Soundproofing your home can help you live a better life. Lowering unwanted noise is one of the things that helps you relax and feel at ease in your own home, while also providing you with the privacy you require. It also allows you to live exactly how you want in your space, such as putting the kids to bed and still watching your favorite movie without disturbing them.

A reduction in noise pollution is also beneficial to our health and well-being. Long-term noise exposure has been linked to high blood pressure and some forms of heart disease, while continuous exposure to loud sounds can cause hearing impairment.

The acoustic requirements of residential buildings in the United Kingdom are explained in Part E of the Building Regulations 2010. This document was revised in 2015 and covers everything from acoustic insulation between rooms within a single dwelling to acoustic insulation between walls and floors between dwellings.

This act includes the inclusion of residential homes. They must meet specific acoustic performance requirements. A property must be adequately protected from both airborne and impact sounds, the former of which includes weather and aircraft noise and the latter of which includes traffic and playground noise.

A pre-completion test (PCT) ensures that a property meets these requirements. Robust Details (RD) can be used in conjunction with, or instead of, a PCT in some cases.

More information about Approved Document E can be found here.

Before you begin your project, it's a good idea to create a budget. This allows you to choose the best material for your needs and the type of wall you're working with without breaking the bank. Acoustic slabs and roll are ideal for use in the home, and acoustic plasterboard can be added if you really want to go the extra mile.

If the noises you're trying to eliminate aren't too loud, acoustic roll can be the best option. It is effective in reducing low-level noise pollution and is simple to use and install. It's also a good alternative if you're new to DIY because it's more easier to adapt and install than slabs.

Acoustic slabs are a suitable option for home use since they are dense and efficiently filter out noise frequencies from the surrounding area. They can be combined with an acoustic sealant to achieve maximum noise suppression.

When it comes to soundproofing, acoustic plasterboard is the cherry on the cake. A layer of acoustic plasterboard can be added to finish soundproofing your wall. In some cases, acoustic plasterboard can be used without the use of rolls or slabs, such as when you can't afford to lose valuable space.

When it comes to soundproofing a wall, you don't need to hire a professional. This is a job you can do yourself if you're a self-build pro. The method varies significantly depending on whether you're soundproofing an internal or external wall, but the concept is the same.

As with any DIY project, it's critical to gather all of the necessary tools. You'll need resilient bars, acoustic sealant, and plenty of insulation in addition to basic building supplies and safety equipment.

When working on a stud wall, just place the acoustic roll directly on the wall, ensuring that it is securely tucked between the timber studs. The robust bars must then be installed across the timber stud, with the attaching flange on the bottom edge. From floor to ceiling, each bar should be fastened at 600mm intervals. Because the plasterboard will eventually be screwed into the resilient bars, marking the position of each bar on the next wall is a smart idea.

Screw on the first layer of acoustic plasterboard, leaving a 3mm gap around the edges. After that, apply a soundproofing mat before adding a second layer of plasterboard. Make sure to screw it into the resilient bars rather than the timber frame. Before refitting the skirting boards and decorating your newly soundproofed wall, apply an acoustic sealant around all gaps and holes.

It's critical to analyze how sound enters your home before soundproofing an external wall. Because outside walls are thicker than interior walls, they are less likely to be an issue. It's possible that the source of the noise is an air brick, a badly sealed door, or a single-glazed window.

Sound-dampening gel can be used to seal air bricks, and secondary glazing and double glazing can help keep noise out of windows. Window plugs or shutters are less expensive alternatives that are ideal for rented residences. If you reside in a semi-detached or terrace property and there is a lot of noise coming through the party wall, you may need acoustic insulation.

To install it, begin by removing the existing linings and thoroughly inspecting the party wall. It might require rendering but if it looks like it’s in good condition you can add vertical timber battens straight away. Maxi resilient bars will then need to be added horizontally from top to bottom at 600mm intervals before insulation slabs can be placed between each bar. A layer of 17mm maxiboard can then be applied – this should screw directly into the resilient bars – leaving a small gap where it meets the ceiling and adjoining walls. These gaps should subsequently be filled with a low-modulus silicone sealant.

Finally, screw a layer of acoustic plasterboard into the resilient bars to cover the maxiboard. This final layer can then be completed and decorated to fit the rest of the house using traditional plastering techniques.