Windows are a wonderful addition to any space. They fill the interior of the room with natural light and allow fresh air to come in. Not to mention they're often a code requirement in most areas. Despite the many benefits that windows provide, they aren’t exactly the best sound barriers. While there are several different ways that you can soundproof a window, window plugs are one of the most effective options. In order for a window plug to be effective, it needs to be able to prevent the transmission of soundwaves. In order to accomplish this, window inserts are constructed of viscoelastic mat ..read more

Building a home studio can be a very expensive undertaking, especially if you intend on purchasing the best studio monitors, microphones, plug-ins, and instruments that money can buy. However, without careful forethought, if you don't soundproof your studio even the best-quality audio equipment will sound inferior. Even in the quietest of rooms, the best condenser microphones will pick up background noise that you hadn't noticed before. A noise that will have an adverse effect upon any future recordings. Types of Sound There are two types of sound, understanding what they are and how they tran ..read more

A private showing of your favorite movie is one of the more enjoyable experiences you can have. However, if you've failed to soundproof the space the overall sound quality from the audio system will be substandard and full of reverberation. Even worse, noise will penetrate the space from adjacent rooms and the outdoors. Types of Noise There are two types of noise: airborne and structure-borne. Although airborne is more common, both can create unwanted issues in a home theater. Airborne Image credit: Greengluecompany.com Any sound that travels through the air is considered airborne; this includ ..read more

As famed neurologist Sigmund Freud hypothesized, our dreams are deeply connected to the real world and hold importance in our daily lives. These images often represent our wants or needs. Spiritually speaking, they can also represent our emotional strength and power. While dreams about toilets aren't exactly a popular dream theme, some people do have them. Generally speaking, a toilet appearing in your dreams is regarded as a good omen. However, like other symbolic representations, dreams can be perceived in a positive or negative context depending on the situational circumstances. For instanc ..read more

French doors not only add a touch of elegance to any room, but they also allow natural light to flood in. They add much-needed ventilation, provide better views, and make access to outside space easier. This is due to their design; a pair of doors that swing inwards or outwards from the center opening. Although they use more floor space than conventional sliding doors, French doors are often viewed as more appealing to those with more traditional tastes. They are constructed primarily from glass with uPVC, aluminum, or timber frame and are highly secure if the installation is carried out corre ..read more

French doors not only add a touch of elegance to any room, but they also allow natural light to flood in. They add much-needed ventilation, provide better views, and make access to outside space easier. This is due to their design; a pair of doors that swing inwards or outwards from the center opening. Although they use more floor space than conventional sliding doors, French doors are often viewed as more appealing to those with more traditional tastes. They are constructed primarily from glass with uPVC, aluminum, or timber frame and are highly secure if the installation is carried out corre ..read more

Noise Reduction Coefficient or NRC is the measure of a material's effectiveness to absorb sound in any space. It is a clear and obvious way to recognize a material's noise controlling capabilities. It is measured by, what looks like, a very narrow scale of 0.0 - 1.0. The number is shown as a decimal that is easily converted into a fraction, comparing absorbed/reflected sound. To illustrate: Perfect Reflection – NRC 0 Materials with a 0 NRC rating have no sound-absorbing abilities. Perfect Absorption – NRC 1 Materials with an NRC rating of 1 absorbs 100% of sound. As an example: Material with a ..read more

Sound Transmission Class or STC is the rating system by which the ability of a partition to attenuate, (reduce the effect of) airborne sound is measured. Materials are tested over multiple sound frequencies, from bass levels of 125Hz to treble levels of 4000Hz. They are then assigned STC ratings, a United States standard since 1961. The partitions tested include: Walls, both interior and exterior Ceilings Doors Windows Both commercial and residential construction rely on these ratings as a way of reducing airborne sound transmission between rooms. Airborne noise is a result of a person or ob ..read more

Living with noise pollution is no fun. Whether the source of the problem is from nuisance neighbors, traffic, or an errant teenager with a drum kit, there are solutions available to suit even the strictest budget. Understanding the way sound moves and the methods and mediums it uses to invade your privacy are key features in your choice of DIY soundproofing solutions. Sound is a vibrational energy that transmits in waves. That energy bounces and collides with surfaces, causing them to vibrate. Huge surface areas such as dividing walls, ceilings, and floors are ideal rigid surfaces through whic ..read more

Mass loaded Vinyl is one of the most popular materials used for soundproofing. It's a highly versatile and effective medium for blocking the transmission of soundwaves. While it's very effective, it's also quite expensive. Before determining alternatives to this medium, we should first define what mass loaded vinyl is. What is MLV? Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV), is a viscoelastic material like polyvinylchloride (PVC or vinyl) that has been loaded with an inert material like barium sulfate or calcium carbonate for added weight. You might be familiar with viscoelasticity that defines me ..read more