Does Soundproof Paint Really Work? (Beyond Soundproofing Myths)
Are you looking for a cheap solution to reduce the noise around you? Do you want a soundproofing method that would require you little to no construction in your room? Perhaps you should consider using a soundproof paint.
Some people think that soundproof paint is not a real noise control solution and it is a myth. However, some users put in their reviews for soundproofing paint products with their positive thoughts. Soundproofing paint works by absorbing mid-range sound waves that come inside your room. It promises to deaden the sound before it gets in.
Top 3 Soundproofing Paint
Regular Paint versus Soundproofing Paint
Regular paint is just regular paint. It comes in different shades. It is thin. It dries easily. Regular paints are also easier to apply. When it comes to cost, a regular paint costs less than soundproof paint.
Regular paints are used for aesthetic purposes. It is to make a home looks better inside and out. Most homes use paint to protect their roof from the sun as well. It is a way to strengthen a roof’s shelf life.
Then we have soundproofing paint. Soundproof paints are available in one shade – white. Some are a bit darker or lighter, but it is white. Soundproof paints are water-based. A soundproof paint becomes soundproof because of its latex ingredient. It dries fast too. Most importantly, most soundproofing paints are non-toxic.
Does Soundproof Paint Works and is Not a Myth?
What other people say:
It is like ordinary paint. It comes with limited color options and it doesn’t do anything to deaden the sound.
Soundproof paint is not thick enough to soundproof a room. Even if you apply a thick amount of paint into your room, you are just wasting paint, it wouldn’t work as expected.
What soundproof experts say:
What ordinary people don’t know is that the mass of soundproof paint is denser than regular paint. Soundproof paint is also made of latex materials hence it works like rubber, it can block sounds.
To make it more effective, you can apply multiple soundproof paint coatings on your wall.
Remember that soundproof paint works with certain noise frequencies. It is best to use it with other soundproofing methods that you can easily do in your room. The bottom line is if you are looking for a 100% soundproofing result, the use of soundproofing paint is just one of the methods you can use.
Top 3 Soundproofing Paint Reviews
1. Accousti-Coat Sound Deadening Latex Paint
- Acousti-Coat is a thick, soft coating designed to act as a ‘sound sponge’. Deadens sound within the area / room the sound is created in. For sound coming from other areas, use our SC 1000. Use Acousti Coat and your neighbors hear you less. Use SC 1000 and you hear your neighbors less.
- Product is designed to reduce echo and uncomfortable high frequency sounds. Ideal for home theaters, offices, meeting rooms, churches, convention areas, concert halls, etc
The Accousti-Coat soundproofing paint promises to deaden ringing and tinning noises. When playing acoustic equipment, there are background noises that travel from metal structures and sounds like an echo. These noises can be captured by your recording device if not addressed properly.
One of the reasons why we chose Accousti-Coat is its non-toxic properties. You can apply it to your room with worries. It is environmentally friendly and it is non-toxic to humans and pets.
Applying this soundproofing paint is also easy. You can use brush, roller or spray to coat your walls. It is available in white paint hence if you want to add your style, you can cover this white soundproofing paint with another paint color.
Pros
- It is made of latex.
- It comes with sound-absorbing fillers.
- It comes with ceramic microspheres.
- It features ThermaCels technology.
- Environmental and human-friendly.
Cons
- Limited color availability.
- Limited effect.
- Work with mid-frequency noise only.
2. Super Soundproofing Liquid Paint
- Reduce noise created by dampening Sinks and Shower/Tub Bottoms (For Outside)
- Great for noise reduction: A REAL SOUND DEADENING COATING
If you are looking for a way to reduce your surrounding noise, you can consider painting your room with the Super Soundproofing Liquid Paint from Super Soundproofing. This paint promises to deaden the sound coming from the outside like vibrating sounds from sinks and tubs.
This paint is made of water-based materials and it was produced with environmentally friendly chemicals. No harmful ingredients that can affect humans or pets were used in making this product.
Pros
- Increases wall thickness.
- Dries quickly.
- Environmental and human-friendly.
Cons
- Need multiple coatings.
- Limited color availability.
3. Acry-Tech Acoust-X Damping Paint
- SOUND DEADENING SPRAY: Spectrum liquid sound dampening material is a high heat, water based viscoelastic polymer, formulated and tested by Second Skin to adhere to metal and stop it from vibrating. Stop the vibrations, stop the noise!
- CAR SOUND DEADENING & INSULATION: Used to dampen vibrations and stop thermal transfer on metal surfaces in all types of vehicles (cars, boats, trucks). Spectrum also works well on metal warehouse carts, sub-woofer boxes, and HVAC ducts. Spectrum works by stopping vibrations. It will NOT block or absorb airborne sound waves.
One of the reasons why we recommend a soundproofing coat is because it is easy to use as a soundproofing product. To keep the noise and vibration down, you will just need a brush or a roller and an Acry-Tech Acoust-X Damping Paint.
This soundproofing paint is made of water-soluble material for easy cleanup. If you want to control the vibration and resonance coming from your large speakers, this is the best product to use. It comes with a viscoelastic layer for constrained-layer damping.
Pros
- Reduces vibrations from speakers.
- Control resonance from acoustic equipment.
Cons
- Works with speakers only.
- It takes time to dry.
Other DIY Soundproofing Methods that You Can Try
If you are soundproofing a recording studio, soundproofing paint is not enough to deaden the sound. It won’t work especially on high-frequency sounds from the outside such as a honking car, live TV, and a crying baby. What else can you do then after using soundproof paint?
1. Take Advantage of Your Home Décor and Furniture
One thing that you can rearrange to help to soundproof your room is your bookshelves and cabinets. Push them towards the wall – the one that is facing the street or where the noise is coming from.
Add mass to your wall by decorating it with a canvas painting. Choose a canvas painting with thicker fabric. Fabrics absorb sound as well.
2. Check for Cracks and Holes
Always check for that gaps between your door and its frame or your windows and its frame. Noise passes through it.
You can block these holes with things that you can find in your kitchen like a thick rug. Place the thick rug outside your room to block the hole on your door. You can also add thickness to your door by covering your door with thick blankets.
3. Borrow Your Mother’s Blankets
After applying gallons of soundproofing paint and you still hear noise on your recordings – don’t be sad. You can make your walls thicker by hanging blankets. These blankets will dampen the sound.
Ask your mom for her thickest blankets. Stretch it out on your windows and walls. Blankets can absorb the noise coming into your room. It also deadens the sound coming out of your room. If mom agrees, you can nail it on the walls but if not, just hang them curtain rods.
4. Use Egg Cartons
Is this another myth like the soundproofing paint? The truth is, egg cartons don’t work as a soundproofing material. It cannot block sounds. However, egg cartons can reduce echo coming from your acoustic instruments.
How can egg cartons reduce echo sounds from your acoustic instrument? The principle here is simple, when sound travels to smooth surfaces like walls, the sound simply bounces back. It echoes. When you place egg cartons on your walls, windows, and doors, the uneven and undulated structure of the egg carton stops the sound from reverting.
Other Soundproofing Products that You Can Buy
The myth of using soundproof paint is not true. However, remember that it only works for certain noise frequencies. To make your soundproofing more effective, you have to spend a few bucks. The good news is, there are products that you can purchase to make your room 100% soundproof. Here are some of them.
1. Soundproof Blankets
What if your mom doesn’t have thick blankets because you are living in a tropical country? Then it is time to order acoustic blankets from the internet! Acoustic blankets don’t cost much. You can get one for as low as $30. These acoustic blankets are lightweight and are easy to set-up in your room while promising to reduce up to 21dB of noise.
No products found.
Soundproof blankets are like regular blankets. It comes with sewn-in brass grommets for easy hanging. Most soundproof blankets are single-faced meaning the back part is not coated.
2. Soundproof Curtains
If your soundproof paint is almost enough but the white paint is making your room a little dull, then cover your walls with soundproof curtains. Most soundproof curtains don’t just deaden sounds, it also provides thermal insulation. Choose a soundproof curtain that also blocks direct sunlight to reduce heat costs.
Soundproof curtains come in different designs. You can even mix your curtains and blankets to add life to your recording room.
- 3in1 solution: Soundproof, Blackout and Thermal insulation - Patented Technology
- According to test laboratories, the sound energy is folded by 4, reaching a drop of up to 7 decibels*
3. Weatherstrips
You can use weatherstrips to block noises from coming in from cracks and holes in your door or the gap between your door and its frame. Aside from stopping noise leaks, it also stops moisture and air leaks. Most weatherstrips come in different sizes and designs to accommodate your door or window size and frame.
- V-Flex Design Stops Air And Moisture Leaks
- Flexible Design Expands And Contracts To Seal Varying Size Gaps
Another reason why it is best to have weatherstrips is to prevent bugs from getting inside your soundproof room. If it is a recording room, bugs can get into your wires and equipment. Weatherstrips will keep bugs out. If you are working on an air-conditioned soundproof room, it reduces energy loss as well, as it prevents the cold air from escaping out.
Other Soundproofing Myths to Consider
Is soundproofing paint a myth? Of course not. At some point, it also helps in deadening noise and making a room soundproof. It’s just that it needs assistance from other soundproofing methods to make it more effective. Here are other soundproofing myths that you might have heard and our take whether it is a myth or not.
1. The Myth of Soundproof Foam
Can you use foam to soundproof a room? The thing is, an ordinary foam doesn’t soundproof a room, but it can absorb noise within the room. It is a noise-absorption material. Unlike water, noise cannot be trapped. Once it hits a foam, the foam absorbs the noise and vibration. However, because foam is soft, the noise will still pass through the foam.
Foam can be used as a sound barrier but not as a soundproof material per se. Just like soundproof paint, you can use foam with other soundproofing products to soundproof a room effectively.
Instead of foam, you can use rugs or thick mats for your floors to reduce vibration. There are sound absorbing foams that are known as soundproofing barrier vinyl that you can purchase online.
- 4 feet wide by 10 feet long - Best Seller - The Perfect Solution: Whether for walls ceilings, ducts or pipes, studio projects, movie theaters or residential applications, the TMS sound proof padding is a smart, affordable solution which creates a highly effective noise barrier without implying major costs, expensive handymen or your precious time.
- Premium Quality Material [PVC based not EVA]: These vinyl sheets are made in the US with superior quality, highly durable extruded virgin material, weighing 1 pound per square foot, with 1/8” thickness and STC rating of 27. A heavy-duty, long lasting texture guaranteed to withstand the test of time without easily tearing!
2. The Myth of Soundproof Egg Carton
If you are looking for a cheap way to soundproof your room, you probably heard someone gave you this advice – use egg cartons. The real score is this – egg carton can’t stop noise from coming in or coming out, but it can reduce it. The shape of egg cartons allows it to stop the noise from bouncing around a room. Just like soundproofing paint, it can be used along with other soundproofing products to reduce vibrations or echo.
Instead of egg cartons, you can use bookshelves or large cabinets to block echo and reduce vibration inside your recording room. Anti-vibration pads or smaller acoustic panels can be used as well to reduce echo from acoustic instruments.
Is It Wise to Spend on A Soundproof Paint?
To be honest, there is no single method of soundproofing that works. You have to purchase different products for the different parts of your room. You will need weatherstrips for your door, you will need soundproof blankets and curtains for your wall, and still, you will need acoustic panels everywhere too. This only shows that to soundproof your room, you have to mix and combine different soundproofing methods.
One advantage of using soundproof paint is it gives off that brand-new feeling about your room. A room that smells paint means it is new and clean. You can start your soundproofing room project by giving it a fresh soundproof paint. Once the paint is on, you can go ahead and add certain products to make it 100% soundproof.
Always look for soundproof paint that is made of latex, non-toxic, dries fast, and easy to apply. Also, if you can ask friends, a referral is your best option when it comes to picking up the best soundproof paint from the market.
Do you want to have the best soundproof product on the market today? Check our top five picks and choose the one that fits your needs.