Soundproofing Store

The Noise IssueThe Soundproofing Store worked alongside The Smith Foundation, a long standing and well-known charity school in West Yorkshire. The foundation is committed to providing quality education, care, health and support to students with diverse needs.There was a need within their main communal hall space to address and reduce the amount of echo and reverberation within it.It was important that any acoustic treatment was aesthetically appealing to the students and staff. It was also important to them that the walls were not covered with acoustic treatment as they wanted to keep the exposed brickwork as a main feature of the room and keep the back wall for the mounting of displays. A design of white cloud shapes were chosen in the form ProSound Acoustic Ceiling Rafts (with a lead-time of just 5 working days). The Soundproofing Store provided an acoustic report showing the reverberation time of the room (in seconds) at different frequencies in hertz. Reverberation time is the time it takes for the sound to dissipate by 60 decibels after the source stops. A lower reverberation time means the sound is absorbed faster and the room is quieter. A higher reverberation time means the sound lingers longer and the room is more echoey.The report compared the reverberation time of the room without sound absorption and with sound absorption. (Sound absorption is the process of reducing the sound energy that reflects off the surfaces of the room). The required reverberation time (as set out in the BB93 performance standards) for an indoor hall is less than 1.5. The addition of ProSound Acoustic Treatment easily brings the average reverberation time under the 1.5 requirement for this type of room.The Impact of Acoustics Within Educational SettingsThe effectiveness of teaching and the welfare of staff and pupils can be greatly influenced by the acoustics of educational spaces. Research shows that good acoustic quality means lower levels of unwanted noise, greater teaching effectiveness and improvements in pupil behaviours and concentration. Improving the room acoustics within SEND settings can help to enhance communication and promote effective learning.What is Sound Absorption? It is no surprise that classrooms and communal areas such as dining rooms and sports halls within educational settings are often noisy environments. Noise is amplified within these areas due to sound within the room reflecting off the hard surfaces (walls, floors, ceilings and windows). This reflected sound (echo) bounces around the room and when multiple sounds are bouncing off multiple surfaces this creates a loud, unfocused and noisy atmosphere. The importance of acoustics in learning spacesThe effectiveness of teaching and the welfare of staff and pupils can be greatly influenced by the acoustics of educational spaces.Research shows that good acoustic quality means lower levels of unwanted noise, greater teaching effectiveness and improvements in pupil behaviours and concentration. Improving the room acoustics within SEN settings can help to enhance communication and promote effective learning.Suitable acoustics in schools have long been a requirement since 2002, with the need for adequate acoustics as follows:Department for Education. Acoustic design of schools: performance standards March 20141.2.2 School Premises Regulations & Independent School Standards"The acoustic conditions and sound insulation of each room or other space must be suitable, having regard to the nature of the activities which normally take place therein."Department for Education. Acoustic design of schools: performance standards March 20141.4.1 Acoustic considerations"Pupils with special educational needs are generally even more reliant on good quality acoustic environments than others. Consequently, required reverberation times should be shorter, sound insulation between adjacent spaces higher and indoor ambient noise levels (and the capacity for distraction) lower than in environments for other pupils."Transforming Room AcousticsThe room acoustics within educational settings can be dramatically improved by adding sound absorption (also known as acoustic panels) into any space. ProSound Acoustic Panels are specially designed with an acoustic absorbent core, which means they effectively absorb sound before it can bounce back into the room. This dramatically reduces the echo and reverberation within the room and helps to create a quieter and more focused learning environment. Empowering Educational EnvironmentsThe Soundproofing Store is an award-winning provider of acoustic solutions, regularly working with educational settings to improve and enhance the room acoustics within classrooms and communal spaces. Effortless Installation, Exceptional Results ProSound Sound Absorption products are designed for performance and simplicity. Easily installed by on-site maintenance teams or local tradespeople, requiring no specialist skills or prior experience. The Soundproofing Store team is readily available to provide support and address any questions throughout your project. Customer Testimonial“The addition of ProSound Acoustic Ceiling Rafts has significantly contributed to creating a more comfortable atmosphere for our students. Many of our SEN students face challenges related to sensory processing, and noise sensitivity is a common issue. The acoustic ceiling rafts have effectively reduced background noise levels within our hall helping to create a calmer and more focused environment. Their fun cloud design has also been a big hit with our students. The process of working with The Soundproofing Store was quick and easy, communication was excellent. I would not hesitate to use them again." G Poole (Vice Principal) The Smith Foundation

Converting A Terraced Basement Into A Drum Practice RoomBackground Of The ProjectThe Soundproofing Store were contacted by a client who is a full-time professional drummer and drum tutor. The client had recently moved into a new terraced house. A very old property dating back to the Victorian period.Being a professional drummer the client needs to practice regularly every day to keep his skill level maintained, he also privately tutors pupils at home.Now, this is a problem for anybody in a terraced house but made harder as the next door neighbours work night shifts and need to sleep in the daytime!The clients plan was to utilize the unused basement in the property by damp proofing and then soundproofing, converting the basement into a fully soundproofed basement studio. His main worry being that the soundproofing needed to be of the highest level, as any noise that could travel through the thin, single brick party wall, would result in him still not being able to use the room.The BasementThe basement was large and with very low ceilings (as expected). The staircase down to the basement divided the area into two halves. The client was hoping to turn one half into the studio and the other half could be used as a lounge area.The studio half was also then divided by another brick wall, splitting that half into two small rooms.The Plan - Construction / LayoutThe client had brought in a local, well respected building firm who are specialists in basement conversions. http://backtobasement.co.uk/ (Leeds)Together we discussed the initial plan in terms of construction to be the following.Knock down the dividing wall in the studio half, opening it up into one larger room.Dig down into the concrete floor as far as we could go to lower the floor and therefore raise the ceiling height.Block up the dividing wall separating the two halves of the basement leaving one doorway into the studio.Tank the room using a damp proof membrane.The Plan - SoundproofingThe original specification for the soundproofing was as follows:Build a “room within a room” which is made up of high mass materials to block airborne sound from escaping. These layers need to be de-coupled from the structure and able to absorb vibration so that the sound vibration energy can’t transfer through into the structure of the building.WallsCreate secondary, internal walls by using the full ReductoClip system . This involves building a 50mm timber frame (for minimal space loss) in front of every wall. The timber frames would be isolated around the perimeter using our Isolation strip to create a floating frame. The frame is filled with a 50mm 60kg acoustic mineral wool  to absorb sound within the cavity (created by the timber frame). ReductoClips and furring channels are then attached. Then re-build the wall layers using two layers of 15mm acoustic grade plasterboard  sandwiching a layer of FlexiSound 5. The plasterboard and FlexiSound adds a whopping 35.6kg of mass per m² to the walls. The ReductoClips separate the solid wall layers form the timber frame, and absorb huge amounts of vibration energy, converting it into heat, and stopping the vibration from travelling into the solid wall behind.CeilingLower the basement floor enough to also use the ReductoClip system on the ceiling. Filling the ceiling void with 60kg acoustic mineral wool, then installing the ReductoClips on the bottom of the ceiling joists, and again using two layers of 15mm acoustic grade plasterboard with Tecsound SY100 or FlexiSound.A concern was that above is just bare wooden floorboards with very little mass, lots of gaps between boards, and no other flooring. Ideally, we would want to add more mass to the floor above to really get a great result. However, the priority in this case is sound leaking into the adjoining properties not travelling above into the rest of the house, and the client preferred to keep his exposed wooden floors.FloorNo need to add mass to the floor as it’s a concrete foundation with nothing below. However, we do want to absorb vibration. If we don’t address the floor, then the vibration will get into the concrete floor and spread under the soundproofing and into the structure. In this case  ProSound ImpactoMat 5mm  is all that’s needed.DoorsA double fire door system. Using two FD60 rated, solid core fire doors, back to back, with a seal around the perimeter. Combined, the doors will have enough mass to block a high level of airborne sound.Important Amendment To The Original Specification Just before work was due to get started, the client got in touch as he was worrying that after all the work and expense of the studio build, what if the sound is still getting through to next door? The ReductoClip system is very high performing, and offers a very significant reduction, but at the same time, if only installed on a single brick party wall, with potentially over 100dB of sound, there is a chance the neighbour may still hear a very low, muffled sound still coming through. Determined to block as much as possible, we discussed ideas to push the performance even higher than we have ever specified before for a studio project. The plan was to line the brick wall with our ProSound™ SoundMat 3  before building the ReductoClip system in front. This would be pinned to the walls in overlapping tiles by rawl plugs. The SoundMat 3 is designed as a floor solution but is made up of 2 layers of very heavy, dense, mass loaded vinyl, separated by a vibration dampening foam. This would add another 12.5kg of mass per m² to the wall. Also, because mass loaded vinyl hadn't been used anywhere else in the build-up, it would block different frequencies of sound to the other materials, giving an even broader range of frequency blocking. This would achieve much more than adding more layers of plasterboard or Tecsound (or FlexiSound 5) which we had already used in the build-up.The BuildThe builders did a great job knocking down the separating wall, opening the studio room out, and digging down into the concrete floor. Gaining a lot of height and getting the height to the ceiling joists at roughly 2.4 metres. So once the new ReductoClip Ceiling is installed, this would bring the ceiling height down to roughly 2.34m.The builders poured a new cement floor to achieve a flat and even base, and left channels for the damp proofing. Then lined the walls with a damp proofing membrane. Not something we see much of in studio builds, as most tend to be ground level, but this was very important with it being a basement conversion.Other Important Things To ConsiderPower SocketsOne major problem in some builds is that after adding all of this extra mass onto the internal walls, the builder then cuts lots of big holes in it for cabling, power sockets and light switches. These holes then allow sound to leak through creating a weak point in the soundproofing.SolutionIdeally have your sockets and switches surface mounted on top of the walls instead of inside the walls. This saves having big holes! It may not look as pretty as a nice flush, counter sunk socket, but with studios we are looking for maximum performance.In terms of cabling, if your sockets are surface mounted, you only need a small hole in your wall to pull through cables, seal around the cable and fix your socket on top. Or... even better.... have your cables surface mounted as well (use plastic trunking). This is going to be much easier for cable management as well.If you absolutely must have your sockets sunk in the wall and need to cut holes in the soundproofing, you can at least minimise the problem by covering the back of the socket box or inside of the socket box with our Socket Putty Pads LightingAs with sockets, a lot of people like to use nice flush spotlights inside the ceiling. These look great, but again require lots of holes to be cut out of your ceiling soundproofing.Instead, go for traditional pendulum style lighting, requiring just a small hole for one cable, or surface mounted spotlights, or even free standing lamps which can be moved as needed and actually be very handy.Ventilation Materials that block sound also block heat, so a soundproof room can get very hot! At the same time, a well soundproofed room is relatively air tight, reducing natural airflow. So ventilation is important if you use your studio for long periods.There are two choices. A simple in and out, passive vent such as our Acoustic Vent or a fancy digital, motorized vent/air conditioner unit. In this case the customer opted for a fancy digital system that controlled the airflow and temperature.Cutting a hole in your wall for a vent will allow sound to leak out. The Soundproofing Store acoustic vent has a layer of absorption material inside to absorb some of the sound passing through. You can go a step further by building an acoustic vent baffle. This forces the air to bounce around a maze type box which is lined with absorbing material. As the air passes through the sound bounces off these surfaces and gets absorbed.In this instance there was no need for a baffle, as the vent opened onto a quiet side of the property and wasn't an issue.Acoustic Treatment All the heavy mass loaded materials we have fixed to the ceiling and walls are very reflective for sound waves. This creates a space with a lot of echo which isn't great for a rehearsal or recording space.The room needs to be acoustically treated internally to absorb the echo and reflected soundwaves, to create an acoustically optimised space. The Soundproofing Store have a selection of Class A Acoustic Panels which can be fixed to the walls or suspended from ceilings to achieve this.

The Problem of EchoMembers of St Andrew's Church in Starbeck, North Yorkshire, contacted The Soundproofing Store with a familiar concern. They were looking for a way of reducing excessive echo and noise within their church hall.St Andrew's Church hall is regularly used for a variety of proposes, from meetings, scout groups, film nights, dance classes and events. The hall serves as a central hub to the local community and often has a number of people taking part in activities at any one time.The committee were looking at how to solve the problem of noise and echo within the hall, which was making it hard for people to hear each other, or hear an instructor or teacher when activities were taking place.How to solve the problem of echo!Sound absorption, or acoustic treatment is used to reduce echo and reverberation within a room.Acoustic panels help to reduce echo and increase the clarity of sound within any spaceUsing high performing ProSound acoustic panels help to absorb echo and reverberationAcoustic treatment can be chosen based on the room's characteristics for example using ceiling panels if there is limited wall space or based on a personal design preferenceAcoustic options include Acoustic Wall Panels, Acoustic Ceiling Rafts, Acoustic Ceiling Baffles, Acoustic High Impact Sports PanelsUsing a high performance Class A sound absorption acoustic panel will give optimum performance in reducing echoSpeak to The Soundproofing Store about an acoustic report which will show the improved reverberation times of the proposed sound absorption By selecting appropriate acoustic treatment, you can easily and significantly improve room acoustics.What causes echo?The noise problem within St Andrew's Church hall is an extremely common one. This is because within communal spaces there are often hard surfaces, such as wooden floors and solid stone walls. These are very hard, reflective surfaces (reflective from an acoustic point of view). This causes problems, because when a sound is projected e.g. when playing music or talking, the sound travels out into the room and hits one of the hard reflective surfaces and bounces back into the room again. It will then hit another surface and bounce again and with every bounce a copy of the sound is created (known as an echo).The more echo the noisier and more amplified the sound gets. Now multiply that by having several people all talking at the same time creating multiple echoes. This often results in not being able to concentrate on the sound you are trying to listen to, as there is so much distraction with unwanted noise. Think about being in a restaurant and not being able to hear the person sat opposite you because of multiple echoes all bouncing around creating a 'messy' noisy atmosphere.This is a problem in so many settings, not just church halls. It's the same in any shared space such as; school halls, classrooms, restaurants, meeting rooms and even open plan living spaces in peoples homes.Which acoustic treatment should be used to reduce echo?Acoustic wall or ceiling panels can be used interchangeably within the same project and it really boils down to individual preference or constraints from the the shape or aesthetics of the room. For example, with the St Andrew's Church hall project it was important to keep the walls clear for notices and displays and although ProSound Acoustic Wall Panels can be used as a pin board, it is important not to cover the entire surface of the panels.In this instance the obvious choice was to use either ProSound Acoustic Ceiling Rafts or ProSound Acoustic Ceiling Baffles which are suspended down from the ceiling to keep the wall free for their decorations and displays. The committee of the hall chose Acoustic Ceiling Baffles which offer increased coverage within the hall.How many acoustic panels are needed to reduce echo?By looking at pictures and dimensions of the hall The Soundproofing Store's acoustic team were able to model out the space and calculate how much echo and reverberation there is currently within the hall and how much sound absorption is needed to reduce it by a significant amount.The acoustic report shows how the sound within the hall can be brought down to a level where the space becomes a lot more user friendly and the echo is dramatically reduced.What are ProSound Acoustic Ceiling Baffles?ProSound Acoustic Ceiling Baffles are all custom made to order and made to any size or shape requirements. The acoustic baffles are wrapped in an acoustic fabric in an extensive range of colours to suit the decor, style or brand of the space. All panels are manufactured here in the UK and with extremely quick delivery lead times of 4-7 days.Inside of the baffle is a class A absorption core, which means it absorbs a very high level of sound (90-100%) so the majority of sound that hits the baffle will stay in the baffle, instead of bouncing back into the room.Acoustic Baffles DIY InstallationProSound acoustic insulation products are extremely easy to install. If you have basic DIY skills then you will have no trouble installing the acoustic ceiling baffles, rafts, or wall panels yourself. As with all of The Soundproofing Store's acoustic panels, all fixing kits are fully supplied along with instructions and the sound absorption team at The Soundproofing Store are only ever a phone call away (01423) 206208. Because the baffles are attached to the ceiling of St Andrew's Church hall, to aid installation, a scaffolding tower was hired from a local tool hire merchant. This was delivered to the church hall on the morning of the installation and picked up again the following morning.Improving both the sound and aesthetics with acoustic ceiling bafflesOnce installed, the ProSound Acoustic Ceiling Baffles made a huge difference, not only to the acoustic quality of the church hall (as demonstrated in the earlier before and after clap test) but also visually. The acoustic ceiling baffles have given the hall a fresh and modern look and a vibrant burst of colour has really brightened up the space.The committee members of St. Andrew's Church were delighted with the transformation of their hall. The acoustic treatment significantly reduced echo and noise, creating a more comfortable environment for their various activities and events. With improved acoustics, the church hall could now better fulfil its role as a vibrant community space and become a more commercially viable space to rent out for future events and activities.Acoustic ceiling baffles can be used on ceilings within any space and with over 70 different colours to choose from (and with photo print options also available) there is a design to suit any room.A summary of how to reduce echoThe noise issue in St Andrew's Church hall occurred because sound was bouncing off the hard surfaces (wooden floors and solid stone walls) which reflected, rather than absorbed the sound.These surfaces are highly reflective acoustically, causing projected sounds to bounce off them and create echoes within the hallMultiple echoes intensify noise levels, making it difficult to hear or be heardThis problem isn't unique to church halls but extends to any kind of shared spaces like school halls, classrooms, gymnasiums, meeting rooms, restaurants, scout huts and open-plan living spacesThe most effective solution for reducing echo is using acoustic panels, also known as acoustic treatment or sound absorptionAcoustic panels suspended from ceilings, or installed on walls contain a sound-absorbing core that prevents sound from bouncing back into the room and effectively reduce echoSound absorption panels can be easily tailored to the room's size and shape and can significantly reduce echo and improve the overall acoustics and aesthetics.

ReductoClip™ Direct To Wall System Case Study for the effective soundproofing of walls against noisy neighboursMr and Mrs Billanie live in a 3-bedroom 1950’s semi-detached house and although they have a great relationship with their neighbours (we know not everyone is this fortunate) they were hearing a lot of airborne noise from next door. Anything and everything from the TV, talking and sometimes raised voices and shouting and occasionally dogs barking. Mr and Mrs Billanie also have young children in their home (as do their neighbours) which means there was also the noise from the children, talking, playing and running. As well as airborne noise, there was no carpet in their neighbour’s lounge, which meant they often heard the impact noise of footsteps on the floor. Mr and Mrs Ballanie wanted to soundproof the party wall of their lounge, which is where most of the noise from their neighbours was being experienced. Their lounge is directly opposite that of their noisy neighbours lounge. Before soundproofing an existing wall, the following questions needed to be answered:The type of wall, is it a stud wall or a solid wall? - in this case it was a solid brick wallWhat is the type of noise being heard? Airborne (e.g. TV noise, conversation) or Impact noise (footsteps, doors banging) or is it a combination of both? - a combination of bothHow loud is the noise on their side of the wall? - sometimes loud levels, being able to distinctly hear clear words and conversationsIs there a chimney on the wall? - yes, with a log burner If so, if you do an ear test to the chimney when hearing the noise, can you hear it coming through the chimney breast? - yes, muffled airborne noise could be heardDoes soundproofing a wall work both ways?Mr and Mrs Billanie also asked if they soundproof their wall, would their neighbours also hear less noise from them? They were conscious that if they could hear their noisy neighbours, then they could also hear them. Not only did they want to soundproof their party wall to reduce unwanted noise from next door, but they were pleased to learn that the wall soundproofing would also give them more privacy within their own home, by reducing the noise next door were hearing from them too. The ReductoClip Direct to Wall SystemMr and Mrs Billanie didn’t want to lose the 120mm from their alcoves that the ReductoClip Independent Stud Wall System requires. Although, it is worth noting that this ReductoClip Independent System still delivers the lowest amount of space loss at 120mm than any other independent wall soundproofing system on the market.Because of the level of noise Mr and Mrs Billanie were experiencing from their noisy neighbours, the advice from The Soundproofing Store was to therefore go with the ReductoClip Direct To Wall System. Because the ReductoClips are attached directly to the wall (without an independent stud frame) the space loss from their alcoves would only be 60mm.Benefits of the ReductoClip™ Direct to Wall SystemThe ReductoClip™ Direct to Wall System is an innovative soundproofing solution, designed to completely isolate walls. Reducing the transference of sound vibration energy, whilst also blocking airborne noise.Delivering the highest level of soundproofing with minimal loss of space within the home (13mm - 17mm thinner than all other clip systems)Creates a room within a room, de-coupled from the existing structure - offering a high level of soundproofingOutstanding performance against noisy neighbours - bringing peace and quiet to the homeThe perfect solution for soundproofing against medium to loud levels of noise such as clear conversation, TV noise and music - as was being experienced by Mr and Mrs BillanieSuitable for use on a solid or stud wallDual rubber design, meaning the ReductoClip is able to absorb different sound frequencies - achieving a higher wall soundproofing performance than other clips that feature just one layer of rubberWider furring bars for easier plasterboard fixing - wider bars mean a larger surface area on which to attach the acoustic plasterboard, meaning an easier installation processIndents within the furring bars have a central and middle groove, which makes finding the midpoint on the furring bars far easier to work with when butting together the acoustic plasterboardOutperforms resilient bars by up to 7dB - a much higher performing systemExceeds Part E Building Regulations (not relevant to this particular case study)DIY install - can be installed by a competent DIYer or tradesperson - Mr Billanie did the whole installation himself with the help of a friendWhat about soundproofing the chimney breast?There was a chimney breast in the lounge of the wall in question, but it was only the alcoves that were going to be soundproofed. This is because:In most cases the chimney breast doesn’t need the same level of soundproofing as the alcoves or wall Soundproofing is all about adding mass and chimney breasts are normally constructed from a double layer of fire bricksFire bricks are far heavier and more dense than the standard bricks (usually) used in the alcovesThere is often a small air gap behind and the same double layer of fire bricks on the neighbour’s side and this naturally makes the chimney more soundproof than the alcovesHowever, there are exceptions, e.g. if the neighbour has removed the chimney on their side of the wall. This was the case with this room in question, with a log burner on Mrs and Mrs Billanie’s side and a removed chimney on their neighbours’ side. In this instance a simple ear to the chimney breast served enough to show that some sound was being heard through the chimney breast. The advice would be to soundproof the external chimney breast with soundboard 4. There is also the option to soundproof behind the log burner and then attach a fire-retardant board behind the fire. In this instance the fire was too close to the backwall to do this. Which meant the ReductoClip direct to wall system was fitted on the alcoves only and the chimney breast remained as it was.ReductoClip™ Direct To Wall Soundproofing Testimonial Mrs Billanie says: "The ReductoClip Soundproofing System has been absolutely brilliant. We are really pleased with it. It was really easy to install, we've plastered and decorated over the top and you can't even tell it's there. It's made a huge difference. The noise transfer in our semi-detached house and our neighbours has really massively reduced. It's really nice to know we're not going to annoy each other, with the kids being too noisy, or the dogs barking. We really thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is worried about noise, or just wants that little bit extra privacy in their home."

BackgroundThe Sportsman's Arms is a hotel and restaurant nestled in the heart of Nidderdale. Regularly voted as one of the best hotels in England by the likes of The Telegraph.The Soundproofing Store was contacted by owner Jamie Carter because of unwanted noise travelling through the internal stud wall separating rooms within a converted barn. When both rooms had guests staying it meant that often one or both parties were being disturbed by the guests in the next door room and vice versa. ObjectivesReduce noise intrusion: Minimise the noise between adjacent rooms when residents were staying at the hotel. This included unwanted airborne noise heard either side of the internal dividing stud wall. Noises such as talking, TV, music and snoringUse high performing soundproofing solutions which were trusted and provenSoundproofing solutions which were an easy and quick DIY install, to limit the time the rooms would be out of action to potential customersSoundproofing which minimised any space loss within the roomStud Wall Solution: SoundBoard 4SoundBoard 4 is a soundproofing board or soundproofing panel designed to enhance the soundproofing capabilities of an internal stud wall. Composed of 4 layers of dense materials that effectively block and absorb sound waves, reducing noise transmission between spaces.SoundBoard 4 is particularly effective on low mass stud walls and is a slim soundproofing solution at only 30mm thick. A direct to wall soundproofing panel which is also an easy DIY install. SoundBoard 4 was the obvious soundproofing solution for the internal bedroom wall at The Sportsman's Arms.Key features of SoundBoard 4 for Superior Soundproofing:High Density: SoundBoard 4 is constructed from high-density materials such as acoustic plasterboard, which is heavier and more dense than standard plasterboard. This density is crucial for blocking airborne noise. The board includes two layers of mass loaded vinyl, acting as an acoustic barrier to further prevent sound transmission. Additionally, it features a layer of closed cell foam that effectively dampens vibrations and sound energy, enhancing overall soundproofingMulti-Layer Construction: SoundBoard 4 consists of a combination of 4 layers of soundproofing materials designed to block airborne noise. Each layer works in synergy to provide maximum sound insulation, making SoundBoard 4 an ideal choice for creating a quieter environmentEasy Installation: SoundBoard 4 panels are designed for straightforward DIY installation, making them a convenient choice for homeowners and DIY enthusiasts. Panels can be mounted directly onto walls using screws, without the need for specialised skills or equipment. This user-friendly approach allows for professional-quality results with minimal fussMaterials usedSoundBoard 4 The primary soundproofing material, designed with high-density construction and multiple layers to block and absorb soundAcoustic sealant A specialist sealant used to fill the small 5mm gaps around the perimeter of the SoundBoard 4 panels. It prevents sound leakage and enhances the overall effectiveness of the soundproofingJumbo sealant applicator gun A heavy-duty applicator gun designed to dispense acoustic sealant smoothly and accurately. This tool is essential for applying sealant along seams and edgesPackers Small, adjustable spacers used to ensure precise alignment and 5mm perimeter spacing of SoundBoard 4 panels during installationAcoustic socket putty pads These pads are used to seal electrical sockets. They prevent sound from passing through these potential weak points, maintaining the integrity of the soundproofingDrywall screws for fixing the SoundBoard 4 into the stud workSoundBoard 4 on a hotel stud wall - ResultsNoise Reduction:There was a significant reduction in airborne noise following the installation of SoundBoard 4:Before soundproofing: 13dB reductionAfter soundproofing: 32dB reductionClient Satisfaction:Jamie completed the installation himself with the help from Phil from The Soundproofing Store. Jamie goes on to say how "the product is great" and was "actually really surprised how easy it was to do" and having now done it that he'd "recommend that it's easy enough for anyone to do at home" installing SoundBoard 4 is "surprising simple."The soundproofing was a huge success and Jamie goes on to say:"We haven't heard a peep coming through the wall."ConclusionBy using SoundBoard 4 Jamie effectively soundproofed the internal stud wall separating two bedrooms within his family run country Inn.This case study illustrates how SoundBoard 4 can be a practical and efficient solution for DIY soundproofing projects, offering significant benefits in noise reduction and acoustic enhancement on stud walls.Residents can now enjoy a beautiful tranquil setting during the day and a peaceful, undisturbed sleep at night.

The most effective way to soundproof a ceiling using the ReductoClip™ Timber Ceiling SystemThis case study highlights the soundproofing pf a timber ceiling against unwanted impact and airborne noise using the ReductoClip Ceiling Soundproofing Solution. As featured in The Yorkshire PostThe noise issueMr and Mrs Helliwell live in a 3-bedroom 1930's semi-detached house and have a one storey, flat roof extension. Since the extension was built they have had a long-term problem with hearing excessive levels of noise on the roof every time it rains.What they are experiencing is not dissimilar to those people living in properties with noisy neighbours living above.When the rain hits the roof it creates an impact vibration which travels from the roof, into the joists and down into their room below. The exact same principle applies when it comes to soundproofing against unwanted impact noise from above, regardless of the type or source of impact vibration (whether this be rain, footsteps, or dragging furniture etc).A soundproofing system such as the ReductoClip System which decouples layers of mass from the original structure provides the most effective solution for all unwanted noise situations. The big benefit of this system is that it decreases high levels of both impact and airborne noise.In this instance, for Mr and Mrs Helliwell it isn't unwanted airborne noise such as talking, shouting, TV noise or music, but unwanted traffic noise from a nearby busy road.Important questions before soundproofing a ceiling:What type of ceiling do you have? Is it timber or concrete?What is the noise being heard? Is it impact noise such as footsteps, dragging furniture, or as in this case, rain?Is the unwanted noise airborne noise such as voices, music and TV noise? Or is it a combination of both impact and airborne noise?Do you need to pass Part E Building Regulations?What are the benefits of the ReductoClip Timber Ceiling System?Sound energy vibrations travel very easily through solid materials. Hence why the impact from the rain is easily travelling from Mr and Mrs Helliwell's roof, through the ceiling, down the joists and into the room below. It has a path to travel because as all of these materials are connected together. To stop this from happening there needs to be a de-coupling, or separation and that's where there ReductoClips come into play.ReductoClips act like shock absorbers, absorbing the sound vibrations creating a de-coupling suspension system for the furring bars and soundproofing layers to be attached to. Once they are in place, when an impact noise is made above it gets to the clips, which then absorb it and stop it from getting into the ceiling layers.ReductoClips de-couple from the original ceiling delivering the highest level of soundproofingMinimal loss of space. The full system including the layers of mass results in only 60mm loss of ceiling heightAt only 25mm, The ReductoClip and bar combined is the thinnest clip and bar system on the marketDual rubber design which enables the ReductoClips to absorb different sound frequencies achieving a higher level of performanceA wider clip face space means wider furring bars, which allow for a greater surface area to attach acoustic plasterboard to. This makes installation of the clips and bars much easierInstallation of the ReductoClip Ceiling Soundproofing SystemThe ReductoClip Timber Ceiling Soundproofing Solution can be installed by a competent DIYer. Mr Helliwell is an electrician by trade, but without any experience of installing soundproofing. With the help from a colleague, they installed the system themselves following The Soundproofing Store's comprehensive installation guide.What lighting should be used on a soundproofed ceiling?When it comes to lighting, ideally pendant lights, or surface mounted lights are the best option. In a perfect world it is best to avoid spotlights and downlights because they require big holes to be cut out of the soundproofing and by removing these layers of mass it is going to reduce the performance.However, if the preferred option is to use spotlights then you can use acoustic hoods or covers which will help to minimise the negative effects of cutting into the soundproofing.Performance of the soundproofed ceilingA sound test was carried out using a hand held recorder prior to installing the soundproofing. The background noise without any distinguishable sound measured at around 40dB. When impact noise was made on the roof to recreate the impact of the rain, the reading was 55-60dB.Following the installation of the ReductoClip Ceiling Soundproofing Solution, the same test was carried out again. The aim was to get as close to 40dB (i.e. the original silent ambient noise) as possible. The second test reading with the same level of impact noise being made measured at between 43-45 dB. This means the ReductoClip Ceiling Solution achieved an incredible reduction of 10-12 dB. This is a huge reduction, as the logarithmic scale of decibels means that for every 10dB reduced it is actually a halving of the volume, so in real world terms this is a huge improvement.Customer testimonialThe sound test above showed a brilliant result. However a further test would be the 'real world' one when there was next heavy rainfall and the feedback from Mr and Mrs Helliwell."I had a look online and found The Soundproofing Store. After discussing our noise problems with them, they advised on the best solution. They recommended the ReductoClip Ceiling Soundproofing System. We can no longer hear the rain and we also live fairly close to the A1 and we are no longer hearing that sound anymore either. Thanks ever so much to The Soundproofing Store, they really helped us and it's just nice to know that these companies are out there, willing to help."

Case Study: Soundproofing an Existing FloorProject OverviewClient: Jamie Carter, owner of The Sportsman's Arms, a highly acclaimed hotel and restaurantRooms: Floor separating guest bedroomsObjective: Reduce noise transmission between two bedrooms, targeting both impact and airborne noiseThe best way to soundproof a floor separating bedroomsIdentify the type of noiseDetermine whether you need to address impact noise (footsteps, moving furniture) or airborne noise (voices, music). This will help you select the appropriate soundproofing materials and methods.Final FlooringDifferent floor soundproofing solutions are better suited for different types of final floor finishes. When choosing the most suitable option, consider not only the noise you want to block but also the type of final floor finish you plan to use.Acoustic InsulationAdd acoustic insulation between floor joists prior to installing the floor soundproofing. The bedroom at The Sportsman's Arms hotel already had acoustic insulation within the joists, so no acoustic mineral wool was needed to be added in this instance.PreparationClear the room of all furniture and existing floor coverings (in this instance carpet).Sealing Gaps and CracksIdentify and seal all gaps and cracks in the subfloor using an acoustic sealant, which will help prevent sound leakage.Perimeter EdgingAdd carpet gripper rod risers around the perimeter for carpet final floor finishes.Soundproof SolutionChoose the most effective soundproofing solution for your individual situation. SoundMat 3 Plus is the most popular soundproofing solution for timber floors and carpet final floor finishes. A high performing direct to floor soundproofing mat, sometimes referred to as an underlay mat.Seal Edges and PerimetersUse acoustic sealant to seal the edges where the soundproofing meets the walls, ensuring no sound leakage through these joints.Final FlooringThe final floor finish of choice is carpet and SoundMat 3 Plus will also act as a luxury carpet underlay.Timber floor soundproofing solution: SoundMat 3 PlusSoundMat 3 Plus is an exceptional soundproofing mat specifically designed to minimise unwanted impact and airborne noise. Ideal for carpeted final floor finishes, this thin (only 15mm thick) and highly effective floor soundproofing significantly enhances the soundproofing capabilities of existing floors and was the perfect choice for the timber floor separating the two bedrooms at The Sportsman's Arms.SoundMat 3 Plus achieves superior soundproofing results for timber floorsKey Features of SoundMat 3 PlusHigh Performance Soundproofing: The SoundMat 3 Plus significantly reduces unwanted impact and airborne noiseClever Layering: Different layers of high mass materials are combined in one easy-to-install product:3mm Mass Loaded Vinyl: Acts as a high-mass acoustic barrier to effectively block airborne noise9mm Closed Cell Foam: Dampens sound energy and vibrations, such as those caused by footsteps3mm Mass Loaded Vinyl: Provides a second layer of high mass to further enhance the blocking of airborne noiseSlim Design: At only 15mm thick, SoundMat 3 Plus minimises floor height build-up allowing for seamless integration with existing flooringSimple Installation: A huge benefit of SoundMat 3 Plus is its simplicity of installation. With no adhesive required, the mat can be easily loose laid, making it a hassle-free soundproofing solutionVersatile: Suitable for all final floor finishes.System components when installing SoundMat 3 PlusThe materials used when installing the SoundMat 3 Plus on a timber floor at The Sportsman's Arms:SoundMat 3 Plus - High performing floor soundproofing solution to help block impact and airborne noise.9mm Gripper Rod Soundproofing Riser - Designed for use under standard carpet gripper rods and used with the SoundMat 3 Plus. Risers are constructed with mass-loaded vinyl to enhance soundproofing around the perimeter. Featuring a wooden layer for securely fixing carpet gripper rods and a foam edge to create an airtight seal against the wall.When used with the 15mm Floor SoundMat 3 Plus system, the gripper rod risers add mass to the perimeter's weak points, blocking airborne noise. Additionally, they raise the carpet gripper rods to the optimal height for gripping the carpet correctly.Acoustic Sealant (900ml) - A specialist sealant used to fill any small gaps between floorboards prior to laying the SoundMats and also used to seal around the perimeter of the SoundMats. This helps to prevent any air gaps through which sound could travel through.Jumbo Sealant Applicator Gun for 900ml Tubes - A heavy-duty applicator gun designed to dispense acoustic sealant smoothly and accurately whilst helping to ensure the precise application of sealant along seams and edges.High Tack Tape - Used to tape over the joins of the SoundMat 3 Plus to prevent any movement once the SoundMats are laid in place.Acoustic Mineral Wool - Acoustic mineral wool is designed to improve acoustic performance and reduce reverberation within cavity spaces. It is added to the cavity space underneath the floorboards prior to laying SoundMat 3 Plus. Acoustic mineral wool wasn't added in this situation because there was already insulation within the joists. Easy DIY installation of SoundMat 3 PlusJamie had never installed any type of soundproofing before and quickly and easily installed the SoundMat 3 Plus.By following these steps, you can easily and effectively reduce noise transmission between rooms, creating a quieter and more comfortable living environment.Step 1: Preparation of the base floor:Ensure the floor is smooth, flat, and levelRemove any dust or debrisSeal any gaps between the floorboards prior to laying the SoundMat 3 PlusStep 2: Installation of Gripper Rod Risers:Add Gripper Rod Risers around the perimeter of the floor with the foam edge placed up against the wall. This isolates the hard part of the riser and the floor from the wall. Helping to limit flanking vibration where the vibration from impact on the floor can transfer into the wallStep 3: Laying SoundMat 3 Plus:Lay the SoundMats in a brick bond pattern butting them up against the gripper rod risers. Simply loose lay the SoundMats and make sure not to screw or nail through themStep 4: Secure the SoundMats:Tape over the joins using high tack tape to prevent any movement over timeStep 5: Sealing with Acoustic Sealant:Apply acoustic sealant around the perimeter, including around any pipework. This helps to prevent any air gaps which sound can pass throughJamie followed the above process and was able to easily install SoundMat 3 Plus on the bedroom floor. ResultsFootsteps which were very loud and clear before the soundproofing have been dramatically reduced. Music which was played before the soundproofing was also very loud and very clear and is now muffled and much harder to hear.Impact Noise: Significant reduction in footstep noiseBefore soundproofing: 50dBAfter soundproofing: 36dB(The lower the value the better)Airborne Noise: Noticeable decrease in the transmission of voices and music between the bedroomsBefore soundproofing: 27dB reductionAfter soundproofing: 33dB reduction (The higher the value the better)A reading was also taken with the dB reader with no noise being played and when the room was silent. The reading was 35 - 36dB. The reading with the noise playing following the installation of the soundproofing was only a couple of decibels over the background silent noise level, which is a fantastic result. SoundMat 3 Plus client testimonialJamie, with no prior experience, effortlessly installed the soundproofing and was thrilled with the results. He also found the SoundMats 'remarkably easy' to lay down.According to Jamie, “The product is absolutely great; installation was much simpler than I’d anticipated. The SoundMat’s manageable sections made it easy for me to fit myself - it was a simple job.”Jamie continued, "We're due to have the carpet fitted tomorrow and the carpet fitter came and was really impressed with the job that we'd done. The gripper risers are in place and it means that the carpet fitters can just come in and lay the carpet straight down."Expressing his satisfaction, Jamie added "We're really pleased with the results, we've had customers in the room directly below and people working in here and I'm really impressed with the amount of sound it's stopped. A really successful project and really really happy we've worked with you on it".ConclusionThis case study demonstrates that soundproofing an existing floor between bedrooms can be easily achieved through the use of a high-quality, tried and tested soundproofing solution. By addressing both impact and airborne noise, Jamie's DY installation of SoundMat 3 Plus made a significant improvement in noise reduction between the two rooms. An excellent result meaning a quieter and more peaceful environment for guests to enjoy during their stay.Whether you’re a hotel owner, or a homeowner, SoundMat 3 Plus offers an exceptional and efficient soundproofing solution. Designed to minimise unwanted impact and airborne noise. Ideal for carpeted final floor finishes, it offers a slim profile (only 15mm thick) while significantly enhancing soundproofing capabilities. Whether you’re dealing with footsteps from guests in a hotel, noisy neighbours, or ensuring privacy between floors within your own home, SoundMat 3 Plus is the ideal solution.