Increasing the effectiveness of the noise barrier is a common task in urban housing environments. In rooms that are not sufficiently isolated by capital partitions, not only sounds from neighbors can pass, but also vibrations during shock repair work. All this gives residents tangible discomfort, forcing them to look for additional means of noise reduction. And the basic design solution in this direction will be effective soundproofing of the walls. In an apartment, this problem can be solved in various ways without a radical intrusion into the structure of the walls with a reduction in the usable area in the premises.
Frame and frameless panels
The way the panel design is implemented is fundamentally important in the context of choosing a sound insulator. On theThe market includes panels with a frame and frameless base, and this division is rather arbitrary. The form factor of the material itself remains the same, but the principle of its installation and a number of operational qualities are changing. In order to understand these differences, it is necessary to define the characteristics of each group separately.
Frame panels suggest a major installation on the wall surface with the help of accessories in the form of frames, profiles, battens, brackets with corners, etc. That is, the installation base is initially formed, and then the installation is carried out on it. This type of soundproofing of walls in an apartment protects against impact and structural noise, excluding the transmission of vibration vibrations through the structure. The thickness of such insulation varies from 5 to 10 cm.
Frameless panels focus on forming a barrier against airborne noise, the source of which can be conversations, musical equipment, loud TV, barking dogs, etc. The installation of such an insulator does not provide for the formation of a special carrier base, so the material is literally superimposed and fixed on the surface with glue or hardware. The advantage of this solution can also be called a slight effect on the thickness of the walls - the build-up rarely exceeds 4-5 cm.
Classification of panels by type of base material
The formats of the structural release of noise insulators may vary, as well as the base material. The most popular insulation materials include:
- Mineral wool. A standard and largely universal solution that providesproper insulation effect at low cost. It is convenient to mount mineral wool slabs without a frame base. The only negative is the need for a waterproofing device.
- Wood chip raw materials. The most environmentally friendly insulator, which allows it to be used in residential areas. At the same time, chipboard should not be confused with traditional structural coatings. In the new version, modern materials for soundproofing walls in an apartment are usually made from coniferous fibers that can provide noise protection with an indicator of 27 dB. But it should be borne in mind that the material is subject to combustion and does not tolerate moisture, which contributes to the development of fungus and mold.
- Cork. A very attractive material, since with a minimum thickness of about 0.3 cm it allows achieving a noise barrier of 18 dB. Obviously, the efficiency of the material increases with increasing thickness. But there are also problems of using cork for soundproofing a wall in an apartment, which are caused by its low mechanical strength. Therefore, when installing panels, additional reinforcing and reinforcing elements may be required as part of the frame mounting system.
- Foam. For sound insulation, special coatings are used like the so-called acoustic foam rubber. It is one of the most effective noise isolators, as evidenced by its use in movie theaters and recording studios. Since foam rubber is essentially polyurethane, it is not afraid of biological destruction, but it is afraid of fire and exposure to UV rays.
Knauf Wall Soundproofing Kit
Specially for home use, Knauf offers combined supersheet panels based on wood pulp and gypsum. This is a facing material that can be used as a preparatory solution for decorative finishing. Such sheets not only provide a soundproof barrier, but also level the surface, not to mention the effect of insulation. At a basic level, it is recommended to apply a single layer of soundproofing of the walls in the apartment from the neighbors. Reviews indicate that the double layer significantly increases protection against airborne noise. According to the calculations of the developers of this insulator, the effect increases by 9 dB. If necessary, you can use a multi-layer mounting configuration of super sheets, which will also increase the reliability of future installation of decorative finishes.
The positive qualities of Knauf panels are determined by the special technology of interlacing fibers, the location of which ensures the absorption of some of the noise by the base. Users also note a convenient standard size for the release of plates with a width of 610 mm. Thanks to this format, it becomes possible to rationally place the segments along the walls of the room with minimal formation of "noise bridges".
ROCKWOOL plates
Also a specialized solution for organizing a sound barrier in the form of sheets intended for laying on wall surfaces. The geometry and structure of the surface of this material allows it to be used both aslining under sensitive decorative coatings. For example, this is the optimal sound insulation for walls in an apartment under wallpaper, which can even out the smallest errors in the base.
If we talk about soundproofing qualities, then the ROCKWOOL product focuses on protection against airborne sound. At the household level, in this way the penetration of the sounds of children's crying, loud music and dog barking is excluded. The basis of the material is stone (mineral) wool, the particles of which are bonded with a binder. According to reviews on the soundproofing of walls in an apartment from neighbors of this brand, the greatest effect can be achieved using the frame installation method. The company offers a complete package of such a solution with sealing tape, fixing profiles and guiding components. The use of several layers on a rigid crate allows you to achieve a soundproofing effect of 30 dB.
Bas alt sound insulation from TechnoNIKOL
In the line of sound insulators of this brand, one can distinguish the material "Technoacoustic". This is a whole group of fire-resistant and water-repellent coatings made of bas alt structure mineral rocks. Again, the non-standard fiber formation method endows the material with high noise-canceling qualities, and the structural form factor provides ample opportunities for mounting the finishing cladding. What is more remarkable, in the reviews of the soundproofing of the walls in the apartment from the TechnoNIKOL neighbors, the users of the material indicate the possibility of combining with partitions. We are talking about frame-sheathingstructures in which it is convenient to integrate bas alt panels. Unlike thin sheets, they are characterized by high density and rigidity, so you do not have to worry about the destruction of the structure under the stress forces inside the frame.
Soundguard panels
Innovative solution to the problem of sound insulation in the form of a combined coating with quartz filling. A rigid structure is formed by layers of a cardboard profile, and between them are quartz granules that have undergone heat treatment. As a result, the thickness of the panel is about 12 mm, which significantly increases the effectiveness of the sound barrier. In practice, soundproofing wall panels for interior walls of the Soundguard system provide a reduction in impact noise energy, preventing the propagation of air waves over the entire frequency spectrum.
However, when choosing such panels, one should also prepare for a solid installation with a supporting structure, which is required due to the large mass of the coating. It is advisable to mount the frame with the expectation of an optimal configuration for the placement of segments. By the way, the panels are easy to cut with minimal risk of chipping. In reviews of the soundproofing of walls in an apartment from Soundguard neighbors, it is noted that high-quality cutting is possible with an ordinary hacksaw, but for a better result, it is better to use electric saws or a jigsaw. In the future, the edges are carefully glued with proprietary Soundguard Tape.
Features of decorative insulating panels
It has already been noted thatsoundproofing panels can also be used as a base for the subsequent laying of the topcoat. Modern technologies make it possible to organically combine the functions of a sound insulator with a decorative effect. The base of the material in this case is made with the expectation of noise reduction, and the outer part is a decorative coating. In this way, traditional cladding made of wallpaper, MDF, drywall, etc. can be replaced. The base usually uses the same chipboard layers of needles, and the outside is a fabric finish or a layer of vinyl wallpaper that can be washed and even repainted in the most favorable color. In addition, soundproof decorative wall panels in the apartment are mounted with minimal seams thanks to the tenon-groove system. Assembly and installation does not require special skills, and delicate ways of connecting to the surface, such as “liquid nails” or thin hardware elements, are used for fastening.
Features of soundproof mounting hardware
The way the acoustic panels are fixed is itself a factor affecting the quality of the insulation. In most cases, along with specialized materials of this type, fasteners of the appropriate format are also supplied, but with non-standard installation schemes, they will not always help. For such situations, it is desirable to provide for fastening options with universal equipment such as "Vibrofix" in advance. This is an extensive family of tools for installing frames and rails, which are based on brackets. Like modern materials for soundproofing walls inapartment, such fasteners are distinguished by the properties of sealing and eliminating vibrations. Moreover, the focus is not on rigid fixation, but on an elastic connection, due to which vibrations are leveled and at the same time the necessary margin of safety of the ligaments between the wall, the frame and the soundproofing coating is maintained. As practice shows, even close operation of mounting equipment with percussive action does not affect the condition of such fasteners in any way.
Liquid soundproofing of walls in an apartment as an alternative
Panels and roll insulators are suitable for forming a basic noise barrier over the entire wall area. However, with imperfect surfaces and in hard-to-reach areas, such materials simply cannot be used due to structural incompatibility with the texture of the destination. In this case, it is worth providing for the so-called liquid insulation, which is made of polyurethane. It is a sprayable foam that can be spotted on any area, providing a complete seal. During installation, no fasteners or fasteners are required. If we are talking about walls with a defective surface, then continuous insulation is performed using special plaster with microparticles that reduce the spread of noise waves and vibrations. Does soundproofing walls from noisy neighbors on a liquid basis help if the use of panels is completely eliminated? According to users, complete sealing with joints and other sound penetration bridges in some cases allows you to achieve a noticeableacoustic comfort. Another thing is that in such options for noise protection, initially a lot will depend on the characteristics of the main walls and a number of indirect structural factors.
Conclusion
When choosing an insulator for an apartment, it is necessary to build on the type of annoying sounds, not forgetting the requirements for protecting the material. To date, the best soundproofing material for walls is multilayer panels made of cork, foam rubber or softwood fibers with various fillers. But even in such designs, the insulators will not be able to perform their functions properly if external threats such as high humidity or the influence of heat from heating equipment have not been taken into account. Also, do not underestimate the importance of such material properties as fire resistance and environmental friendliness. These, at first glance, secondary characteristics, in the long run will become quite significant safety factors.
