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. 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!!

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. Always use 5/8” drywall and acoustical sealant. Typically for buildings that require a boosted STC rating, we recommend sound isolation clips, mass loaded vinyl, or Green Glue.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Call us at 1.800.679.8511