses
Nailed to your walls with properly sealed edges and well butted together these can actually be quite effective. However, given the downsides, like odours, moisture retention, mould, bedbugs and possible rodent infestations it doesnt really bear thinking about.
5)Foam Rubber
Similar to that used in the manufacture of rubber mattresses, or indeed using rubber mattresses themselves can be quite a good sound insulation material, its just unfortunate that aside from costing basically the same amount as proper soundproofing products, it will degrade to mush over time and presents a massive fire hazard.
6)Hay Bales
These can make very good sound insulating units, however they will degrade rather rapidly, catch fire, and present small animals, horses and cattle with a good source of both food and bedding material.
7)Cellulose / Cavity Wall Insulation
Will most definitely help to prevent the transfer of heat between the walls, and comes highly recommended if you are looking to improve your homes energy efficiency, the overall improvement in soundproofing will be marginal at best.
8)Carpets
Carpets will absorb more sound than tiled or wood floors, so the room itself will reflect less sound; however the transmission of sound through the floor will remain pretty much the same.
9)Rubber Floor Mats
Whilst rubber when used correctly can provide good soundproofing characteristics, simply throwing a rubber mat on the floor will do little to prevent the transmission of sound.
10)Fibreglass Insulation
Like the cellulose / cavity wall insulation, adding fibreglass insulation will certainly help your property retain heat and increase its energy efficiency; unfortunately it will do very little to improve your acoustic insulation.
