Neighbors yelling, dogs barking, noise from the highway, and kids playing are just some of the sounds that make you want to soundproof rooms in your home.

Did you know foam insulation can help keep that noise down with its sound-dampening qualities?

The first thing you need to know about reducing noise is the difference between soundproofing and sound-dampening a room. We know quite a bit about this, as many homeowners contact us about reducing airborne noise in their homes.

Homeowners need to have the right expectations regarding controlling sound in their homes. They should have clear goals in mind of what they want to accomplish and then review the appropriate sound deadening or soundproofing solution that will meet their needs.

Now, let’s break down the differences between soundproofing and sound dampening.

Soundproofing vs. Sound Dampening

If a room is soundproof, it means it is impervious to sound.

Sound dampening works a little differently. For example, if you update the insulation in your exterior walls with injection foam, you can reduce sound transmission by up to 80 percent. It doesn’t eliminate the noise completely, but it significantly reduces it.

Suppose you’re looking to completely, 100 percent soundproof a room. In that case, you need acoustic sound panels, noise and isolation foams, sound barrier materials, and noise absorbers, just to name some of the materials, according to Super Soundproofing Co.

Foam Insulation as a Sound-Deadening Solution

If you have a new build home or a pole barn, you can start the sound dampening off right during the building process.

Open cell spray foam has the same sound-dampening qualities as injection foam. It’s great to use in your new home because it will dampen the sounds of the TV, talking, and flanking noises like sounds originating from within the walls, like toilets flushing and showers running.

If you are putting up a pole barn, you can also use open cell spray foam to dampen the sound from your workshop. Open cell is commonly suggested in pole barns when the walls are covered compared to closed cell spray foam.

It’s important to note that closed cell spray foam doesn’t have the same sound-dampening qualities as open cell.

There are other things you can do with the addition of foam insulation that significantly reduces airborne noise.

Upgrades like acoustic curtains and double-pain windows and ensuring the spaces around doors and windows are sealed will also help reduce the amount of noise transmitted into your home.

Other Benefits of Foam Insulation

You’re worried about the outside sound in your home, but what about other comfort issues?

You know what to do about the sound now, but there are several signs and symptoms your home needs an insulation upgrade. Take a look at our checklist to see what other insulation-related problems you’re experiencing.

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of foam insulation, check out the Learning Center on our website.

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