Does soundproofing foam really work?

Are you looking for a way to reduce the amount of noise in your home or office? If so, you may have considered soundproofing foam as a potential solution. But does it really work? In this post, we'll take a look at the benefits of using acoustic foam to reduce noise. We'll also explore some alternatives that may better fit your needs. So read on to learn more about how soundproofing foam can help you achieve peace and quiet.

The goal of acoustic foam has to do with a room's sound qualities by controlling certain sounds through absorption. The first thing to remember is that sound reflects off certain surfaces, absorbed by other surfaces, similar to how white reflects light and black absorbs light. Therefore there are different products used for blocking sounds and for absorbing sounds. Using acoustic foams correctly requires strategically placing acoustic foam panels on walls, ceilings, floors, and other surfaces. The correct placement can assist in the correct resonance within the room and help give the room the desired sonic qualities.

Why would you want to soundproof a room?

Soundproofing helps to reduce noise levels to the minimum from one room to another. Soundproofing can allow for a peaceful sleep environment for the other people in the house. Keeping confidential conversations private may also be needed in a working environment. Soundproofing your home also prevents your home from exterior sounds like traffic and noisy neighbours. Sound pollution is a major issue in many countries. The sound of music can be loud enough to trigger complaints from neighbours and cause containment for certain activities such as practising the drums. It is also helpful if you have noisy machinery that needs noise dampening. 

Other common use-cases for sound insulation foam

• Transportation: Absorption of vibration and noise for engines in buses, trains, trucks, boats, ships and aircraft.
• Industrial: Treating noise pollution of industrial machinery and equipment, manufacturing plants, air-conditioning and ventilation units.
• Architectural: Sound absorption for offices, conference rooms, auditoriums, theatres, cinemas, lecture rooms, libraries and sports arenas.
• Audio: Impact sound control and sound absorption for recording studios, broadcasting studios and control rooms.
• Residential: Soundproofing homes, apartments, home studios, home entertainment centres and household appliances.
• Sound insulation for auxiliary fans in the mining industry.
• Specific Vehicles: Agricultural & Forestry, earthworks, industrial & civil engineering.
• Noise Barriers & Enclosures: Rail & road, office partitions, furniture cubicle walls, hospitality dividers, acoustic panels, industrial banners and enclosures.
• Hood liner, engine cover, door panel etc for all types of vehicles including domestic, commercial, industrial from coaches, trucks to lining cabs in earth moving equipment.

Types of soundproofing foam

Sondor offers a variety of soundproofing options, depending on the level of sound insulation required. 

Foam panels

If you are looking for a simple and effective way to improve the sound insulation in your home, polyethylene foam panels are a great option. High-density polyethylene foam panels are a great way to improve the sound insulation in your home. Foam is an excellent material for absorbing sound, and high-density foam panels provide a large surface area for sound to be absorbed. In addition, foam panels are affordable, lightweight and easy to install.

Soundseal 

Soundseal is a glass cloth covered Polyurethane foam for acoustic applications. It can be used on both curved and flat surfaces and is easily converted for irregular shapes. It is also fire resistant, making it ideal for insulating machinery noises. Being ECB certified, Soundseal is an excellent sound absorption product for use in engines in buses, trains, trucks, boats, ships (complies to European Recreational Craft Directive 2003/44/EC) and aircraft.

Quash Sound Absorption Foam

Quash foam is an ideal material for sound absorption, as it absorbs sound rather than reflects it. It has various properties that make it fantastic, including its being lightweight yet structurally strong, making installation on-site easy. Quash foam is also water-resistant, meaning you won't have to worry about damage from humidity or rainwater exposure. It is also fire retardant, which will help prevent fires altogether! The best part? This foam's non-corrosive nature means most chemicals won't affect them at all, so they can last longer than traditional materials like wood or wool without getting wet underneath.

Whisper Sound Absorption Foam

Whisper takes Quash's sound absorption foam one step further! Profiling the shape of foam increases both its surface area and sound absorption properties, which means even more insulation for your home or business.

Foam strip and gaskets

Also worth noting is the beneficial sound insulation properties of foam strip (Strip and Tape) and Gaskets. 

Gaps between the door jam and door are prime ways for undesirable noise to travel. Foam gaskets are a superb cost-effective option for filling in space on door frames where noise leaks in and out of rooms. Compressible foam gaskets also help seal up the gap and absorb some of the sounds. 

Aerothene Floor Underlayment

Use quality foam floor underlayment to reduce sound transmission of hardwood and engineered floors. Aerothene foam sheets are ideal for noise-proofing a floor, especially with laminates, hardwoods, and engineered wood. Foam is naturally vapour-proof, so there is no need to worry about moisture or smells penetrating the floor. You simply lay it down over the subfloor with a slight overlap.

Aerothene is an excellent product to enhance your new floor installation's feel and sound reduction qualities. It's tough, is easily installed, and is a superb soundproofing option.

So, does sound insulation foam really work?

So, what's the verdict? Does soundproofing foam work or not? The answer is a resounding yes. At Sondor Industries, we have more than 70 years of experience in the insulation industry and are proud to offer our customers the best possible products and services available. Let us help you find the perfect soundproofing foam for your needs - contact us today for expert advice.