Account
Quote
Cart
Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Curtains
Author: Sturgeon Christie
Last Updated: February 9, 2024
Read Time: 7 Minutes
Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Curtains
Author:
Sturgeon Christie
Last Updated:
February 9, 2024
Read Time:
7 Minutes
Author: Sturgeon Christie
Updated: Feb. 9, 2024
Read Time: 7 Minutes
If you’re looking for MLV curtains, you typically fall into one of two groups of people. Group one is someone with a commercial or industrial space needing noise control in a large room. If you need commercial noise control, we have a variety of acoustic and soundproof blanket options, as well as some pre-fabricated enclosures. We also have Second Skin soundproofing experts available via phone, email, or chat who can help solve any issue! Group two is residential customers who have found themselves digging deep into the “soundproof curtains” rabbit hole, usually when trying to soundproof a window or door. This hole can be very confusing for your typical homeowner, so we’ll try and shed some light on the topic for you.
In the article below, we overview MLV curtains as an industrial sound control tool, and then take a look at MLV curtains in residential applications before suggesting a more effective alternative (the Fantastic Frame window insert).
If you’re looking for MLV curtains, you typically fall into one of two groups of people. Group one is someone with a commercial or industrial space needing noise control in a large room. If you need commercial noise control, we have a variety of acoustic and soundproof blanket options, as well as some pre-fabricated enclosures. We also have Second Skin soundproofing experts available via phone, email, or chat who can help solve any issue! Group two is residential customers who have found themselves digging deep into the “soundproof curtains” rabbit hole, usually when trying to soundproof a window or door. This hole can be very confusing for your typical homeowner, so we’ll try and shed some light on the topic for you.
In the article below, we overview MLV curtains as an industrial sound control tool, and then take a look at MLV curtains in residential applications before suggesting a more effective alternative (the Fantastic Frame window insert).
MLV Curtains for Industrial Noise Control
MLV curtains are one of the best solutions available for warehouses, manufacturing plants, and other industrial spaces. Whenever you have loud machinery (compressors, generators, pulverizers, etc), the noise they create can range from disruptive to intolerable. For many of these machines, the noise generated is loud enough to do long-term damage to your hearing.
We use MLV curtains to create partition walls or to enclose machinery. Because you can hang the curtains on any structure, the installation location and method is extremely flexible. Our sound blankets come in multiple colors, can be installed inside or outside, and have grommets and Velcro included to simplify the install. We have solutions that are pre-fabricated or we can completely customize the MLV curtains to meet your needs.
For example, our Quiet Quilt Portable Enclosures are easy to slip fit together and come with pre-installed casters you can wheel out of the way when needed. We also have Quiet Quilt Fixed Enclosures for machinery that you don’t need regular access to. We’ve installed MLV curtains around generators, HVAC units, heavy machinery, construction projects, outdoor restaurants, pickleball courts, and more. To learn more about our various lines of Quiet Quilt Sound Blankets, reach out to a Second Skin soundproofing professional today!
MLV Curtains for Residential Applications
We get it. It’s such an attractive idea to just “shut the curtains” and shut out the noise. Then you open the curtains up whenever you want to let noise (and light) back in. Unfortunately, there’s just not a good solution out there to help you accomplish that goal.
Despite what you may read on the internet, mass loaded vinyl is not a particularly good solution for window curtains. MLV is dense, heavy, and has limited flexibility. You can cover a window, but the effort is significant relative to the results. This advice is coming from a company that sells a lot of MLV. And we’d like to sell more of it. But we also don’t want a new customer to hate us for giving them a challenging DIY curtain project that isn’t going to work better than cheaper and easier alternatives.
Here’s a quick table showing some DIY window soundproofing testing one of our team members did comparing some options over a residential double hung window. All testing was done with a consistent noise source outside.
| DIY Treatment | Noise Level | Percieved Noise Reduction |
| Window Only | 60 dB | Starting point (control) |
| Window with Heavy Blanket | 56 dB | 22% |
| Window with Suspended MLV | 54 dB | 34% |
| Window with Quiet Quilt Acoustic Blanket | 52 dB | 42% |
| Window with Quiet Quilt 2-Sided Blanket (MLV sewn inside) | 50 dB | 50% |
| Window with Fantastic Frame Window Insert | 45 dB | 65% |
If you’re looking for a cheap DIY solution, you might as well just go find the heaviest curtains you can find or hang up the heaviest blanket you own. You’ll get comparable results as the DIY MLV curtains, all while saving time and money.
MLV Curtain Alternatives
You may have noticed in the previous chart that there are several options that soundproof a window significantly better than MLV. Let’s take a second and look at those options, because if you are serious about reduce noise in your home – these are the solutions you should be considering.
Fantastic Frame Soundproof Window Inserts
Our Fantastic Frame Window Inserts are top performers in this category. They will reduce noise through an existing window by up to 80%. Not only are they extremely effective, but they are designed to seamlessly blend into your existing window frame, maintaining the aesthetic appeal of your windows. They are easy to install and can be removed when desired, offering flexibility based on your needs.
As an added bonus, they will stop drafts and significantly reduce thermal transfer through any window (50-100% improved R-value). When installed in all windows in a home, the average energy savings is about 40%. This combination means you can enjoy a quiet, well-insulated home without sacrificing natural light or views. Whether you want to soundproof just one window or want to insulate your entire house, the Fantastic Frame Window Insert is the best available solution.
Quiet Quilt Sound Blankets
If you're set on a curtain due to your specific situation, our Quiet Quilt Acoustic Blankets can be used as a better alternative than MLV. They come with grommets pre-installed, and are heavy enough to block noise, but not so heavy that they are a giant pain to install covering a residential window. Each acoustic blanket weighs 20lbs (instead of 50 lbs) and blocks 6-8 db. If you’re dead set on MLV, you could also take a look at our Quiet Quilt 2-Sided Blanket.
We do see people choose a sound blanket to seal up a window (or door). While it won’t perform as a window insert, there are scenarios where a customer prefers it. See our articles on soundproofing a window with blankets or soundproofing a door with blankets to learn more.
Call Second Skin For Soundproofing a Consultation!
MLV curtains are an awesome and common industrial soundproofing product. While it would be great if they were as effective for residential applications, we just have better tools to reduce noise through a window than MLV. It can be done, but the results will be sub-par relative to the time and effort you put in. We’d recommend our Fantastic Frame window inserts for better performance.
At Second Skin, we want you to get the best possible solutions, or at least be informed before you start on your project. If you have more questions on your specific situation, please reach out to one of our soundproofing professionals for more help!