When constructing a home, a wall is often constructed out of plasterboard. Sheetrock or drywall is the name given to this material in several countries. Plasterboard designed specifically to prevent noise from penetrating is called acoustic plasterboard and is significantly thicker and denser than standard plasterboard.

To further increase their level of efficacy, several varieties of soundproof plasterboard have an additional layer of soundproofing material. Some others have a dense centre. When it comes to soundproofing, the rule of thumb is that the more bulk there is, the better it will be in blocking sound. Plasterboard is often heavier due to this factor since it impacts the weight of the plasterboard.

How It’s Used

Because acoustic plasterboard is installed in the same manner as traditional plasterboard, it is suitable for installation in any room of the home. The only place where this rule may be broken is in a bathroom, where you would require plasterboard that is resistant to moisture. However, soundproofing your bathroom can sometimes be something you’re interested in.

If your walls have already been taken down to the joists, then you may hang it just like any other plasterboard by screwing it to the joists. This is only necessary if your walls have been taken down to this level. If this is not the case, and assuming the space is not very constrained, you might install the acoustic board on top of the wall that is already there. When you do this, you should stagger the boards so that the upper layer covers the connections on the lower layer.

It is important to remember that soundproofing is all about filling the gaps, regardless of the method you select. After erecting the walls, you should apply acoustic tape where the panels meet and acoustic sealant around the edges to achieve the best possible results. You should also remember that floors broadcast a lot of impact noise, so if that is what you are hearing, this won’t help too much. Floors transfer a lot of noise.

How Effective Is It?

If all the holes are sealed, a single layer of acoustic plasterboard may minimise noise by about 35db. The noise level in a crowded restaurant would be around 70 dB. You would cut this in half, making the volume a whisper. So altogether, not too bad. Nearly no noise should get through if you put another layer of plasterboard and soundproof foam between them.

You must keep in mind that a room’s walls are only one component. It might not be as silent as you would want if you utilised acoustic plasterboard but didn’t soundproof the ceiling, the floor, the door, or the windows. Because of the spaces around them, windows and doors may allow in a lot of noise. The walls will hardly make a difference if you’re attempting to stop noise from coming down to the below apartment.