We all live in a dynamic, fast-paced world, with the hectic pace consuming so much of our energy. As we go on about our days, we are often immersed in noise pollution. From having to deal with loud everyday traffic noises, ultra loud music, crying babies, or screaming neighbors, all of these usual and ordinary human or mechanical sounds create much of a racket that can compound and create health issues if we are not careful.
Apart from damaging the ears, being in a noisy environment can actually lead a host of other issues like sleepless night, anxiety, stress, and even decreased productivity. We cannot ignore these things because these are detrimental to our health. If you happen to live in an area that is super noisy, then you have to take the necessary steps to mitigate the problem.
By working hard to improve the acoustics of where you spend majority of your time in, you will actually be doing yourself a huge favor. Although seemingly small, dampening all the noise has the capacity of improving your quality of life. In this modern world, there are many things that can help solve this matter without the need for a major renovation or construction work.
Improving your home or office acoustics can be done without much effort and monetary investment. If you are searching for ways to mitigate the noise in your life, then you have come to the right place. Read on below to see some possible solutions to the noise issues that plague your general surroundings.
The Answers to Your Problems
To dampen noise, the number one solution is acoustic panels. You can either buy it or make it yourself. The most critical element that defines this panel is the noise absorbing material that is at the heart or core of the panel. There are actually many different kinds of sound dampening materials that you can opt to utilize.
These sound deadening materials usually come in a pack of six panels, and they typically have two inches worth of thickness, excelling in their job of drowning out any kind of noise. The size is generally 24×48 inches large, doing the remarkable work of filtering out sounds.
Check out our favorite tried and tested sound deadeners below, which you can use for your DIY project of making your own acoustic panels.
These materials for making your own acoustic panels are:
As you can see, all the items listed above have an affordable price. Some of them have a variation in pricing, but they still do belong in the category that doesn’t break the bank. They will all work just fine to help you deaden the noise in your surroundings.
After you have decided on what material to use for the core of your DIY acoustic panel, you will need to pick out your framing materials. You can opt for flat square panels or circular boards depending on your preference. Take note: you will most likely cut these into into 24” and 49” lengths, so you will certainly be needing at least 12 eight-foot boards, especially if you’re thinking of going the full six panel route.
How Do Acoustic Panels Work
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of making your own acoustic panel, we must first define how they work, so you can appreciate these nifty devices. There are actually several methods which you can rely on to drown out the everyday noise that constantly inundate your life. There are two main methods of soundproofing and these are: blocking out noise and absorbing noise.
One of the popular solutions that get that job done is called acoustic panels. These are usually made of soft material that feels like a sponge, which does a wonderful job of absorbing noises. This thick material catches noise in its threads. Once noise it caught, it won’t be able to bounce off as it normally would when it hits a hard or flat wall surface.
Acoustic panels have the capability of reducing the echo in your room and making it so much quieter. This may not completely soundproof your room, but they will definitely work wonders in improving the acoustics wherever you decide to put them up in. By absorbing the sound, these acoustic panels will work by isolating your room from the noise environment, which is our ultimate goal.
Building Your Own Do-It-Yourself Acoustic Panels
Since you have made the decision that this method is the kind of soundproofing you need, you can start installing them on your walls so they can begin working their wonders. Of course, you can opt buy finished acoustic foam panels. However, the drawback of doing this is once you place them on your walls, you will realize that they do nothing for your home aesthetics. They may get the job done, but they are not at all pretty to look at.
If you happen to enjoy arts and crafts and do not mind a little bit of handy work, you can do these acoustic panels yourself. It can be something like a fun weekend project that will also save you a little bit of money. The most important aspect, you will be able to custom build the look and the appearance of these panels, giving you an overall look that will be much more pleasant once your are done.
If we do a little bit of math, you will realize that it is so easy to make about six of these panels for as little as one hundred dollars or less. You will be able to enjoy that process and you will definitely prefer the finished product cause it is more beautiful. Thus, it makes a lot more sense to put on those working gloves and start DIY-ing in great style. Below are some of the things that you will need to have first.
Tools That You Will Need for Your DIY Project
Apart from the above mentioned materials from Amazon, you will be needing some tools to get your DIY project going. Some of them are typical things or gadgets that are in your home tool kit. If you don’t have them, you can borrow them from friends or family members. Here are some of the things you will need to have in your arsenal for easy access:
- Any type of saw
You will need any kind of saw that will facilitate the cutting of your frame into tiny squares. You can use a hand saw or a something like a chop saw for your project.
- Drilling equipment
You will certainly need your drill bits or a whole electric drill itself, so you can drill holes for your screws to latch onto your chosen frame.
- Tape measure
For the sake of accuracy and to tighten everything properly, use your trusty tape measure and pencil to define correctly and mark the frame piece lengths properly.
- Stapling devices
You will need a staple gun, and of course, staple so you can attach your chosen fabric to the frame.
- Carving knife
In order to cut the insulation to the proper fitted size, you need to use a carving or utility knife to get the job done.
Ways to Build Your Own Acoustic Panel
Now, we get to the fun part of our project. How do you actually build this panel from scratch? Don’t panic! Here we have the detailed steps indicated below, which will help guide you in getting these done correctly.
Step 1: Building the Panel Frame
You will need to measure your boards with your tape measure. Take your time doing this because you have to make sure things are accurate in order for you to cut the materials down to its proper dimensions. You will have to cut each 8ft board into 24” and 49-⅜” sizes.
So, after doing the math, you will realize that you need to acquire 12 side boards and 12 top boards. From these, you will be able to construct and make 6 panel frames, which you can install on your walls to deaden the noise. Once you have done this, it is time to lay down those boards and begin lining the insulation panel inside.
You must mark the proper places where you intend to screw on and attach your frame. Do this with a pencil, so you can properly align and attach the insulation core. You don’t want them to be skewed so make sure that things are aligned well.
When the time comes for you to drill the actual screw holes, you have to ascertain that the holes you are making are a tiny bit smaller than the screw size you intend to use for the project. This ensures that your screws will not be loose. This will tighten everything and keep things in its proper place without the possibility of loosening or splitting.
If you want to make sure that everything is extra tight and fits well, you can use wood glue as the base layer. Then you can just screw the pieces together after the glue application. The final step is completing this puzzle with the application of an adhesive spray, which you can blast this along the exterior edges and the outer coverings of your panel of choice. Then fit the insulation material to your frame and let things cool down for at least twenty-four hours.
Step 2: Preparing Your Chosen Fabric for the Panels
This step is crucial if you want to transform those nasty looking panels into a nice aesthetic piece that can serve to highlight or act as a backdrop to your home. Since the panel’s purpose is to absorb sound, it is vital to pick the right kind of fabric as the cover. There are some fabric types that are not sound-transparent, so they reflect the sound and destroy the purpose of your panels.
It is vital to find the right fabric type that will also work in absorbing sound. There are many pretty fabrics for sale out there that can do the job. To test, the sound absorbing quality of the fabric, just simply hold the material against your mouth and blow right through it. If you feel some sort of pressure and resistance, then this kind of fabric will not be the right one to help serve the purpose of your panels.
Some materials that will not help with getting things done are leather, vinyl, and some acrylic lined fabrics. The absorbent materials that you need are those with thick fibers. These can be found anywhere and easily purchase in your local fabric shops.
- Use for soundproofing basements, conference rooms, studios, apartments, machinery, pipes and more.
- STC rating 27, 1/8" thick
Step 3: Hanging the Panels
The next consideration is where to hang your panels. You can actually hand them on your walls just like any ordinary artwork. If you have utilized your imagination to make them look creative and beautiful, then you can proudly display these without issues.
For best results, you can opt to add a tiny airspace between the walls and your DIY panels. This can just be tiny like an inch, so that sound deadening will be at its optimal quality. Apart from that, you have to secure your panels, so they don’t fall down, putting all your hard work into waste. Since these panels have some weight on them, you have to work on securing them well to your wall.
Purchase and sue these heavy-duty picture hangers because they will bear all the brunt of your panels easily. Remember that a heavy duty hanger should be placed on both sides of your frame for maximum protection. Doing these additional steps will secure your panels and allow you to enjoy your handiwork for years to come.
Step 4: Listen to Your New Peace
Now that everything is done and you have set things in place, it is time to kick back and relax. Just enjoy listening to the new acoustics and better sound quality of your room. Enjoy your handiwork because you deserve it after all the time and effort that you painstakingly put it.
If you have done this for your own home theater, then do a test run and play that movie. You will undoubtedly be blown away by the new acoustic stylings of your DIY Theater. You will be amazed at the unbelievable difference in the acoustics and sound quality bouncing on your walls.
Bottom Line
Building your own acoustic panels is not really as difficult as we all thought it was. If you invest your time and effort in making your own acoustic panels, you will end up having one that possess a much more superior quality than the drab stock ones that you can buy right off the shelves. You can custom fit this to your wall, unlike factory-made panels that come in a one-size fits all size.
Depending on what you need, you can even craft these into different shapes with your own fabric choice that can match the design elements of your place. This inexpensive project will work hard in boosting the aesthetics of your home or office space. The most important thing about doing this kind of project is to have fun with the process. Let your personality shine through your handiwork and enjoy the fruits of your labor in the end.
