Best Soundproofing Insulation
What are Important Aspects to Consider When Buying Soundproofing Insulation?
Nowadays, many home and business owners are opting for soundproof insulation in order to safeguard their property from the threats of excess noise, fire, and allergens. Luckily, it’s hard to go wrong when there are so many cost effective materials available in the market.
Before opting for just any soundproofing material, you should consider what your needs are and how they can best be fulfilled. There are a huge variety of materials available at varying price points, sound resistance, and noise impact resistance.
For residential sound-blocking, it will likely be best to invest in construction sound blocking materials that are meant to be used between wall partitions. Stone wool, damping compound, and loosely packed fibers are malleable enough to be used in tight corners.
Make sure to select materials that have a high safety rating in addition to providing excellent sound-muffling. Many customers have turned away from fiberglass, due to their potential for creating respiratory illness, cuts, and debris upon installation.
Businesses and recording studios are well-served by wall-installed materials like mineral wool, vinyls, laminates, and fiberboards that can be covered in acoustical performance fabrics. As you can likely guess, the huge benefit of using external insulation is that you don’t have to rip up wall plaster just to soundproof the room.
Often, you can tell a sound-blocking insulation material is high quality if it provides benefits in addition to noise muffling. Highly dense, heavy mineral-based boards help to absorb sources of internal and external noise, while also acting as a fire retardant due to their high density.
Before making any purchases, make sure that the materials company has provided third-party certifications tests demonstrating how sound-proof their product is. Reputable companies with high-quality products should always be transparent about their materials’ quality, noise blocking capabilities, and other benefits.
Best Soundproofing Insulation Products
1. Roxul Rockboard 60 Mineral Wool Board
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Roxul Rockboard Mineral is a great option for all of your soundproofing needs. One purchase comes with a case of six boards that are each 24 by 28 by 2 inches, which makes it suitable for soundproofing small or mid-sized rooms.
The six pound per cubic foot of density allows for incredibly effective sound-blocking capabilities, since the noise is absorbed rather than reflected to empty, noise-amplifying spaces in the soundproofed room.
The rigid, mineral wool board is both fire and allergy retardant, so you can feel secure installing it in your home with pets and young children. Additionally, the sound proofing boards work well to insulate thin walls against excess sources of external heat or cold.
Many customers prefer mineral wool board since it is easier and safer to install than traditional fiberglass products. Whereas fiberglass can result in thin cuts and debris that requires cleaning after installation, the mineral wool board remains sturdy and produces much smaller amount of debris.
Mineral wool board is effective at reducing long reverbs and echoes in large spaces, studios, or recording rooms. Additionally, some customers opt to cover the wool board in Microsuede or Maine acoustic fabric in order to improve the look, feel, and sound absorption of the boards.
Best of all, the material is easy to cut with any standard box cutter. Using a straight-edged, 2 and 1/2 inch razor is effective for perfecting the size of the boards to work well in your particular space.
Depending on your needs, this material can withstand heats of over 700 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it suitable for installation in hot kitchens or use in ovens.
Mineral wool board is also cheaper per cubic foot than other sound-proofing materials, such as fiberglass or OC-703 materials. In short, it’d be hard to go wrong if you decide to invest in a caseload of mineral wool board.
Pros
- More inexpensive per cubic foot than other comparably effective soundproofing materials
- Reduces the noise of long reverbs and echos in large rooms or recording studios
- Easy to cut and customize with acoustic fabrics
Cons
- Produces a small amount of dust and debris upon installation or continuous movement
- Better suited for customers who like DIY soundproofing projects, since it doesn’t come with acoustic fabric covering
2. Roxul Rockboard 80 Mineral Wool Board
With eight pounds per cubic foot of density, the Roxul Rockboard 80 is a slightly heftier weight than its predecessor. Luckily, this increased density lends itself to even higher degrees of sound-blocking, noise reduction, and other acoustical tasks.
If you’re in the business of sound design of you work in a studio, the Roxul Rockboard 80 is a must. Made from rigid mineral wool board, the 80 is guaranteed to block external disturbances and muffle internal noises. The sound-blocking capabilities help to muffle long reverbs, echoes, booms, and other acoustical issues that plague professional studios.
Offering six boards per case, each board measures 24 by 48 by 2 inches thick and can effectively block sound from mid-sized rooms. The higher density of the mineral wool board is flame resistant of up to 2000 degrees, making it suitable to put in hot kitchens or near sources of electronic and mechanical heat.
Many customers prefer sourcing their mineral wool board directly from the manufacturers due to the product’s cheaper price per cubic foot. Typically, customers purchase the mineral wool board with acoustic fabrics such as Muslin.
Do-it-yourself sound proofing is made even easier by how customizable the board size is – the mineral wool is exceedingly easy to cut through with a utility nice. However, users should make sure to wear safety goggles and gloves when cutting the material since the edges can form thin splinters.
Pros
- Cheaper per cubic foot than other sound-proofing materials
- Easy to cut through and customize for your particular needs
- More effective at cutting out sound than Roxul 60 mineral wool board
Cons
- Some customers have complained that the board’s edges are slightly damaged upon arrival due to insufficient packaging
- Heavy to lift and install
3. Roxul Acoustic Fire Batts Mineral Wool
- It is mineral wool at a density of 2.5 pounds per cubic foot.
- AFB is flexible, like dense household insulation batts. It does not hold it’s shape like rigid fiberglass board (such as Roxul Rockboard 60)
Lightweight yet effective, the Roxul Acoustic Fire Batts come at around 2.5 pounds of density per cubic foot. Unlike fiberglass board, the material does not hold its shape and is incredibly malleable. Though some customers would believe this makes the fire batts less effective as noise blocking, many are incredibly satisfied with it’s sound-blocking capabilities.
Additionally, the acoustic fire board has a higher density than other fire batt materials, which makes it slightly more effective at blocking sound while still remaining cost effective. The light material is appropriate for providing insulation inside of walls, building into panels, or providing extra support for home frames.
Consumers should be aware that the Roxul fire batts produce more debris than other, more compact and less flexible sound-proofing materials. This is what makes the material more suitable for insulation inside of plaster rather than use as a stand-alone, wall-installed product.
During installation, users should make sure to avoid breathing in fiberglass dust or contact with eyes by wearing a pair of goggles, masks, and gloves. The product may cause respiratory, skin, and eye irritation when directly handled.
If you are in the process of building or re-walling a home, consider chipping in for the acoustic fire batts. The material should not be exposed to direct air, especially around children and pets, since it could create sensations of illness.
Pros
- Lightweight with a low density while still boasting very effective sound blocking
- Price per cubic foot is significantly cheaper than other noise-reducing insulation material
- Helps to keep heat in the building
- Easy to handle and use
Cons
- Can’t be installed directly on the wall, must be used as insulation inside the construction of the building
- May cause respiratory issues or other symptoms of illness when handled directly, as the material stirs up dust, debris, and fiberglass particles – should be handled with caution
4. Roxul Safe’n’Sound Fire and Soundproofing Insulation
- Mineral Wool Insulation in 6 pounds per unit density.
- Great as Acoustic insulation or as a soundproofing material
Roxul Safe’n’Sound is a stone wool insulation material meant to be used between wall partitions and inside of building construction. On top of providing superior acoustic performance, the Safe’n’Sound material is incredibly fire resistant and can handle temperatures up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
Additionally, the stone wool material has a low density of 2.5 feet per cubic foot despite boasting high sound-blocking capabilities. At 3 inches thick and very malleable, it’s easy for any professional or amateur home builder to effectively insulate their home against external noise, cold temperatures, and fire hazards.
Additionally, one pack comes with twelve boards of stone wool material, making it versatile enough for use in a mid-sized room between wall partitions. At 1000 Hz, the stone wool material boasts a staggering performance of 1.07 acoustical performance at 3 inches.
The stone wool is very easy to cut through since it’s such a soft and malleable material, making it perfect for installation around tight corners or hard-to-reach areas. Aside from the material’s sound-blocking capabilities, it is mildew and allergen resistant, making it safe for use around family members.
Satisfied customers state that the material is much safer than fiberglass, since it doesn’t produce nearly the amount of debris when handled directly. Stone wool is considered very cost effective, easy to use, and very versatile for a number of specific purposes.
Pros
- Provides insulation, fire resistance, allergen resistance, and noise blocking capabilities
- Very easy to cut and handle without producing too much particulate matter in the area its installed
- Inexpensive per cubic foot, especially when compared against traditional fiber glass products
Cons
- Since the density and weight is so low, it may require more insulation to produce the sound-muffling needed for professional recording studios
5. Roberts 70-193A Super Cushion Roll Flooring Underlayment
- For use with engineered wood and laminate flooring
- Provides cushion over concrete and wood subfloors
The Roberts’ felt cushion laminate underlayment is perfect for use with laminate flooring and engineered wood. Providing sufficient cushion over concrete and wood subfloors, the laminate flooring helps to provide great sound-muffling against noise disturbances.
Customers recommend the flooring material for use in apartments, walkways, or townhomes to completely cut out the sound of walking, moving, jumping, and other sources of noise from adjacent buildings.
Just one pack of the laminate flooring comes with 360 feet of square roll, which is perfect for use in a spacious room or very small apartment. Moreover, sound transmission loss tests (STC) have rated the laminate material at a 66, showing just how effective the material is at cutting out echoes, reverbs, and booms. Impact Sound Transmission Tests have demonstrated a score of over 70, in some conditions.
The one drawback that some have complained about is that the laminate is difficult to cut. Typically, professional contractors are more comfortable for the flooring than the average buyer. However, once installed, the laminate doesn’t bunch up or create any bubbles under standard linoleum or wood floors.
Pros
- Cuts out the sounds of impact, such as walking, running, and jumping
- Provides insulation against heat-sucking cold floors
- One pack is enough to completely cover spacious rooms and small apartments while being incredibly cost effective
Cons
- Very hard to cut, even with utility knives
Additionally, the Roxul stone wool insulation provides excellent allergen, dust, fire, and noise-blocking capabilities that make it excellent for use in both residential and business properties.
If you live in an apartment, the Roberts’ laminate flooring is an absolute must for blocking the noise and impact between floors while providing great home insulation.