|
|
|
How Acoustical Foam Improves
Soundproofing
Acoustical Foam is Ideal for Music Rooms
and Home Theaters
By Mark J. Donovan
|
|
If your house design includes a home theater or music room you may
want to consider including acoustical foam in your plans. Acoustical
foam improves sound quality and provides some level of soundproofing.
Likewise it helps to prevent unwanted sounds from entering the room.
The only cost effective way to soundproof a room, at least from an
area standpoint, is to install objects with mass in or on the walls
and ceilings. Sound absorbing objects, such as acoustical foam panels,
cutoff and dampen the transmission of sound waves both entering and
exiting the room.
|
Common
alternatives to using acoustical foam include the construction of secondary
walls to create air spaces, and the use of heavy curtains and fabrics
mounted on the walls and ceilings. Also there are acoustical blankets that
can be mounted on the walls to accomplish the same effect.
The chief purpose of acoustical foam is to enhance the quality of sound
within a musical studio room or home theater. It works best in absorbing
high and mid frequency sound waves. The absorption of lower frequency sound
waves is more difficult to accomplish with acoustical foam. As a matter of
fact acoustical foam is partially rated based on how low of a frequency it
can absorb. Thickness is another major rating factor associated with
acoustic foam. The thicker the acoustic foam, the wider range of frequencies
that it can absorb. Typically acoustical foam comes in thickness from 1 to 4
inches. The thicker the foam, the better it is at absorbing lower frequency
sound waves, however the higher the price. Also, the higher the fire safety
rating, the higher the price.
|
|
The acoustical foam is normally attached to a wood frame of various
dimensions to create acoustical panels. The panels are then mounted up near
the walls and ceiling. Generally they are spaced a couple of inches away
from the walls and ceilings to help increase sound absorption.
Acoustical foam can be constructed out of a number of materials, however the
most common acoustical foam types are manufactured out of fiberglass,
polyurethane and melamine and are porous. It is the porousness that helps
them make effective soundproofing material.
|
Compressed fiberglass is most commonly used and it has a fire safety rating of
Class 1, and thus commands a higher price. The commercial compressed
fiberglass products also include sand embedded into the fibers making it the
highest in fire safety. Polyurethane acoustical foam, on the other hand, has a
lower safety rating, Class 3, and thus is the least expensive type of acoustic
foam. If you plan to use polyurethane acoustic foam it is important to make
sure there is multiple ingress/egress from the room due to the higher fire
concern.
Melamine is a ceramic based product and is used in Class 1 ceiling tiles. It
has high sound absorption properties and is ideal for soundproofing. It is a
very pliable material and can be worked into many types of applications. It
is, however, much more expensive than polyurethane.
|
Find a Qualified Home Remodeling Contractor in Your Area |
|
Get Free Quotes. Easy, Quick and No
Obligations!
For the home
improvement or home remodeling project that is too big for you, check out
our partner
NeedContractor. They are a national
resource for finding pre-screened, insured, and licensed home improvement
and remodeling contractors in your local area.
|
|
|
Get Matched in 48 hours with Home
Remodeling Contractors! |
Acoustical Foam Soundproofing Solutions and
Information from Amazon.com
|
|
|
