Best Lightweight Soundproofing Materials

by Jennifer Porterfield | Last Updated: May 27, 2021

Many reasons exist for wanting to find lightweight soundproof material. Perhaps you would like to reduce the noise in your home, or you are building a studio for podcasting or music production and must have a quiet work area. The good news is that you have a range of materials available from professional systems designed for this purpose to some things that you might already have around your home.

Let’s explore some of the materials that you can use to reduce the noise and give your space the acoustic properties that you need.

Acoustic Louvres

Acoustic louvers are available that air to flow into the area but will reduce unwanted environmental noise. It is similar to a normal shutter that you would find on a building, only the blades and slats are angled or curved so that they disrupt or deflect the sound vibrations. These are used in many office buildings in urban environments.

Acoustic Absorber Panels (External)

Using acoustic absorber panels is another professional option that can create an attractive finish with excellent sound-absorbing qualities. These are often used to keep the sound from reverberating and emitting from a building to the outer environment. They are lightweight and are often made from recycled glass beads. They have an attractive appearance, much like granite or stone.

Acoustic Isolation Membrane

You can find many different types of acoustic membranes available. Some are heavy, and some are more lightweight. They also have different capabilities for reducing decibel levels and tend to work best at filtering certain frequencies. These membranes do an excellent job when it comes to reducing sound from transferring from one area of the building to another. You will need to check the weight and compare it to the type of sound that you want to exclude.

Closed Cell Neoprene

Closed cell neoprene, sometimes called acoustic foam, is a popular choice for recording studios. It does a good job of dampening low-frequency wavelengths, and it can help to reduce echo and reverb in the room. The density of foam makes it a good sound absorber and makes it difficult for sound waves to pass through it.

It does an excellent job of reducing vibrational noise, and it is often used on the feet of washing machines for this purpose. If you have a studio that experiences vibrational noise from mechanical systems, this can be a good choice for lightweight soundproofing material.

Fiberglass & Mineral Wool

Fiberglass and are an excellent choice for soundproofing, and they are accessible to most people. They may not be the best choice for reducing vibrational noise, but they are excellent for reducing airborne noise, such as other people talking in another room. You can find acoustical panels specially designed for sound absorption which are usually a fiberglass core encased in an acoustic fabric.

Fiberglass insulation will also help to reduce noise, and you can find fiberglass ceiling panels that will add to the soundproofing effect in the room, too. They are one of the most lightweight soundproofing materials available and are easy to install.

Plywood

Plywood is lightweight, but it usually needs something else if you are building a professional studio. It does have some sound reduction qualities, but you will probably want to use it as the base for neoprene acoustic panels, or other materials. It is cheap and easy to install, and you can get it in a variety of thicknesses for your needs.

Conclusion

Now you have several options for lightweight soundproofing material. Each of them has different applications and is best for certain types of sound sources or frequencies.

Making your environment acoustically isolated for professional sound work means taking a close look at the types of sounds you want to exclude, the structure of your building components, ease of installation, and how much weight they will add to the walls. Combining several different methods might be the best solution, depending on your specific soundproofing goals.

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