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Soundproofing New Construction

Soundproofing A New Construction

Author: Eric Zuck

Last Updated: February 9, 2024

Read Time: 7 Minutes

Soundproofing A New Construction

Author:

Eric Zuck

Last Updated:

February 9, 2024

Read Time:

7 Minutes

Author: Eric Zuck

Updated: Feb. 9, 2024

Read Time: 7 Minutes

If you are building or designing a new building that needs to have a high or specified STC rating, you’ll need to look into proper soundproofing. Soundproofing a new construction isn’t overly complex or expensive, but you will need to plan ahead and there are a few materials and rules you’ll need to look out for to ensure that the building meets the requirements for the space.

We are soundproofing experts here at Second Skin Audio. And we can help you every step of the way, from finding the right treatments to determining how much of each material you need to the installation methods. We’re here to help you save time and a headache down the road! So, let's dive into an overview of soundproofing a new construction.

If you are building or designing a new building that needs to have a high or specified STC rating, you’ll need to look into proper soundproofing. Soundproofing a new construction isn’t overly complex or expensive, but you will need to plan ahead and there are a few materials and rules you’ll need to look out for to ensure that the building meets the requirements for the space.

We are soundproofing experts here at Second Skin Audio. And we can help you every step of the way, from finding the right treatments to determining how much of each material you need to the installation methods. We’re here to help you save time and a headache down the road! So, let's dive into an overview of soundproofing a new construction.

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Popular Products to Soundproof New Construction


soundproof panels for party wall
RSIC™ Resilient Sound Isolation Clips
UnderBlock™ Rubber Floor Underlayment
Luxury Liner™ Mass Loaded Vinyl Roll
 

Questions To Address For New Construction Soundproofing

Your answers to these questions will help decide how you will go about the entire project. If you need some help figuring out the complexities of soundproofing, feel free to reach out to us! Our soundproofing experts will be happy to help you out.

Question #1: What Noise Levels Does the New Construction Require?

What is the new construction going to be used for? Knowing how the space will be used is the first step in knowing if there are any recommended soundproofing levels or regulatory requirements.

Most commercial buildings or HOAs have specified soundproofing levels for airborne noise (STC rating or sound transmission class) and impact noise (IIC rating or impact insulation class). These ratings must be met in any new construction or retrofit of an existing space. Plan ahead with proper materials or you’ll find yourself on the wrong side of the powers-that-be, and potentially looking at an expensive redo. Some buildings, such as recording studios or luxury condos, require you to go above and beyond in your soundproofing treatments.

Give us a call with your project's specifications or information about how you plan to use the space, and our experts can give you a custom recommendation.

Question #2: What’s Your Budget For The Project?

The budget of your soundproofing project impacts on what materials and methods you can use. Soundproofing a new construction can be reasonably affordable or extremely expensive, depending how high of an STC or IIC rating you need to hit and any other constraints you may be working under.

Let us know if you’re working inside a particular budget, and we can let you know if you’ll be able to hit your goals based on your sound reduction requirements. We have a full range of soundproofing materials and can tailor any plan to meet your exact needs.

Ten Rules for Soundproofing New Construction

We have seen it all here at Second Skin, from walls so poorly constructed that you can hear every movement next door to machinery installed so that it seems like the goal was to drive everyone else in the building crazy.

Because there are some mistakes we see over and over again, we made a list of ten rules (or “commandments”) for soundproofing that will help you avoid some of the most common mistakes. If you can avoid these common mistakes, you'll be ahead of 90% of folks out there.

Ten ("Do Not") Rules for Good Soundproofing

    1. Do not use 1/2" thick drywall.
    2. Do not use hollow core doors.
    3. Do not use hollow metal frames.
    4. Do not use canned lights.
    5. Do not create a triple-leaf wall or ceiling system.
    6. Do not expect dropped ceiling tiles to be a sufficient ceiling.
    7. Do not leave gaps, cracks, and seams unsealed.
    8. Do not use acoustic panels for soundproofing.
    9. Do not use spray foam to stop sound.
    10. Do not believe everything you read on the internet!!

New Construction Soundproofing Recommendations For Each Area

All 6 surfaces of a space will need soundproofing materials and treatments to get the best results. Here are our recommendations for some of the best methods for soundproofing different parts of a new construction.

New Construction Wall Soundproofing

The most important thing to focus on when soundproofing walls of new construction projects is that the walls are dense enough to block sound, use adequate insulation, and have an airtight seal to prevent sound from traveling through the gaps or penetrations in the wall. That's why we always have acoustical sealant on hand and use 5/8" drywall. When it come to how soundproof you want to make it, you can stick with mass loaded vinyl for blocking airborne noise or you can use our recommended sound isolation clips for buildings that require a boosted STC rating. It depends on your project's requirements!

Area Better Soundproofing Best Soundproofing DIY Article

Wall

Insulation + RSIC-1 + ⅝” Drywall

Insulation + Mass Loaded Vinyl + ⅝” Drywall

Insulation + RSIC Clips + Drywall + Green Glue + Drywall

New Floor Soundproofing

You will need to consider the entire floor-ceiling assembly to keep sound from traveling between floors. Floors of a building often transmit impact noise (like footsteps), but also can have issues with airborne noises (such as voices) when done poorly. If you plan to have open ceilings (exposed concrete) between floors, soundproofing the floors of the new construction is essential to preventing sound from passing through the floor-ceiling assembly. This is helpful in new construction, like soundproofing a hotel or similar commercial buildings.

Area Better Soundproofing Best Soundproofing DIY Article

Floor

UnderBlock HD Rubber Floor Underlayment

Carpet

Exposed Ceiling Soundproofing

With new construction, you can consider the entire floor-ceiling assembly. Do it right the first time, and avoid issues down the road like tenant turnover and expensive retrofits. If you want happy tenants, you should be well above the minimum code. Hitting those STC and IIC ratings will require treating both the floor and the ceiling for the best possible results.

Area Better Soundproofing Best Soundproofing DIY Article

Ceiling

Insulation + RSIC-1 + ⅝” Drywall

Insulation + RSIC Clips + Drywall + Green Glue + Drywall

Soundproofing with new Windows

The windows are often forgotten, but windows are almost always a weak point in terms of soundproofing a space from external noise, especially if the building is facing a busy road. Normal windows are not constructed for high STC ratings. If you need higher than standard performance, using soundproof window inserts will block noise from entering through the window.

For interior windows with high STC requirements, check out our Tru Acoustics Soundproof Windows.

Area Better Soundproofing Best Soundproofing DIY Article

Exterior Windows

Double Paned Windows

Double Paned Windows + Soundproof Window Inserts

Door Soundproofing in a new space

Just like windows, doors are also weak points in a building – especially for room-to-room noise. Solid-core doors are always required, as they block significantly more sound than hollow-core doors. If you need to boost the STC rating further, we also recommend using a Sound Lock door seal kit to seal around the door’s perimeter or to upgrade to a truly soundproof door.

Area Better Soundproofing Best Soundproofing DIY Article

Doors

Have questions about your project?

Call us at 1.800.679.8511