While the function of home or commercial insulation feels fairly simple—keeping conditioned air and temperatures in and outdoor ones out—there are some additional functions it serves that should never be ignored. Not only does insulation serve to insulate against heat gain and loss, but it also serves to dampen and control sound.
The effective application of home insulation can minimize room-to-room noise and noise pollution from the outdoors greatly. Tired of getting woken up by every creak or footstep in your home, or worn out from car noise and inconsiderate neighbors who throw party after party? Insulation is the answer! You simply need to know which insulation works best, and that’s what Mooney & Moses Insulation is here to talk with you about today.
How Big of a Role Does Insulation Play in Soundproofing?
While insulation is not the number one way to reduce sound (that honor goes to decoupling), it is one of the most effective, simple, and cost-efficient methods of controlling incoming and outgoing noise. A standard home wall with no insulation, and that hasn’t been constructed with sound decoupling in mind, is a thin, hollow barrier that doesn’t block much of anything. But when you add insulation you add a material that is very effective at absorbing incoming noise (reflected by the insulation’s Noise Reduction Coefficient, or “NRC”).
What Is the Best Insulation for Dampening Sound?
There’s a bit of nitpicking that could be gotten into here since sound is a pretty precise science. You’ll want to consider what type of sound you want to block (airborne or impact), whether you’re trying to keep sound in a room (such as a studio) or whether you want to keep noise out. However, unless you’re constructing a professional-level studio, you needn’t really get into this all that much.
Needless to say, this can get complex in a hurry, but luckily there are some simple, straightforward answers to be had. Any insulation, with the exception of radiant barrier or vinyl, is going to add considerable sound dampening as long as it is installed thoroughly throughout the walls, floor separations and in the attic of a home.
For overall best sound dampening and absorption, especially compared to the thermal insulation factor they offer, the answer you’re looking for is medium to high-density cellulose or fiberglass batt or blown-in insulation. While spray foam is absolutely awesome at insulating from an energy perspective, and while it will help to dampen sound to some degree, it boasts a substantially lower NRC value and thus is a bit weaker at reducing noise pollution.
Reducing Noise Pollution Through Insulation with Mooney & Moses Insulation in Ohio
So, in the end, cellulose and fiberglass stand as the answer to which insulation blocks and absorbs sound best. That said, every home, situation and application is unique! Because of this, the answer might change a bit here and there, and so it is vitally important to discuss your options with a professional. Insulation is nearly always a good idea, but it’s an awful thing to waste your investment on a product that doesn’t fulfill your particular needs correctly.
Looking for insulation experts near you in Cincinnati, OH? Contact us online now or call (513) 341-8918 to discuss your needs with an insulation contractor!
