This scenario might sound familiar: your child is a budding musician. He or she is in a band. The band plays its music at a volume that would wake the dead. And its members practice in your garage, of course. What can you and the rest of your family do to stay sane but not discourage your wannabe rock star?
Soundproofing the garage is an excellent compromise. It allows you and your family some peace and quiet while it enables your kid and his or her band to play as loudly as it likes.
How Does Soundproofing Work?
Sound travels in a wave pattern. There are two types of sound: airborne and structure‑borne. Structure‑borne sounds refer to noises that travel through walls, such as footsteps and slamming doors. Airborne sounds, as the name implies, travel through the air and then create a vibration in doors, walls and windows. Examples of airborne sounds are voices and bass‑driven music.
Much like other kinds of waves, you can block sound waves. Then, they can't travel, and you won't be able to hear them. When it comes to structure‑borne sounds, you have to absorb and block their paths, and airborne sounds won't travel if they encounter a large mass and they can't leak through.
How Can You Soundproof Your Garage?
Unless your home's walls are made of stone, they're most likely fairly thin. Canadian Home Workshop contributor Jay Somerset recommends installing a thicker piece of drywall over the existing drywall. Before you do that, fill the gap with insulation, which will block sound.
Be aware that using any old insulation won't block the sound completely. You'll need a special insulation known as acoustical batting. The good news is that you can buy it at your local hardware store, and it's roughly the same price as standard insulation.
Resilient channel is another important tool in your soundproofing arsenal. What is it? Resilient channel is a strip of sheet metal that keeps drywall off of studs and ceiling joists. These pieces of metal reduce vibrations as they travel through drywall and studs.
And don't forget to fill any gaps around outlets. A gap allows sound into the house, which means you'll be hearing your child's heavy metal band. Doors and windows let sound into the house, too. When windows are sealed and surrounded by insulation, they keep the sounds out. Tight fitting doors ensure sound stays on the inside of the garage.
Another thing to consider is to put up movable insulated panels around the loudest instruments. To make them, take a 4 x 8 piece of soundboard and cut it into two four feet sections. Connect them with a hinge and drape a piece of soundproofing mat. When the band plays, lay the boards so they form a wide "v".
Finally, caulk and seal any nooks and crannies. Not only will things be quieter, your house will be warmer as a result.
Soundproofing and Your Garage Door
Your garage door can play an important role in blocking noise from seeping outside of the house. That's as long as it's up to the challenge, though.
Some garage doors are already insulated. Manufacturers insulate garage doors to prevent the house from becoming cold. However, insulation can also block sound waves.
In addition to an insulated garage door, hanging up acoustical blankets on ropes across the length and width of the door keeps things quiet. An acoustical blanket absorbs sound waves. It's a cheaper alternative to acoustic foam, which is what lines recording studios.
Add hinged plywood panels along the length of the door. These will also intercept sound waves so the band's practices don't disturb the neighbors.
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