Concrete is one of the most commonly used building materials. In fact, nearly half of all noise barriers built in the United States are comprised of concrete.
It isn’t the finest of the materials when it comes to noise cancellation, but it compensates by being adaptable. It’s also incredibly durable, making it an excellent alternative for installing noise barriers in difficult-to-build locations.
How soundproof is concrete?
Concrete is the most commonly used building material for a reason. It is strong and can sustain repeated use for extended periods of time. Concrete also has adaptable qualities that make it suitable for a wide range of situations and surroundings.
Most consumers trust that this product does not demand a big out-of-pocket investment. But one thing concrete can’t exactly claim is excellent soundproofing.
Although concrete is wonderful in terms of durability and long-term quality, it does not deliver the same level of noise reduction that most people need in their homes.
Many people wrongly believe that the thickness of concrete automatically makes it an excellent soundproofing barrier, however, this is not totally true. It is not the thickness of a substance that creates soundproofing characteristics, but rather the product’s structure.
How it works:
Sound absorption tests have revealed that porous materials with interconnected pores (like ceiling tiles) from the surface to the interior function well. The energy of sound is transformed into heat at the porous surface.
However, the same elements that contribute to effective sound absorption also contribute to poor sound insulation.
Although porous concrete absorbs sound, it has poor sound insulation and a low STC (sound transmission loss). As a result, coating or plastering porous concrete reduces sound absorption while increasing its sound insulating properties.
Plain cast concrete has a sound absorption coefficient of roughly 0.02, indicating that about 98 percent of the sound energy is reflected by the surface.
The bigger the weight of the concrete or the denser the concrete, the higher the sound insulation (the greater the sound transmission loss) rating.
Put simply, walking down a painted, solid (high psf weight) concrete hallway (floor, ceiling, walls) with heeled boots will be highly noisy, yet the person in the next room may not hear you very well if the wall has no flaws or openings.
You won’t hear yourself making much noise if you walk down a lightweight, unpainted, porous concrete corridor in capped boots, but someone in the adjacent room will hear you.
So, does concrete absorb sound?
Although many people prefer concrete as a building material because of its strength and durability, it is precisely this attribute that hinders concrete from increasing acoustical performance. If you have a concrete floor, you might notice that each step makes an audible sound.
Impact noises are caused by the stiffness of concrete, which converts movement into an auditory sensation. While annoying, these noisy manifestations can be avoided with a few soundproofing techniques.
Concrete Soundproofing Tips
If your house or office is currently plagued by unwelcome noises caused by concrete floors or walls, a few preventive actions can help you achieve the peace and quiet you so desperately seek.
Remove unnecessary distractions and enjoy the solitude and quiet needed to complete each of your everyday duties successfully. Don’t put up with noise; instead, choose to invest in soundproofing measures.
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Focus on walls – While it’s easy to get carried away with the flooring, it’s important not to forget about the walls too. Adding some insulation provides a layer of friction between your walls that guarantees minimal sound transmission into and out of the room.
- Address the floors – The use of floor underlay helps to decrease the transmission of sound that is transported throughout your space with each step. If your floor or wall has any cracks that allow noise to get through, consider investing in an acoustic sound sealer as well. Covering up any weak places can help your room achieve the desired amount of soundproofing.
- Examine your ceilings – Installing acoustic panels or hanging dividers is a low-cost method for decreasing noise from concrete ceilings. Installing a drop ceiling may also be a viable option if your budget allows it.
What are the benefits of using concrete for soundproofing?
Concrete walls are extremely beneficial to both businesses and communities. Here are some advantages of a domestic concrete wall:
- Reduces tension in the home caused by high noise levels
- Children can play outside while still being able to hear their parents call them inside.
- Children can play outside while still being able to hear their parents call them inside.
- Safety is maintained.
- Noise from railways or traffic is muffled.
The following are some advantages of a concrete wall for an industrial business area:
- Because of the tranquil atmosphere, it encourages greater commerce.
- At industrial sites, it muffles the sound of vehicles loading.
- Partitions that separate a mall strip or a shopping center from a motorway
As well as the examples listed above, concrete is a great material used in the construction of highways, animal enclosures, and even golf courses.
A concrete wall is ideal for any outdoor space that has to be partitioned off for privacy, safety, or noise control. Concrete flooring works well for outdoor nature walks and general pathways.
