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After installing the drywall in a new house everything seems to be perfect and goes well. However, after a few days, the traffic noise is much louder and it disturbs your work which is results in less productivity and when you’re working from home then this traffic noise will be annoying.
I know you’re sick of the loud noise of traffic and the loud neighbors and the students above your apartments who always parties on Sundays. guess what if the answer to this question is yes then you’re in the right place.
If you are new to soundproofing then this might sound complex and doesn’t have any idea if these ways could be effective or not but trust me these ways are the best and most effective to soundproofing a wall without removing drywall.
As I didn’t want to tear down the entire wall in my new apartment I figure out a soundproofing wall without removing drywall. As the loud noise was annoying and disturbing and I was wondering if I would ever sleep again without noise.
Initially, I found soundproofing a wall without removing drywall to be a tough and time-consuming method but once I spend time doing it I actually understood how easy and proficient it is. only with some cheap ways and tricks, you can soundproof walls without removing drywall.
I know this is sounding a little complicated for you but let me take you through some of the ways which you’ll find easy to do and soundproof your wall without tearing down the drywall or the other walls which are then you can make them thick and soundproof.
Why You Need To Soundproof A Wall Without Removing Drywall
Soundproofing a wall without removing drywall is one of the safest ways to soundproof a wall. When I was in my new apartment I realize that tearing down walls will cost a lot of money and the better choice is to soundproof a wall without removing drywall.
When I started searching online than I found it really tough to soundproof a wall without removing drywall. At first, I was in doubt will this really work? after reading the articles, I landed on a conclusion to finally soundproof a wall without removing drywall.
Guess what! I was stunned by the effective results it has given me in terms of soundproofing and doesn’t even cost much because I didn’t want to invest much in this, as a result, I have applied some of the effective ways to soundproof a wall without removing drywall.
Now the question is why do you want to soundproof a wall without removing drywall? Well, the first thing is you don’t want to tear down the walls so I was and the second thing is you wouldn’t want to invest much in soundproofing a wall especially if it’s not a professional soundproof method.
How To Soundproof A Wall Without Removing Drywall: 8 Effective Ways
Let’s discuss some of the ways to soundproof a wall without removing drywall these ways are effective and don’t even cost you much. All you need is some soundproof materials and your task is ready to start.
1. Install Acoustic Panels
If you living near a busy street then acoustic panels are one of the best solutions for blocking out noise. mostly this is used by recording studios and home studios for blocking out echoes.
When it comes to soundproofing a wall without removing drywall the first solution you will find on the internet is acoustic panels. But have you ever thought will this work? if you rapper or a musician then you’ll face a lot of problems with the noise while recording. Don’t worry the problem has come to an end.
Acoustic panels are easy to install you just need to hang with the hook that comes along the pack it catches sound waves and absorbs before it catches off the wall.
- Here are steps on how to install acoustic panels
- Wipe the wall with a clean cloth or rag so that all the dust is wiped out.
- Measure the size of the wall and compare that with acoustic panels for perfect fitting.
- Cut the acoustic panel with a knife or cutter to turn that into the size of the wall for a perfect fit.
- Mark the measurement on the wall for perfect fitting of the acoustic panel and to avoid misplacing.
- Put adhesive on the back of the acoustic panel. If you have already got the adhesive acoustic panels then skip this part.
- Press gently for 30 seconds until it feels comfortable to leave it and until it is settled with the wall.
- Repeat the process until the whole wall is covered with acoustic panels.
Now you have successfully installed the acoustic panels for soundproofing a wall.
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2. Use Mass Loaded Vinyl
The primary thing to create a strong barrier to noise is to increase the mass and density of the wall by adding an extra layer of mass-loaded vinyl to the wall.
Mass-loaded vinyl is a thin flexible and high STC especially used for blocking out sound waves and noise transmission. It is made up of synthetic plastic material.
MLV doesn’t absorb the sound waves as it has a reflective surface but it will effectively block out the sound waves passing through the wall. It will add an additional layer to the wall which makes a strong barrier against the sound.
Moreover one of the best things about mass-loaded vinyl is its thickness and mass ratio. Everything which is thicker has mass but this is not with vinyl it has the best thickness to mass ratio.
Because of its best thickness, it is recommended for soundproofing a wall and the ability to cover the entire wall and insulate.
Here are some of the steps to install MLV
- Cut the MLV sheet with the proper size of the wall and make sure to pay close while marking the size on the sheet if it goes wrong then the material will be wasted.
- Start from the top of the wall to get a better idea of which side is fitting well and to get a good finishing.
- Apply the MLV on the top corner and from there roll down the sheet to the bottom for complete insulation.
- If you want to add the additional layer of MLV you can do that for effective results.
Here is my recommendation for mass-loaded vinyl it is a bit more expensive than the other sheets of MLV but it’s worth spending for a soundproof wall.
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3. Install Soundproof Blanket
A soundproof blanket is one of the convenient ways to soundproof a wall without removing drywall. If you don’t want to spend much on soundproofing the entire house then a soundproof blanket is the ideal choice for you.
It’s pretty expensive to soundproof the entire house. Using a soundproof blanket is cheap and effective. Installing a soundproof blanket will reduce the noise with a little investment.
If you have a bigger house then it will be difficult to soundproof the entire house because if you leave any gap or crack unsealed it will transmit the noise in the room.
So using a soundproof blanket is the better choice and it’s effective when it comes to soundproofing a wall without removing drywall. If you’re running out of budget then a soundproof blanket will be the right pick.
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4. Install Soundproof Curtains
The primary reason for transmitting noise is through windows and doors. Using soundproof curtains will minimize the sound reflections.
Now you might be wondering do soundproof curtains really work in soundproofing walls without removing drywall? Believe it or not, they are pretty good at blocking out noise.
Soundproof curtains maintain heat in the room and provide protection against harmful UV rays and direct sunlight which is thermal insulation. Make sure you get thicker soundproof curtains the thicker they are the denser they will be which eventually reduces the noise.
After getting the soundproof curtains to insulate completely on the windows and doors by hanging make sure to get a little longer one because they block out noise effectively.
If you want to divide the room then I would recommend you to go through the complete guide on soundproof room divider curtains.
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5. Use Soundproof Paint
Let me burst this might does soundproof paintwork in reducing noise? believe it or not, it will work well in soundproofing a wall without removing drywall soundproof paint is water-based and will thicken cracks.
It is mixed with latex which makes the gaps and cracks thick and blocks out noise. let me tell you that if you only use soundproof paint as the source to reduce noise then it will not be effective.
Soundproof materials like soundproof curtains, rugs and acoustic panels along with soundproof paint will be effective in blocking out noise.
You can check out our blog on soundproof paint for more.
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6. Add an Extra Layer Of Drywall
An excellent way of soundproofing a wall without removing drywall is to top it the existing drywall up with an additional layer of drywall. Although it may be a bit costly it’s the most efficient way to soundproof a wall.
To get better results you can add some MLV and acoustic panels so that the results are more effective and block the noise passing through the walls.
You can use soundproof paint once you are done with installing an additional layer of drywall to the existing one so that it’s thick and blocks the noise transmitting without removing the drywall.
The drywall will take up some space in the room so make you need to sacrifice some space in the room. Make sure you take the right measurements before installing the drywall.
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7. Seal The Gaps And Cracks
Gaps and cracks are the real culprits in passing the noise through the wall. This has been noticed several times that gaps and cracks unfilled will pass the noise and walls have gaps and cracks in the center or sides of the walls.
There are many reasons of appearing gaps and cracks and the main reason is if you have constructed your house years ago. But this is not the only exception it might be due to many other reasons.
You need to find out the spots and fill that gaps and cracks for soundproofing a wall without removing drywall. Therefore you can find out those spots by getting up at night and closing your light and making sure your neighbor’s light is on then you will spot the cracks and gaps by the light coming from another side.
Those are the spots you need to fix first you can use acoustic sealant or caulk to fill up the cracks and gaps. Sound travels through air therefore sealing all the cracks and gaps is necessary to soundproof a wall.
Most people don’t pay much attention to gaps and cracks thinking they are tiny and unbothered by the noise they transmit believe it or not they are real culprits in passing the noise in the room through the wall.
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8. Install Bookshelves
Now you might be wondering how installing bookshelves can help in soundproofing a wall without removing drywall that’s because it provides more density to the wall and sound waves are absorbed. Load your bookshelves with the volume of books.
Loading bookshelves with the volume of books adds density to the wall and paper is one of the best sources that absorbs sound. Make sure you go with the bookshelf that is covered from the back as it absorbs the sound.
Bookshelf is one of the low-budget investments for soundproof home offices. Loading that with books will give you more effective results and you don’t have to replace it or install it in a few days.
Final Thoughts On Soundproofing A Wall Without Removing Drywall
There you go, now it’s your turn to execute the ways that I have discussed above to soundproof a wall without removing drywall. As I said it isn’t that hard and expensive.
You don’t need to be a professional to do this and the best part about it is you don’t need any tools to soundproof a wall. And of course, tearing down your precious walls is also not required.
All you need to keep in mind is that all of these methods will not bring you the one hundred percent noise-blocking but they will bring you much peace and bring back the time when you can rest or work without noise.
Moreover, you will feel the drastic change in the noise level once you follow the methods I discussed above. You can use multiple ways to soundproof a wall without removing drywall which will bring more effective results.
If you liked this let us know we would love to hear from you. And if you have any questions for us drop them in the comment box below. Also, check out our guide on how to soundproof a bathroom.
FAQ
1. Add insulation
2. Add an additional layer of drywall with green glue
3. Use resilient channel
4. Use mass loaded vinyl
5. Install acoustic panels
Combining mass and damping is the most effective way of soundproofing a wall without damaging or tearing down the walls. You can add an extra layer of drywall and mass-loaded vinyl with green glue before installing the walls.
Instead of removing drywall and reinstalling it again if your walls are empty you can inject insulation through small holes from inside or outside. You can add an extra layer of drywall if you want to soundproof.