Unwanted noise coming through the walls of your apartment can be one of the most disturbing things you might experience. If you’re currently dealing with this, you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, I’ll give a step-by-step explanation of how to soundproof a wall between apartments without breaking the bank. These days, apartment buildings are made of very flimsy walls, which makes it extremely easy for your neighbors to hear everything you’re doing.
Several years back, I was experiencing this problem. It was pretty hard to concentrate, because my neighbors had a very loud dog. It would bark all day, even in the middle of the night, and the saddest part was, all of our apartment’s bedrooms shared a wall with their place.
I was awake most nights and couldn’t seem to get proper rest. Even complaining about the noise didn’t do much to help the situation, so I knew I had to find another solution to the problem. Based on my experience and research, I’ll share with you everything you need to know about soundproofing shared walls without doing any additional construction.
How to Soundproof a Wall Between Apartments
1. Search For Holes and Seal Them
I know you must be wondering how there could be holes in the walls, but back in the day (and sometimes even now), most apartments were connected and the walls were shared. If you inspect your walls carefully, you might see some small holes that have been used to transfer cables from one place to another.
These tiny holes have the unseen ability to release a great amount of unwanted noise, so once you’re done with your inspection, I recommend that you seal them all.
There are many ways to easily get this job done, but the most effective way is by making use of Green Glue. Green Glue works well when it comes to soundproofing your home, and you’ll certainly notice a difference once it’s been applied.
I recently wrote an article about the Green Glue noiseproofing compound, which you can check out to learn more.
2. Use Mass Loaded Vinyl
One of the best materials on the market for insulating impact and airborne noise is Mass Loaded Vinyl. You can easily attach these sound-absorbing mats to your thin apartment walls—not only for soundproofing but as a thermal solution as well.
After installing these on my walls, I’ve noticed that my room has been a bit warmer in the wintertime.
You may be wondering why that has happened. Well, MLV is extremely bulky, and due to its bulkiness, it’s also great at absorbing and reducing low-frequency noises. I was certainly impressed with the results I got from it (click here to see the current price of MLV).
3. Obtain Some Sound-Absorbing Blankets
Another solution that I’ve found to be effective is using soundproof blankets. These blankets are made of fiberglass or polyester, and they’re really good at absorbing sound while also acting as a source of insulation.
However, I only recommend using these blankets when you’re hearing unwanted noise, and not as a permanent solution to block out any unwanted noise that may show up in the future. Simply installing these noise-reducing blankets will reduce the noise level by up to 45 percent.
These blankets are made from a thick soundproofing substance. They’re not hard to install, but you should probably ask someone else for a hand, because they’re pretty heavy. If you’re interested in these, I recommend going with a Cheap Cheap moving blanket (click here to check out the current price).
4. Install Acoustic Foam Panels
One of the best ways to sound-dampen your walls is to add acoustic foam panels. These are often used in recording studios to help balance various sounds.
If you’re on a budget, this may be the cheapest method you can use to achieve sound-deadening in your home. What I really like about foam panels is that they’re extremely easy to install and remove, which is also a good thing when you live in an apartment.
By using acoustic foam panels, you’ll be able to cut down on unwanted noise by at least 60 percent. However, I don’t recommend using this method on its own, as you can achieve better results if you combine it with one or more of the other methods on this list.
There are various types of acoustic foam on the market, but the one I used was Foamily Acoustic Foam, and the results were astonishing.
5. Move Furniture Against the Wall
I know I’ve suggested this method a few times in my past articles, but I can assure you that it’s actually one of the most effective things you can do. Since apartment walls are so thin, placing bookshelves, wardrobes and other types of furniture next to a wall will help thicken it up.
Another thing you can do is place thick blankets or even some foam in between the wall and the furniture. By doing this, you’ll be able to add more mass to the wall and absorb even more sound. I strongly recommend this method over others, since you may not have permission from your landlord to put nails in your walls.
6. Repaint the Walls With Soundproofing Paint
A lot of people think that using soundproofing paint to reduce noise is a myth when it comes to soundproofing walls. Basically, soundproofing paint will sometimes work, but it all depends on the amount of noise that’s coming through.
That being said, I can guarantee that by adding this paint to your walls, you’ll be able to cut out unwanted noise by at least 50 percent—if there’s not much noise to start with. On the other hand, if you have neighbors who blare loud music all day, using this method won’t help very much.
What is really like about soundproofing paint, though, is the fact that it’s affordable and fairly easy to use. This paint is extremely thick, especially if you apply several coats. It also looks similar to regular paint, so you won’t notice a difference, except when it comes to noise reduction.
7. Obtain a White Noise Machine
If you’ve tried all the methods mentioned, and none of them seem to have worked (which is highly unlikely), then you can go with a white noise machine.
These machines are a great way to mask unwanted background noise that’s attempting to enter your apartment. In general, a white noise machine works by generating a soothing sound of a steady consistency. This will prevent you from hearing unwanted sounds, which will enable you to stay calm and help stop any distractions from reaching your conscious mind.
If you think you might be interested in one of these machines, you can also check out my guide on the best white noise machine for the bathroom.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to soundproof the wall you share with a neighboring apartment without emptying your wallet. These methods are not only effective, but quite easy and affordable as well.
For the best results possible, I recommend combining several methods, as they all utilize different ways of combating noise. Since most of them are fairly easy to carry out, you’ll be able to do the majority of the job on your own. I wish you the best on your soundproofing journey!
Here’s another article you might like: How to Soundproof a House From Airplane Noise.
image: Pixabay
Here is a timely topic during this COVID crisis. I read your article about sound traveling up or down. My related question is this. If I have a moving blanket that is 80 inches tall and a room that is 96 inches tall. Would it be better to hang it near the ceiling or near the floor. This is to prevent sound from a kid sitting at a desk traveling out of the room to irritate his sister. I’m thinking the ceiling because the source of the noise (his head) will be bouncing off the wall and desk toward the ceiling. Am I correct?