For most people, home is a haven away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. However, recent trends of building big houses on small blocks, along with an increase in both the size and scope of entertainment systems, has meant we are living with more noise both inside the home and out.
We also know that a good night’s sleep can make the world of difference to our mental and physical wellbeing, and that disrupted sleep can often be directly linked to surrounding noise.
Home insulation has long been recognised as an effective method of reducing the level of noise coming in from outside or flowing between rooms and different storeys. As a bonus, it can improve acoustic performance in home entertainment areas and even reduce your heating bill.
Let’s take a look at how you can reduce the movement of noise in specific areas of your house.
– Poor quality walls and ceilings enable noise to travel throughout a home. Insulation not only lowers noise levels, but can keep rooms up to 7 degrees cooler in summer and 10 degrees warmer in winter.
– Doors can be a source of sound ‘flanking’, especially in the gaps between the door and hard floor surfaces such as tiles, slate or timber. Make sure the frames of all doors are sealed using appropriate door jamb seals. Hollow core doors – often chosen as an inexpensive option for interior use – are not very effective barriers to sound.
– Junctions and gaps between the wall, floor, skirting and cornice can substantially reduce the efficiency of noise reduction wall or ceiling systems.
– Floors in multi-storey homes should be covered using carpet with good quality underlay. Where hard surfaces like timber, tiles or vinyl are used, rugs can substantially improve performance, though floating floor systems will be necessary for a really good result.
– Windows are possibly the greatest conductor of external noise into a home, whether through the glass or worn seals. Depending on the severity of the noise and your budget, double glazing or thick curtains can be used to minimise the effect.
As a final measure, check the roof, since gaps in roof tiles can also increase noise levels.
