The best materials for soundproofing plasterboard partitions, step-by-step instructions

Soundproofing is an important aspect to take into account when designing a cozy and tranquil home. Thin walls allow noise to easily pass through and disturb the peacefulness of your living area. Thankfully, there are efficient products and methods available to improve plasterboard partitions’ ability to block out noise.

Selecting the appropriate materials for soundproofing can have a big impact. Using the best soundproofing materials is essential, whether you’re trying to create a quiet room or are dealing with noisy neighbors. Specialized soundproof boards and insulation materials are just two examples of options with distinct benefits to suit a range of needs and price points.

We’ll look at the best materials for soundproofing plasterboard partitions in this guide. For the best results, we’ll also provide you a step-by-step installation guide for these materials. You can successfully lessen noise transmission and make your house a calmer, cozier place with these suggestions.

You will acquire expert knowledge on selecting and using soundproofing materials by adhering to our comprehensive instructions. Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or a homeowner trying to make improvements to your home, this article will make it easy for you to meet your soundproofing objectives.

Material	Step-by-Step Instructions
Acoustic Mineral Wool	1. Measure and cut to fit partition spaces.2. Place the wool between studs, ensuring a snug fit.3. Cover with plasterboard.
Soundproofing Foam Panels	1. Cut panels to size.2. Attach panels to the plasterboard using adhesive.3. Seal edges with acoustic caulk for extra soundproofing.
Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV)	1. Measure and cut MLV to fit partition area.2. Attach MLV directly to the studs or over existing plasterboard.3. Secure with nails or screws, ensuring full coverage.

Concept and difference from sound insulation

Noise insulation refers to additional noise reduction techniques that use different building materials to shield the space from outside mechanical vibrations.

Since the same universal materials are typically used to remove an annoyance source, some builders continue to combine the concepts of noise and sound insulation.

Nevertheless, contemporary experts now employ absorbing and reflecting materials to block out noise. The distinction between the concepts of sound and noise lies in the way that sound and noise are defined by the vibrations that they produce, which make them physical phenomena.

While noise is made up of multiple waves acting simultaneously, sound is only one wave (a combination of sounds).

The impact of structural and acoustic waves—such as voices, the whirring of appliances, or a crying child—can be stopped by high-quality sound insulation. Sound insulation also shields against impact noise, which includes:

• falling of heavy things;
• stomp;
• drawing furniture, etc.d.

Gypsum plasterboard, which is used as a frame for sound insulation, shields the area from waves that have an indicator of 70 to 90 dB. These waves can cause long-term health problems for humans by causing diseases of the nervous system, which show up as:

• headaches;
• insomnia;
• irritability;
• dizziness;
• blood pressure fluctuations.

Crucial! The absorption coefficient determines noise insulation.

If the standard value is significantly higher than 0-1, then any material will have adequate wave protection.

Manufacturers of insulating materials indicate a sound absorption coefficient of more than 55 dB, which is regarded as a standard sufficient for any living room.

Selecting the appropriate materials for plasterboard partition soundproofing can significantly impact the creation of a tranquil and serene space. This post will walk you through the best options available, including resilient channels, sealants, and acoustic panels for soundproofing. Additionally, we will provide you a clear, step-by-step installation guide so that you can minimize noise in your house or place of business. Whether you’re new to do-it-yourself projects or an experienced one, this guide will make building soundproof walls simple and confident.

Feasibility

Plasterboards only lessen noise exposure to a certain extent, so in the following situations, noise protection measures must be taken:

1. There is a staircase next to the apartment.
2. Restless neighbors living across the wall.
3. Availability of a public institution (centers, clubs, offices).
4. Lack of filler in plasterboard construction.
5. The filler used has one rather than several layers (multi-layer).
6. Busy highway, railway track.
7. Renovation at the entrance or construction outside the windows.

It is best to take care of this ahead of time to shield yourself from unwanted noise.

Here, soundproofing boards and tapes are used during the gypsum board installation and frame formation stages. These materials can reduce vibration even in the absence of vibration hangers.

In reality, sheets of acoustic gypsum board with dot embossing (made possible by a perforation network) are highly common. Take the KNAUF brand, for instance.

By reducing the contact area between the layers, they produce a heterogeneous environment that hinders the spread of mechanical vibrations. Other materials are employed, though.

The absence of sound insulation in interior gypsum board partitions has a detrimental impact on human health, leading to illnesses and impairing life expectancy and productivity.

Furthermore, because of the noise in the space, there will constantly be a source of vibration, which may occasionally call for finishing and repair.

Kindly take note! A high-quality material that is resistant to water, has low thermal conductivity in terms of technical properties, and reflects sound waves should be chosen in order to absorb noise.

Plasterboard wall cake

Gypsum plasterboard partition layers, referred to as "pie" in the construction context, consist of:

• Sheathing made of two layers of plasterboard (1st – standard, 2nd – soundproofing).
• Sealing tape, Rookwool type (foamed polyethylene).
• Vertical racks.
• Horizontal guide.
• Sound-absorbing boards (for example, made of stone or mineral wool), which additionally provide thermal insulation to the room.

It turns out that two layers of sound insulation made of regular gypsum board and additional (special) material are needed for high-quality noise protection.

It is possible to utilize multiple layers of sound-absorbing board.

In this instance, an extra 6 to 10 dB of protection from outer space will be given.

Therefore, double cladding from gypsum plasterboard is given a lot of attention when forming internal walls.

Plasterboard sheets for partitions have a standard thickness of 12.5 mm, but they can also be 15 or 18 mm thick. Stone or mineral wool has a thickness of 30 to 50 mm, while sealing tape has a thickness of 1 to 20 mm.

Crucial! When forming a structure out of gypsum plasterboard, be sure to use high-quality sealants to seal joints. The noise index can be lowered by 7-9 dB with good sealing.

Necessary consumables

Use the following as noise-absorbing consumables (lower on the list, indicated for 1 piece):

1. Standard gypsum board sheets, 2 layers (from 163 RUR.) – durable, strong products, light in weight, forming a solid base, and have good water resistance.
2. Acoustic plasterboard KNAUF (from 325 RUR.) – has all the qualities of plasterboard sheets. Plus it is made with special holes to dissipate incoming sounds. The price is high, but it is durable and will last, according to the guarantee, more than 15 years.
3. Sound-absorbing three-layer slabs “Shumanet – ECO” (from 328 rubles.), “Soundline-DB” (from 730 RUR.) from stone or mineral wool, as well as fiberglass. These are reliable, durable, heat-retaining and noise-reducing products due to their loose structure.
4. Liquid sound insulation. Available in various packages (5-15 kg plastic buckets, cylinders). From 500 rubles per 1 kg. Apply with a brush or spray with a spray bottle. Capable of creating up to 2-5 cm of a protective layer, simultaneously covering all joints and irregularities. Quality – durable material. Except for the high price, there are no other disadvantages.
5. Natural cork panels (from RUB 2,325./m2). It is considered a durable antistatic sound insulator that is resistant to mold fungi. The only disadvantage of the material is the high price and increased fire safety. Rarely used – only at the request of owners who are extremely focused on environmentally friendly housing.
6. ZIPS (from RUB 1,630./m2) – sandwich panels with mineral filler. Not prone to fire, I have a dense structure resistant to external influences.
7. Vibration suspensions (from 390 RUR.) – rubber gaskets capable of dampening vibration acting on the gypsum plasterboard structure. Considered to be excellent durable products that block access to noise propagation. Disadvantage – high fire safety.

The first three categories of materials on the list are the most commonly used. They can also be utilized occasionally:

• expanded polystyrene;
• isoplast;
• polyurethane foam boards;
• thermosound insulation;
• soundproofing membranes.

Citation. Materials start at 230 rubles for each piece. Environmentally friendly and thought to be resistant to heat and moisture.

A vast array of instruments is employed from the following:

• metal profiles with self-tapping screws and anchor fasteners;
• sealants (spray and liquid);
• drill and screwdriver;
• laser level, ruler, simple pencil for marking, tape measure;
• large construction stapler;
• polyethylene film;
• Knauf glue for gluing plasterboard boards.

Items used as a first or second line of defense can also be used as sound absorbers:

• Vibration stack;
• Acoustic Butts;
• Shumastop;
• Basaltine;
• Schumanet;
• Knauf plates.

Which materials are best to use??

Experts in construction say that soundproofing boards made of gypsum fiber and materials with high sound-absorbing qualities, such as fiberglass or mineral wool, are the best options for reducing noise.

Considered industrial goods are high-quality noise-absorbing materials from the following brands:

• Knauf (Germany);
• Rockwool (Denmark);
• TechnoNikol, AcousticGroup (RF);
• Mappy (Italy);
• AcousticWool (Ukraine);
• Texdecor (France);
• IsoverEcopho (Sweden/Finland).

Based on user feedback, the top-rated insulation materials are as follows:

Step-by-step instructions for installing an interior wall

Concurrent with the frame installation, which is followed by the installation of GKL, fillers, and all cladding, is the implementation of noise protection. Due to this, there are three primary stages to the work:

1. Formation of the frame.
2. Filling laying.
3. Creating layers of facing.

Note: Prior to beginning any step, the necessary preparations are made: the building materials are calculated and purchased; the surface and working area are cleaned; the primary (for the installed building structures) and supplementary (for the formation of GKL-reigning) markings are applied.

After that, the following procedures are followed:

1. Collection and installation of the frame using tools and fasteners, fixing horizontal and vertical guides.
2. Gluing profile guides with a dumpfer ribbon or vibration, with preliminary diluting of the sites.
3. Attachment to GKL profiles in 2 layers, using standard and soundproofing plates. The second layer is formed in such a way that the joints do not coincide. It is better to cut the sheets in advance. It uses glue and additional fastening with fasteners.
4. Seal surface joints on slabs with sealant (it is better to use vibration-isolating compound).
5. Then the insulation is installed (it also has noise-repellent qualities, which depend on the type of material used). It is glued with glue and then secured with fasteners.
6. Insulation (hydro and steam) is applied on top of it, then the selected soundproofing material, not forgetting to leave a gap for ventilation (15-25 mm). In this case, all elements of the sheathing are filled with slabs or non-woven material.
7. Then the sound insulation is glued to a special compound, using reinforcement with tapes, cords, screws, and a plasterboard sheathing is made on top.
8. The resulting seams are sealed with sealant, and then they begin to putty and finish the wall structure with gypsum board.

Regular actions will not only greatly lessen the effects of noise, but they will also give the wall’s layers more insulation, which is crucial in situations like corner apartments.

Crucial! When an owner needs to be better protected from a variety of noises, builders arrange rigid and elastic insulating materials in a particular way.

Difficulties and errors

There are numerous factors that are linked to the development of flaws when using soundproofing materials. Among them are:

1. Purchase of poor quality material (lack of noise protection effect). To avoid buying a fake, it is best to buy materials on the official websites of manufacturers and their direct suppliers. Each product must be securely packaged, have instructions, a quality certificate, a guarantee, a description and an indication of technical characteristics.
2. Instead of absorbent materials, the space in the wall structure is filled with foam rubber. This material is not suitable for noise protection. In order for it to muffle all sounds, it must be made more than 10 cm thick. The same applies to cork material – greater thickness and combination with other, more reliable insulation.
3. Using the same materials in several layers. Sound insulation is most effective when combining different industrial products.
4. Carrying out wet work after installation of a wall structure where noise protection has been performed. Many soundproofing boards are afraid of moisture and lose their qualities. Therefore, it is better to carry out such actions as pouring a floor screed or leveling the wall structure along the beacons before working with the gypsum board wall.
5. No gluing of metal profiles with damper tapes, which leads to the formation of sound bridges. Therefore, to avoid vibrational contact of the frame with the wall surface, use rubber or jute polyester tapes.

Furthermore, installing straight profile suspensions in place of vibration suspensions is inappropriate because this will only amplify outside noise through the wall. The level of protection increases with the size of the vibration suspension elastomer layer.

Crucial! When creating noise insulation, gaps in the structure may be filled with polyurethane foam in addition to specialty sealants.

Cost of work

Costs associated with soundproofing plasterboard partitions depend on several factors:

• season;
• complexity and overall volume;
• cost of consumables
• related services (delivery, loading)
• region.

In general, the price list for construction companies in the Russian Federation appears as follows on their official websites:

No	Type of work		Price in rubles. per m 2
1.	Installation of a metal frame with the formation of a double layer of plasterboard with soundproofing inserts (“turnkey”)		3,300 – 5,750
2.	Installation of roll sound insulation, such as “Termozvukoisol” – material in two layers		300 – 450
3.	Filling seams with sealant		25 –30 (p.m)
4.	Installation of tape soundproofing gasket with trimming		100 – 150 (p.m)
5.	Installation of soundproofing panels with thickness	2 layers	400 – 500
		up to 3 cm	450 – 550
		up to 5 cm	800 – 850
		up to 7 cm	1 000

Prices may be generally higher in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Novosibirsk than in other places.

Additionally, ordering from independent contractors rather than specialists will save you a lot of money. However, the drawback is that contractors do not offer a guarantee for the work done, unlike businesses involved in professional construction work. This implies that in the event that there are flaws, they might decline to fix them.

Useful video

Watch this fascinating video that goes into great detail on how to build a partition using gypsum plasterboard as sound insulation.

To create a peaceful and cozy living area, the proper materials for soundproofing plasterboard partitions must be chosen. Good soundproofing can dramatically lessen noise from adjacent rooms or the outside environment, enhancing your home’s overall peace and quiet.

When choosing materials, take resilient channels, soundproof drywall, and batts of acoustic insulation into account. These materials are made especially to reduce vibrations and dampen sound. When you combine these products, your soundproofing efforts will be more effective and provide a more complete solution.

If you take the proper procedures, installing the software is a simple process. To reduce sound transmission and help isolate the drywall from the frame, start by attaching resilient channels to the studs. To absorb sound waves, sandwich acoustic insulation batts between the studs next. Lastly, cover the channels and insulation with soundproof drywall, making sure all joints are adequately sealed to stop sound leaks.

Your plasterboard partitions can effectively block unwanted noise and create a more peaceful environment if they are installed with care and the correct materials. Long-term benefits from soundproofing your home include increased enjoyment from living there due to the time and effort invested.

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