How Much Does It Cost to Install Soundproof Walls
Soundproofing comes packaged in many different types, and each package has the number of square feet marked on it. You must know the total square footage of an area to be insulated and the number of materials needed to determine the soundproofing cost per square foot. In this article, I will show you how to calculate the cost of soundproofing a room and also how much does soundproofing a room cost in general.
How much does soundproofing a room cost? Soundproofing a room will cost between $170 to $250 for brand new materials. $190 to $300 for skilled labor; and $20 to $36 in equipment required to carry out the task; however, the costs would be higher for bigger rooms and even more complicated jobs.
Finding Out the Cost of Soundproofing a Room
A construction calculator makes it much easier to calculate how much it would cost you to soundproof a room in your home. If you do not have one, a regular calculator will also work, just not as well.
How to Calculate the Cost of Soundproofing
1. Multiply the length by the width (or height) of an area that you want to soundproof. For example, if the range of the walls to be insulated added up to 40 feet 8 inches and the ceiling was 8 feet high, the area would be 325.36 square feet (40.67 x 8 = 325.36). The 8 inches is converted to a decimal number by dividing it by 12.
2. Subtract the square feet of windows, doors, or other openings in the area to be soundproofed. Calculate the square footage by multiplying the width by the height (or length) of each wall.
3. Determine the number of insulation bags needed by dividing the total square footage to be soundproofed by the number of square feet in each pack.
4. Multiply the number of materials needed by the cost per bag, including taxes and shipping, to determine the total cost.
5. Divide the total cost by the total square feet to calculate the price per square foot. For example, if the total cost was $90 for insulation, and you had 275 square feet to insulate, the price per square foot of insulation would be around 33 cents per square foot.
Tips and Warnings Regarding Cost
Walls, floors, and ceilings require different thicknesses of insulation. Each area must be calculated separately and then added to the totals.
When we buy a house, one of the things that matter most is that we are not disturbed by the noise from outside. In many cases, we are interested in living in a central area of the city, but without having to endure the sound of cars and people who are talking.
If you keep reading, you will learn more about the cost of soundproofing your house, so you do not have problems with neighbors.
The first thing is to think about whether you want to isolate yourself from outside noise or isolate the sound from your home so as not to disturb your neighbors. If the noise comes from outside your home, it may be due to:
- Noises coming from the elevator.
- The lights of the landing.
- The neighbors opening and closing door.
- Neighbors voices
- The vibration of the subway station that could be next to your building or home.
Types of Popular Soundproofing Materials and Cost
Here are some of the soundproofing material I always recommend and also use when soundproofing a room. I will also give you an insight into what you can expect for the cost. These prices would be in USD. All you would need to do is add is your state tax, and that should give you an idea of what to expect.
1. Soundproofing Caulking and Sealant
There are a few different brands of soundproofing sealants you can choose from. The one I use most often use is from the company Green Glue. They have a noise proofing sealant and also a noise proofing compound.
The noise proofing sealant is like caulking but much more pliable, so it won't crack as it ages letting noise inside the room. You would use this to seal around window casings, electrical outlets (the crack between the electrical box and wall) and also between the floor and baseboard (sometimes there's a small crack letting air and noise through).
The Green Glue noise proofing sealant would run you around $20 for one tube, but you can buy a pack of six on Amazon for roughly $75! I would go with a box of six because you'll probably use more than one tube. One tube out of a six-pack will cost you $12, so you can see how buying in bulk will save you in the long run!
The Green Glue noise proofing compound is a bit more expensive than the sealant running at about $100 for a five pack. You could probably find a single tube at your local hardware store for about $25. You will most likely need more than one tube if you're looking to soundproof more than one room.
The compound would be used primarily for when you would want to install a second layer of drywall over top of your wall. The sealant creates an acoustic barrier between the two layers of drywall, decreasing a small amount of decibel from traveling through the wall.
Remember, even though it is just a few decibels, choosing to apply a few of these options to soundproof a room adds up in decreasing the number of decibels that passes through the walls, so every bit helps!
2. Putty Pads
Putty pads would only apply for someone soundproofing an unfinished room or house. A putty pad is used to fully cover the back of an electrical box outlet before the drywall is in place.
All you need to do with a putty pad is wrap the entire electrical box of the electrical outlet. You are thus creating a seal over all the holes and cracks. Sealing these holes will create an excellent soundproof barrier between rooms. Even the smallest of gaps will let noise through.
A pack of ten putty pads will cost you around $60, but for an extra $10 you can buy a pack of twenty. You can also place a putty pad around light fixture electrical boxes because even those will let noise through. If you're just soundproofing a room, however, you can buy a single putty pad for approximately $10.
3. 5/8″ Drywall
Most homes these days are built using 1/2″ drywall but if you want a more soundproofed room then 5/8″ drywall is the way to go. Sound isolation is not the only reason 5/8″ is better drywall than 1/2″.
The reason most contractors use 5/8″ sheetrock on the ceiling is that the thickness of sheetrock is much stiffer. Another reason to go with a 5/8″ on the ceiling is that you will significantly reduce the chance of the sheetrock bowing between the ceiling joist, especially if they're on 24″ centers.
Of course, when you use a thicker product, you'll have better soundproofing. Sheetrock UltraLight 1/2-inch x 4 ft. X 8 ft. Drywall Gypsum Panel sells for around $12 a sheet. Sheetrock UltraLight 1/2-inch x 4 ft. X 8 ft. Drywall Gypsum Panel sells for approximately $20 a sheet. The $8 difference is well worth it when soundproofing a room.
If you're in the building process then you're already spending $12 for drywall, might as well spend an extra $8 for the 5/8″! You certainly will not regret that decision. Remember to apply some Green Glue noise proofing compound between the two sheets if you're soundproofing an existing wall.
4. Rockwool Acoustic Mineral Wool Insulation 80-8lb 48″x24″x2″ 6pcs
If you're in the renovation or building stage, then consider using Rockwool Acoustic Mineral Wool for your Insulation. A pack of 6pcs/80-8lb 48″x24″x2″ will cost between $70 and $80, depending on where you buy it, and if you buy in bulk.
This stuff does undoubtedly cost more than your standard pink fiberglass insulation. If you're only soundproofing one wall or one room, however, then this is something to consider.
5. Resilient Channel
A resilient channel leaves a small air void between an existing layer of drywall and the second layer of drywall, making the wall or ceiling much more soundproof. Air is excellent insulation, and applying a resilient channel does not cost very much money and is easier to install than you might think.
All you need are resilient sound isolation clips to attach the metal channel. You can buy a pack of 10 clips for roughly $70 while the metal channel will cost around $10 each. You can save when buying in bulk with a case of 32 8′ channels for about $170.
6. Solid Core Door
If you're looking at soundproofing, just one room in the house then buying a solid core wood door is a must! Of course, these doors are much more expensive than your standard interior hollow core door, but it does the job in terms of noise blocking.
A hollow core door that you would typically have inside a home will cost around $35 to $100. A solid core interior door, however, will cost between $250 and $400. But if you only need one, it's something to look at.
Swapping the door will not be enough to stop noise from coming through this big rectangular gap. You will also need to make sure that the bottom of the door is properly sealed as well. Getting rid of the air void under the door is crucial if you're soundproofing the entryway. Even a small crack will compromise the money you've put into buying a solid door.
The door sweep I usually recommend for this type of project is only around $10. Even adding the door sweep to a hollow core door will help immensely in soundproofing a room, especially on a small budget.
One last thing to add to the door to make it more soundproofed is a rubber gasket to seal the door. You will know if you need a rubber gasket around the door casing if you can see the light shining around the door coming from the other room while closed. A self-adhesive door gasket is easy to apply and only cost around $5.
Cost of Soundproofing a Single Room
The soundproofing cost of a single room usually involves $170 to $250 for brand new materials, $190 to $300 for skilled labor and $20 to $36 in equipment required to carry out the task; however, the costs would be higher for bigger rooms and even more complicated jobs. The price estimates do not involve the price of taking out current insulating material or customizing any existing structures or areas.
All aspects taken into account, nearly all homeowners pay between $1,015 and $2,585, with the regular soundproofing job expenses around $1,746.
The above rates will offer property owners the best idea of what they could be ready to spend to soundproof a room; the exact cost varies depending on various factors. The standard of the materials, the expertise of the service provider, and the location of the project may all influence the cost.
The season the job is done, the intricacy of the project and measurements of the room can impact the price also. House owners must be sure to get an authorized quote, in writing, before effort on the job starts to ensure there are zero pricing shocks over time.
The prices for the materials rely on a variety of resources; however, it is typically measured in length or the number of pieces. For instance, different materials might be sold by the roll, by the sheet or even by the foot. The charges for labor are usually determined by the hour, although it could be the minimum requirement.
Conclusion
You can spend a lot of money trying to soundproof a room, but if you're not doing it properly, then your efforts will be for nothing. I hope the information on the cost of soundproofing a room will help guide you in making the right purchases.
Let us know if you have any suggestions and tips that we forgot to mention. We'd love to hear from you!
Don't forget to take a look at our YouTube channel for some helpful videos to help you with your next soundproofing project!
How Much Does It Cost to Install Soundproof Walls
Source: https://soundproofguide.com/cost-of-soundproofing-a-room/
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