303Contractor, Specializing in Contractor Services for Denver Metro, Littleton, Aurora, Douglas County and Colorado Springs, Colorado. (720) 556-2051
(720) 556-2051
Lone Tree, Co


Soundproofing a room is actually very easy if your in new construction at the framing stage. You want to soundproof your new room before you put drywall up. And as for drywall, you can use something called quiet rock. Quiet Rock drywall is the equivalent of 7 sheets thick of drywall and it finishes and hangs the same as standard gypsum Denver drywall. Quiet Rock last I knew was only available at Lowes. It is heavier and costs much more then normal drywall.
If you want to know if its worth it or not, I would say yes it is!
Soundproofing starts with some basic understanding of noise and how it travels. Outside noise like dogs barking, airplanes, sirens, traffic and kids playing all travels through rigid structures in your home. Think about the old trick of two cups and a string. If you talk into one cup the noise will only travel down the string to the other cup if the string is pulled tight. This is because sound is nothing more than vibrations. So with this in mind you can tackle soundproofing a home in Colorado. Here is a list of things to check off as you go:
Easy things to do around the stage of framing a room or house
-Fill all voids to the outside such as AC lines, plumbing and cable. This will also stop bugs from crawling in. You may be surprised of the gapping holes going straight through your house
-Use spray foam insulation to fill the voids mentioned above as well as to spray around all junction boxes. This should be done after drywall is gun, fill the gaps around any junction boxes or switches. It will help a lot to completely cover the backs and sides of all boxes too after wiring is complete, and before drywall. You can go crazy with the spray foam. Just remember is expands as it dries.
-Pack your joists (in between the framing on your ceiling and floor) tightly with installation. You want to fill any dead space. Noise is like electricity and water and will travel the path of least resistance.
-Cut strips of foam or rubber material into 1.5 inch by 8 feet long pieces. Use spray glue to attach them to the face of your studs running the span of them where the drywall will attach. Make sure for fire safety no pieces stray from the studs. Also skip any areas of electricity and junction boxes. Otherwise these pieces will make a damper between framing and the drywall and can help cut down noise tremendously.
-Trim rubber padding to fit and insert it behind the room's vents (where the vent meets the wall).
- Wrap all duct worked in fiberglass insulation or a product like "Master Flow" R-6 or higher "Insulated Duct Wrap". This is a self adhesive insulation that is very easy to install.
-Get out the spray foam again. Fill in all voids around the vents after the drywall is hung. Again use as much as you want. If you have recessed lights, fill in all voids around them as well. If you have floating walls, fill the huge void between the studs with foam or stuff insulation in there as much as you can.
-This may not be something you can control, but your windows are going to be the single largest area of noise pollution to your home. Upgrade your windows with double pane glass and ask about other noise reduction specialty windows and / or frames.