How to Soundproof your Garage
If soundproofing concrete garages is an option that you need to consider, you will need to inspect the garage before choosing the method you will use. Many people use their garage as practice spots for bands and musical instruments for children. The need to keep the noise to a minimum to respect your neighbours as well as saving your own sanity may be essential. In addition, if part of the garage will be used as a hobby shop and power tools will be used, they can be quite noisy as well.
There are several areas that can allow sound to escape. Look around and check to see if there are any places that you see daylight. This means that this is an area that needs to be sealed. The windows in your garage are one of the places that may require sealing. Acoustical caulk is the best type to use for sealing these areas.
The floor is another area that can be soundproofed to help reduce noise. The best way of doing this is to install carpet. The carpet on top of concrete will keep noise, especially the type from musical instruments, from echoing across the floor. If this is an area that will be used for building things, you may want to consider another type of flooring that is easier to clean. Power tools, such as saws can make a dusty mess and this is not easy to clean from carpet.
The doors to your garage are another place that will let sound escape. If you have a separate entrance door that is hollow, you will need to replace is with a solid door. The garage door that is used for access with your vehicle can be soundproofed as well. The inside of the door can be fitted with insulation that will not only keep the sound from escaping to the outside, but will help keep the temperature at the right level no matter the season.
One of the best methods of soundproofing concrete garages is to create a €room within a room.' The size will depend on the amount of space that is needed. Once the room is framed using 2 x 4s or 2 x 6s, the drywall can be added to the outside of the room. The inside will require the use of closed cell foam to line the stud cavities and the inside joists. The foam can be affixed to these areas using spray adhesive. The purpose of using this foam is to seal dead air space. This is what soundproofs the room when it is completely sealed.
The next step is to staple mass loaded vinyl to the studs. If it is stapled properly - overlapping the seams - unless the seams end up on studs, this allows the vinyl to move with the sound that is generated within the room. If the seams do end up on studs, caulking them will create the same affect. Any other seams will need to be caulked as well. Taping the seams with a lead foil tape will also help.
All that is left to completely soundproof concrete garages now is to add the drywall. Once this is up, the taping and mudding as you would any drywall and painting the colour of your choice when it is dry will complete your soundproof room.
There are several areas that can allow sound to escape. Look around and check to see if there are any places that you see daylight. This means that this is an area that needs to be sealed. The windows in your garage are one of the places that may require sealing. Acoustical caulk is the best type to use for sealing these areas.
The floor is another area that can be soundproofed to help reduce noise. The best way of doing this is to install carpet. The carpet on top of concrete will keep noise, especially the type from musical instruments, from echoing across the floor. If this is an area that will be used for building things, you may want to consider another type of flooring that is easier to clean. Power tools, such as saws can make a dusty mess and this is not easy to clean from carpet.
The doors to your garage are another place that will let sound escape. If you have a separate entrance door that is hollow, you will need to replace is with a solid door. The garage door that is used for access with your vehicle can be soundproofed as well. The inside of the door can be fitted with insulation that will not only keep the sound from escaping to the outside, but will help keep the temperature at the right level no matter the season.
One of the best methods of soundproofing concrete garages is to create a €room within a room.' The size will depend on the amount of space that is needed. Once the room is framed using 2 x 4s or 2 x 6s, the drywall can be added to the outside of the room. The inside will require the use of closed cell foam to line the stud cavities and the inside joists. The foam can be affixed to these areas using spray adhesive. The purpose of using this foam is to seal dead air space. This is what soundproofs the room when it is completely sealed.
The next step is to staple mass loaded vinyl to the studs. If it is stapled properly - overlapping the seams - unless the seams end up on studs, this allows the vinyl to move with the sound that is generated within the room. If the seams do end up on studs, caulking them will create the same affect. Any other seams will need to be caulked as well. Taping the seams with a lead foil tape will also help.
All that is left to completely soundproof concrete garages now is to add the drywall. Once this is up, the taping and mudding as you would any drywall and painting the colour of your choice when it is dry will complete your soundproof room.
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