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How to Soundproof Your Rehearsal Space

A typical rock band produces music pumped to 100 decibels and higher, equal to the amount of sound produced by a jackhammer. If your garage band produces a lot of noise when you rehearse, it may be time to soundproof your rehearsal space--while you still have friends and supporters in the house or the neighborhood. An investment in materials and time can go a long way towards controlling the noise.

Things You'll Need

  • 2- by 4-inch studs
  • 5/8-inch drywall
  • 3/4-inch rigid Styrofoam insulation panels
  • Cotton batting or insulation material
  • Optional: 3/4-inch plywood decking
  • Construction adhesive
  • Acousti-paint
  • Door insulation strips
  • 1-inch by 3-inch lumber
  • Utility handles
  • Wood shims
  • Optional: 1-inch cork tiles
  • Optional: foam-backed carpeting
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Instructions

    • 1

      Create a second wall. The construction of a typical interior wall transmits sound easily through vibration transference. Deaden this transference by building a second layer of wall around the room, ceiling and floor.

    • 2

      Measure 2 inches out from the existing walls. Build new wall frames made of 2- by 4-inch studs.

    • 3

      Install 5/8-inch drywall on one side of the frames before installing the walls permanently to the floor and ceiling. Extend any electrical outlets or switch plates.

    • 4

      Use wood screws to attach the frames to the ceiling and the floor, lining the top and bottom of the frames with a strip of 3/4-inch Styrofoam insulation glued to the 2- by 4-inch rail. These strips will help stop vibration from traveling through the frame to the ceiling and floor.

    • 5

      Fill the cavities of the new wall frames with loosely packed cotton batting or insulation. Do not use rigid foam products; you want more "air" in the insulation.

    • 6

      Cover the walls with 5/8-inch drywall. Glue the drywall to the frames with construction adhesive.

    • 7

      Paint the walls with Acousti-coat brand latex paint. This paint contains fillers that deaden transmission of sound.

    • 8

      Treat the ceiling and floor as if they were vertical walls and build a second layer of "wall" here too. Deck the floor with 3/4-inch plywood; glue it to the studs. Install industrial foam-backed carpeting.

    • 9

      Build "plugs" to cover any window openings. Create 1-inch by 3-inch frames to fit the windows. The fit should be snug so the plugs will stay in the windows without fasteners. Cover one side of the frames with 5/8-inch drywall. Fill the cavities with insulation. Cover the other sides with drywall. Install handles to make removal of the plugs easy.

    • 10

      Insulate under and around doorways to stop sound from leaking out of the rehearsal space. Install a hefty door sweep to self-seal the door when closed. Add strips of rubber or dense foam insulation around the insides of the door frame.

    • 11

      Retrofit secondary soundproof walls as portable units. Instead of installing these walls permanently to the ceiling and floors, wedge them into place. Build the secondary wall panels 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch too tall. Use wooden shims if necessary. Install handles to make removal easier. Remove the walls by popping them out of place.

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