Estimate the Cost to Soundproof Your Walls

Soundproof walls have a number of uses for a homeowner. If you like to entertain, play live music and video games, watch movies in surround sound or even enjoy the quiet, soundproof walls will enhance the experience. It is, of course, always easier to install soundproof walls in a home as the walls are being built but you can also install soundproofing material with existing walls. The problem is trying to figure out how much all of this will cost you. The following article will help to provide some tips on how to estimate the cost of installing soundproof walls.

Where to have Soundproof Walls

This seems very easy but it is actually something that requires some thought. You have to examine your home and determine where you need soundproof walls. If you have a man cave in the basement then you do not need soundproof walls in the living room. You would need soundproof walls in the basement as well as a soundproof ceiling.

If you live alone and just entertain friends and family, you probably don't need to soundproof interior walls, just your exterior walls to keep the sound contained in the house. If you have a media room in the main area of the home, you would want four soundproof walls, to prevent sound from reaching the rest of the house. This can change slightly if you have another floor above or below as you would want to soundproof the floor and ceiling as well.

Accurate Measurements

Soundproofing materials can be very expensive if you use quality soundproofing material. This makes measuring very important because you need enough to reach the ceiling and the floor. If you're installing soundproofing inside the wall, each space between the joists needs to be accurate. Improper measurements can cost you money.

Choosing Materials

You have several choices when it comes to selecting soundproofing materials. You can use thick foam which is relatively inexpensive but you can also use sound-grade drywall. This is the same thickness as drywall but acts as though it's six times as thick. Spray foam insulation is also a decent soundproofing material. You can buy soundproof boards that are installed directly to the wall. You can make these yourself using plywood, foam, staples, and cloth.

Exterior or Internal

This can add a few thousand dollars to your project. Soundproof walls can either be internally soundproofed or done so on the exterior. Soundproof foam and pads can be installed on the outside of the wall. You can do this yourself which will save you labor costs which can add 45 percent to the overall cost of the job. If you want soundproofing that is not visible, you will have to install internal soundproofing. This will mean removing or replacing drywall.

Estimate

Add the cost of materials multiplied by the square footage and add the cost of installation. Add an additional 15 percent for overages. This will give you an accurate estimate of the cost of having soundproof walls.