That is why, in this article, I’m going to explain to you everything you need to know about both of them.

The thing is, neither rockwool or acoustic foam is better than the other. It all depends on what you want out of your room treatment.

But, let’s not jump to conclusions yet, because I will describe them. Then you can choose your most useful one depending on your situation.

Rockwool: proprieties, characteristics, specs

Rockwool is a non-combustible, lightweight product that has some excellent acoustical-dampening proprieties.

It also is dimensionally stable, so it makes it ideal for a friction fit in wall, ceiling, and floor applications. Another interesting fact about it is that the rockwool is chemically inert, that’s why it won’t promote corrosion.

Because of its compounds and weight, it is really easy to cut. The cutting will not require any special tools.

You can even use a knife if you are careful enough. However, you will need to cut it because it usually comes in thick pieces when bought.

Rockwool even comes at a budget-friendly price, but, unfortunately, the design isn’t that pretty.

However, you can solve this problem easily. Just make sure you cover it, so it looks acceptable. It is up to you what cover-up material you are going to choose, but my suggestion is to not look at any fancy material unless your budget is high.

However, the design is subjective, so it’s your call.

Additionally, rockwool has a characteristic that many people find crucial. If you want to soundproof a room, rockwool can absorb bass or anything in the lower region.

If any of your treble is below 1kHz, this product will surprise you in a good way. It comes in different thicknesses, so it will be effective in a lot of scenarios.

Characteristics & specs

If you are still confused about it, I’m going to list 9 characteristics of rockwool:

1. It has a high thermal efficiency. This means that once you cover a whole room in rockwool, it will save you money. ‘How is that possible.’ you may ask. It’s very simple. Because of that property, the room will be much warmer and stay that way for a long time in the winter. Your energy bills will be lower, and, therefore, you are saving money.
2. The main reason why someone would install this is, of course, is because of the noise insulation it offers. It has a high density that traps sound waves and deadens vibration time. Moreover, it can block sound frequencies lower than 1kHz, as I’ve already told you.
3. It is made from a material that is fire-resistant, so you will feel safer in your own home. However, you should not rely on that, as it is combustible. In case of a big fire, it will burn.
4. It is a breathable material. Many people are scared that installing rockwool on your wall is going to allow it to grow bacteria. That is very wrong. This material will allow moisture to escape from the construction, so you don’t have to worry about that.
5. It constitutes a compression-resistant material that can be used as roofing boards or bonded panels.
6. It’s quick and easy to install.
7. It offers a healthier environment wherever installed because it improves the thermal comfort and air quality.
8. Rockwool has an unlimited lifetime, so you don’t have to check or change it at all. It is a worth long living investment.
9. It reduces carbon footprint, so it has a minimal environmental impact.

Acoustic foam: properties, characteristics, specs

Acoustic foam is an open-celled foam used frequently for acoustic treatments. The principle behind it is to accentuate airborne sound waves by increasing air resistance.

This procedure will usually reverb and flutter echoes as well. The result is the reduced amplitude of the sound waves. The energy is dissipated as heat.

It is a lightweight material made from polyurethane foam from either polyether or polyester.

They are easy to recognize as most of them have a special cut.

They are cut into tiles, often with pyramid or wedge shapes. This cut allows them to be effective in terms of soundproofing, while also improving the sound quality of the room.

Just like the rockwool, you can pretty much place them anywhere, including walls, the ceiling, or even doors. Some of the acoustic foam products only require you to stick them wherever you planned.

To stick, just unpeel the backing and stick where you want it. They come in little pieces, so you need to do that for each of them: very easy to install.

The design is great as well. It’s subtle and good looking. They come in several different colors, so you can match them with where you want them to be installed. They are sold in different thicknesses as well.

However, you should watch out for this characteristic when buying. When soundproofing a place, the thickness of the acoustic foam is not as important as its density. Make sure you first look at that.

Rockwool has a lot of the characteristics of rockwool, so rewriting them isn’t necessary.

Usages of Rockwool and acoustic foam

Although they may seem like normal soundproof materials, they can do more than that. They can be used for secondary uses such as:

1. You can use them to improve the fire protection in the house.
2. You can use them in order to create a studio.
3. You can install them if you have a band, and you don’t want to upset your neighbors.
4. They are also used for better heating in a room, etc.

However, as their main purpose is soundproofing, don’t use them just for these uses.

Rockwool vs Acoustic foam

Overall, my recommendation is rockwool. It is cheaper and more efficient, as it can block lower sounds as well. It also comes in thicker pieces, so it can absorb more sound.

On the other hand, acoustic foam has a much better design that can make your room look very professional. You will see this in most of the popular sound recording studios.

As a funny fact, you can even grow plants inside rockwool.

An important factor is to keep placement in mind for both of the materials here. I told you that rockwool is more efficient, but, placed in random places, it can do less work than acoustic foam placed in key locations.

People will have different preferences, so I’m going to recommend the best products for both of them.

Recommendations

Rockwool products are different, depending on where and how you want to install it. That is why I’m going to recommend you the https://www.rockwool.com website. You can browse there and choose the “want” section. You can also find them on Amazon.

It will suggest products for either wood interior, steel interior, party, or multipurpose wall insulation. If you don’t want wall insulation, they have a special set of questions that will make sure you are going to get the best products.

They pretty much offer you everything, including a DIY installation of rockwool. People are very happy as well according to reviews, so I recommend giving it a try.

As for acoustic foam, my suggestion is the Auralex Acoustics SonoFlat. Auralex is one of the most popular brands that produce acoustic foam products. This one, in particular, comes in 3 different colors and offers a good value for the price. It has a high density, absorbing mid to high-frequency reflections to control the ambiance of any room.

Moreover, it alleviates flutter echo and slap back, being resistant and not deteriorating or crumble apart over time.

The composition of it is interesting and environmentally friendly, as it is formulated out of soy components. They don’t have any pyramid shape, but they still absorb a good amount of noise.

All of those for about $90 per 14 panels, quickly delivered by Amazon. Clients seem to be overall happy, as it has a 3.7-star review. The link to it here.

How to install rockwool

Here is a visual guide:

I told you everything about it, even where to buy it, but now here comes the most important part. After you buy it, you need to install it of course. My advice is to use a material called a Cascadia clip.

It will make your life easier. It is a fiberglass spacer designed to support vertical or horizontal girts. You will need rockwool, steel poles, a knife, ta ape measure, Cascadia clips, and stick pins. So let’s get to work.

Step 1.

Always take your measurements first. After you planned everything in your head, mark it in order to be more precise. It is important to start at the inside and outside corners and work from there.

Step 2.

Attach the Cascadia clips. You will want them about 24 inches from the center.

Step 3.

Install the metal girts, making sure that the fasteners penetrate all the way through and into the steel studs.

Step 4.

Install the insulation retention system but make sure you use the temporary stick pins to make your job easier.

Step 5.

Install the insulation by fitting one side of the rockwool behind the unfastened leg, then do the same with the other side. There shouldn’t be any void or gaps in the insulation if you installed it correctly.

That was it for the vertical installation. If you want to install it horizontally, change the Cascadia clips position and make sure you cut the rockwool so it fits snug between the steel poles.

How to install acoustic foam

Here is a visual guide:

Depending on the type of acoustic foam, you may only need just to unstick the material on the back and place them wherever you like. However, I’m still going to explain how to install those that do not come with such a simple system.

However, acoustic foam is easier to install then rockwool, so don’t be too pessimistic. It shouldn’t take you more than 1 or 2 hours, depending on the area you want to cover.

First, get the materials. You are going to need acoustic foam, a tape measure, cardboard sheets, a handsaw, an electric carving knife, a foam tack or a tube tack, tacks and tack hammer, safety goggles, and a dust mask.

Step 1.

Take measurements of the part of the room that you want to insulate. You don’t need to cover all of it, but you need to place the acoustic foam in the key parts of your specific room.

Step 2.

Cut the cardboard with the hand saw into pieces that are the exact size as the acoustic foam panels. You may wonder why I told you to use this material. If you do want to remove the acoustic foam, it will not damage your wall if you place them on the cardboard pieces.

Step 3.

Attach the foam to the panel if they are the same size. Use either the foam tack or the tube tack to do that.

Step 4.

Using the tack hammer, nail the panels to the parts of your room. Start at the corner of each wall, and, if a piece is too big to fit when finishing, use the electric carving knife to cut the panels accordingly. Always wear both safety goggles and the dusk mask during this process.

Conclusion

No matter which design you prefer the most, both of these materials will satisfy you in certain situations. If we are talking about blocking some low frequency sounds, go with the rockwool.

If you want to soundproof a room in order to use it as a studio, go with the acoustic foam, as you may like the room to be nicer in terms of design. What material did you choose for this and why? Are you satisfied with your project?

You can use something as simple as a basement. Before you do that though, you have to make sure you won’t bother anyone from the house, so, in the next lines, I’m going to tell you how to soundproof a townhouse basement.

Introduction

There are a lot of ways you can do this, but before you get up from the bed and get to work, you need to make a quick plan. One of the most important things in soundproofing a room is budgeting.

Because you choose your basement, the price will not be too high and you can invest in some quality, specially-made materials. Why is that? In a basement, the only area you will usually need to soundproof is the ceiling.

Usually, the ceiling in a basement is only bare rafters. That allows a lot of sounds to be transmitted both ways, up and down. In our everyday life, we only come across 2 types of noise: airborne and impact noise.

For example, a guitar-playing or a conversation from upstairs are both airborne noises. On the other hand, footsteps or earthquakes are impact noises. The goal is to make a room that is very quiet from the inside and outside.

Basic principles

The basic principles of soundproofing your basement are:

• because the sound propagates in waves of energy, you will need to stop the waves from advancing in order to stop the sound
• make the sounds go around corners to lose energy
• use some dissimilar materials
• decouple the room from the main structure

Some of them are more costly than others, and I suppose you came here because you are on a budget. Usually, wealthy people just go to a specialized website and order all the products from there and even call some workers to install them.

Money makes people very lazy, and you definitely don’t want that. Firstly, I’m going to present to you some really cheap and fast methods, then I’m going to tell you about the more complicated, but more efficient, methods.

Cheap methods

The first method that came in my mind may seem silly, but it actually works in case you just wanted a quiet room where you can relax. The method is laying some carpets or moving them in order to stop some simple noises, like footsteps and TV sounds coming into the basement.

The biggest advantage of this method is that most people already own carpets, and it’s just a matter of some physical work. If you don’t, they are really cheap and easy to order, maybe you even can customize them.

The thicker they are, the more effective they will be. It’s a really good solution of stopping impact noises, and, after all, they’ll make your house prettier. The bad news is that it will not prevent noise from leaking outwards in case you wanted to create a studio or practice with your band, but we will get to that later.

The second option may seem obvious, but I am amazed at the number of people that don’t know this easy trick. Go in your basement and look on the ceiling. You might not even know about them, but there is a chance your ceiling has gaps. What do these gaps do? They allow sound to fly through there.

Sealing them is not hard and expensive at all. You can use something as simple as caulking seals, and you definitely will observe the improvement. You can buy those on Amazon for about $10. If you decide to ignore the holes, not even the priciest methods will stop the sound completely.

Another easy method would be moving your furniture. You are probably asking yourself right now: how in the world is that going to help me?

Let me help you answer that. Go in your basement and make a loud sound like screaming or playing your guitar at a really high volume, and have one more person in the room above it.

That should easily indicate the areas where the most sound is propagated. All you have to do then is move your chunky furniture there. Trust me, it will make a huge difference. That costs 0 money.

However, it depends on your loudest sound area. If it is in a corner, jackpot, but you can’t place a closet in the middle of the room just to make the basement quieter.

More effective ways

If you want something more effective, you can try soundproof panels, which you can find on the internet. The price may shock you a little, but fear not, it isn’t as bad as you think.

Remember, you are in the basement. The only part you worry about is the ceiling. You will also notice there are a lot of types of panels. I will tell you about the most popular ones.

Soundproofing egg crate

Burton Acoustic’s panels, which are soundproof foam panels (check price on Amazon), are your best friends with this method. You can find them on Amazon for about $35 per pack, and the pack has 4 pieces. As you can see from the images, this is the professional gear that studios use for soundproofing. They are very light as well, just under 2 pounds (about 900 grams), which means you can even tape them on the ceiling. Just make sure you use the right tape.

MusiQ Resource’s RESON8

Another great product is MusiQ Resource’s RESON8 foam (check price on Amazon) if you want to spend a little less money. It’s not as effective as the earlier foam but still does its job.

It even comes with an amazing feature: peel and stick. This will also save the money you were going to spend on tape because it does exactly what you think. You just peel off the material, and it will stick to the ceiling.

Even if it isn’t that effective, it does work better for echo reduction if you are planning on building a home studio.

The next best option, but also pricier, are the wooden panels from ATS Acoustics (check price on Amazon). They have a really nice design and definitely will add a little style to your boring basement. However, make sure you mount them really well, you don’t want to wake up with such a hard block smashing on your head. They need to be affixed to the ceiling.

What are the advantages of these options? This is one of the most effective ways to stop noise from leaking outwards, reduces echo, and also will make a song recorded in there sound angelic. With the right person singing, of course.

Acoustic Panels

The downsides of those are the sound that will leak inward, and, of course, the price.

Special materials

One of the best materials you can use for an almost completely soundproof basement is insulation. You can even use regular ceiling insulation, but once you get some acoustic insulation, you will feel the full difference, even though they are the same thickness.

Soundproofing with Mineral Wool Panels

The one that I recommend is Mineral Wool Insulation from Roxul (check price on Amazon). It is really easy to mount as well, just cut the insulation panels so they can fit the joist cavities. Then just press them in between the joists.

You should keep in mind that the insulation needs to be light, not jammed, and make sure you don’t let it be too tight to the ceiling.

The next material you should consider is MLV (Mass Loaded Vinyl). It is really popular and used in a lot of workings. What makes MLV a sound blocker material? Its main elements are vinyl and a high mass element that gives the material enough density and acts as a sound barrier.

How to install MLV

There isn’t much to say about the installation itself because it is really easy. The disadvantage of the material is that it requires 2 people to install properly. So, if you are looking to surprise your wife when she gets home, you are going to need to call a friend.

You can even ask a kid for help because the only thing that the second person should do is just holding the mats in place. You can start installing it in any corner but always watch out so the sheets are straight along with the ceiling.

There are some tips you should keep in mind when doing this in order to make sure everything stays in place. Place some fasteners every 10 inches or less, so the MLV will stay there. Try to end all seams on joists as well. Whenever the seams fall on the joist, you can add a strip of vinyl.

You should always apply MLV directly to the ceiling joists and under the drywall when possible. Don’t start ruining your basement by destroying the drywall if it is already installed. If there is no other way, you should attach materials directly on top of it.

A quick reminder for those who really care about the design of their basement, you should consider that this material comes in black only. If you are trying to make a colorful and happy looking basement, my advice is to use another method.

Conclusion

Overall, there are plenty of ways you could turn your basement into your childhood dream. However, I repeat, you should first consider how effective you want the soundproof basement to be and how much money you are willing to spend.

If you want an effortless method that is going to make your basement 100% soundproof, I’m afraid I am going to disappoint you. There is no such thing.

Although with some quality materials, a little sweat, and some dollars spent, you can nail a very nice project. What was your experience with your basement? Share your story with us so you can help others with their work!

Traveling around the world and admiring architecture can be pretty amazing. Towns are spruced up by the sight of terraced houses, and they photograph well. Yet, living in a house where you share walls with others has its ups and downs.

The perks of living in a terraced house

First off, let’s see what a terraced house is. It is the construction of identical houses built in a row with shared walls between them. Originating in Europe, the Brits call them terrace houses, while in the US you usually hear the terms townhouses or row houses.

The drawback of having a home with shared walls is the noise. Regardless of how old or new the construction is, sooner or later you will suffer from neighbor’s noise.

Where’s the noise coming from?!

You cannot always blame it on the next door neighbors. Other factors contribute to the nuisance:

• Design and structure of the building
• Squeaky floors and/or staircases
• Pipework that travels through the walls
• Heating systems that make a lot of noise when working

How does noise travel!?

Whether through a liquid, solid, or gas, sound needs a carrier to move. It vibrates against that carrier and gets heard next door.

The more layers of material it has to travel through, the fainter it will come on the other side. Thus, if you want to suppress the sound coming through the shared wall or walls, you need to add layers.

How can noise pollution affect your health!?

In time, you’ve probably gotten used to the noise coming from your wall-sharing neighbors. You might even tolerate it to some degree. But research shows that, along the way, noise can produce health issues.

Living surrounded by constant or intermittent noise correlates with:

• Higher risk of heart disease – blood pressure increases and the heart is under a lot of stress.
• Hearing problems- we can only deal with a certain range of sounds. Exposure to loud and constant sounds cause damage to our eardrums.
• Sleeping disorders – noise causes stress which leads to poor sleep, irritation, and fatigue.

Prevent the unwanted effects of noise pollution and ensure a comfortable atmosphere in your terraced home. Soundproof it.

Now, your party wall(s) can have different structures. This means different soundproofing approaches:

Brick or block layer walls covered with plasterboard – You need to add a structure between the actual wall and the plasterboard. Then, you fill it in with insulation material. *You might lose some room space due to the extra layer of insulation.

Hollow stud structures – You already have the space needed to add either mineral wool, fiberglass, or foam insulation.

Another option if the noise is bad – build a new wall that is completely separated from the existing party wall. You’ve guessed it, this one is trickier! It reduces the size of your room, and it is more expensive. Plus, the process takes longer and to get insulation between the two walls is not easy.

No matter the situation, you need to cancel the noise one way or another. So let’s start off with the basic principles of soundproofing.

Principles of soundproofing a wall

Understanding the basic principles of soundproofing can ease you into the process. There are 5 principles to consider: mass, absorption, conduction, mechanical decoupling, and resonance.

1. Mass – the denser the layer, the better the absorption of sound. To tick the box for this principle, you need to buy a very dense plasterboard. Another trick is to use more than one layer provided you have space.
2. Absorption – basically, something to absorb the sound frequencies. If the party wall is decoupled, the insulation will be more effective. Otherwise, if the wall has a stud structure, the effect of the insulation will not be so great. You can use foam, mineral wool, or fiberglass to trap the noise.
3. Conduction – refers to the vibration of solid objects when sound travels through. This is what makes the noise pass gently from the neighbor’s house into yours. A wall that has studs covered by plasterboard will favor the transmission of sound.

Plumbing and Flanking Noise soundproofing

Aside from people next door, you may also have to deal with flanking noise. That is noise coming from within the wall like the plumbing.

1. Mechanical decoupling – best way to reduce sound conduction. The most effective soundproof walls are those that leave no room for sound to travel, but it is not enough to ensure mechanical isolation alone. Simply decoupling a wall will cancel mid and high frequency sounds. Yet, low frequencies will still get through. You must satisfy at least one other principle of soundproofing for effective results.
2. Resonance – a well-insulated wall will still resonate at the right frequency of sound. It will cancel the voices, but the sound of a bass will be able to get through. This happens because low frequencies can make the components of the wall vibrate even so. This is how to address the issue:

• Make sure there is plenty of mass inside the wall and plenty of air. The mass reduces the vibration and the air absorbs the noise.
• Damping reduces resonance and conduction by redirecting and trapping the sound.

Hopefully, you now have an idea about soundproofing and how it works. The next step is to shop around for materials and make an inventory of our tools.

Materials for soundproofing

• Framing materials/struts – you need to build a frame for your insulation material of choice;
• Insulation material – fiberglass, mineral wool, or spray foam;
• Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound – it is an effective noise cushioning material. It goes a very good job and is easy to use. Read more about it here. *You can use other products of choice, this is only a suggestion!
• Green Glue Sealant – used it to seal the gaps between the isolation and the floor, ceiling, and other walls if the case. Here is more info on it. *Optional
• Plasterboard – 2 layers to better hold the insulation material;
• Screws for the plasterboard

Things to consider:

* The number of materials needed varies on your needs, wall size, and thickness of soundproofing.

**Green Glue is not available everywhere. Many suppliers don’t carry it, but you can buy it online. If not, use substitutes like glues, silicones, resins, etc. You can also skip it and add more insulation.

Tools for soundproofing

• Caulk gun for the Green Glue
• Drill
• Rock knife
• Masking tape
• Ruler
• Safety equipment – face mask, gloves, and glasses. *Use them at all times, safety first!

Now it is time to get your hands dirty and prepare for some inevitable frustration.

Steps to soundproofing your wall

1. Start by building the frame for the soundproofing material. Use the struts/wooden poles to frame the wall that you want to insulate

To meet the mechanical decoupling principle, you can leave a small gap between the wall and the frame. It will decrease the potential of sound transmission.

To protect the floor, use the masking tape/duct tape.

Position the frame making sure you keep it straight, in line with the marginal walls and ceiling.

Fix the frame by gluing or screwing it on the lateral sides.

If you don’t want to drill holes in your floor, use some spacers.

1. Add the insulation material

Measure and cut the material to size or spray foam as needed. The frame you made should contain the layer of material.

If you use fiberglass, make sure to wear the protective gear at all times. It is very dangerous if it reaches your eyes, lungs, or skin.

3. 1. Add the first layer of plasterboard

   Measure and cut to size so that it covers the entire wall. If the wall is wide, use multiple pieces.

   Attach the layer and screw it to the wooden frame.

   Use the Green Glue sealant to fill in all the gaps. This way no path will remain open for the sound to get through. The sealant must dry for 24 hours.

   1. Add the second layer of plasterboard

   Measure and cut to size to fit the first layer.

   Have some fun now! Put the Green Glue all over the plasterboard and attach to the other layer while still wet.

   Screw the two layers of plasterboard together.

   1. *Optional – use the sealant to fill the seams between the two layers of plasterboard

   DONE!

   You can now breathe with relief; although, you’ve finished the job only from a soundproofing perspective. To make the house nice looking again, some texture and paint will do the trick. But, by now, you can call it a day and call someone to take care of the visual aspect.

   Other tips to keep the noise out

   Aside from soundproofing the shared wall(s), you can use these methods to reduce noise pollution in your home:

   • Furniture – place more pieces of furniture on the shared wall. The sound will have to travel even more layers of material.
   • Rugs – absorb the noise coming through the floor. Maybe you have downstairs neighbors as well!
   • Windows – better sound canceling windows make a difference. Add a pair of thick curtains and you’re golden.

   All in all, if you don’t feel like jumping into a major project like this one, get help from an expert. Terraced houses, although a sight for sore eyes, can become quite stressful. When you have the sensation that your neighbor is living with you, then it is time to insulate!

   Happy soundproofing!