Soundproof Acoustic Plasterboard

What is Soundproof Acoustic Plasterboard?

Soundproof acoustic plasterboard goes through a different manufacturing process to standard plasterboard, resulting in a much higher density core. It is this core which lends itself to the reduction of noise pollution; as sound energy struggles to travel through it, allowing for a noise reduction of between 30-50 decibels.

Acoustic plasterboard manufacturers tend to use layers of dense soundproof foam, fibreglass, or mass-loaded vinyl. 

You can add mass-loaded vinyl between two layers of plasterboard for a soundproofing project as it's simple to do, however, it is a touch costly. The more mass, the more effective the sound blocking. 

Where To Use Acoustic Plasterboard?

There are several places where using soundproofing solutions can make a big difference to your quality of living: 

• Your bedroom: this is where people want to eliminate as much external noise as possible in order to get to sleep. It is also where they will not want airborne sounds to escape from due to privacy and snoring sounds. 
• Ceilings: installing acoustic plasterboard here can help to reduce impact noise from above. This can be handy when living in a flat with upstairs neighbours who may be quite heavy-footed or who may not have much floor insulation in their rooms, leading to every noise becoming an aggravation.
• A party wall (a wall you share with another house): this can prevent your neighbour's noise from bleeding into your home. 
• Hotels and hostels: in places where there is a cluster of bedrooms, soundproof plasterboard helps to dampen sound, allowing a peaceful night's rest for occupants. 

Acoustic Plasterboard vs Standard Plasterboard

Acoustic plasterboard is denser than regular plasterboard. It is also blue in colour. This is because of the properties infused into the gypsum during the manufacturing process, and the colour of the paper strip used to differentiate it from other types of plasterboard which have different properties. Moisture resistant plasterboard for example has a green colour and fire rated plasterboard has a pink tinge.

Soundproof plasterboard is exactly the same tapered edge and thickness as normal plasterboard, despite the extra density, so the plasterboards can be mixed and matched interchangeably, depending on what your requirements are for the area that you are working on.

Does Soundproof Plasterboard Work?

Sound block plasterboard can markedly reduce the noise levels that penetrate the walls of a room, in either direction. 

It can make a real difference to the quality of life in houses, student accommodation, hostels and hotels where there is likely to be a lot of sound transfer, such as snoring or noisy neighbours.

Soundproofing plasterboard is one of the most cost-effective ways you can enhance the sound insulation in your home. It won't completely sound proof your home but the noise permeation will be drastically reduced, by up to 50 decibels, in fact. 

For example, a 100-decibel noise like a lawnmower, leaf blower or jackhammer would reduce to around the same volume as a quiet conversation, office background noise or refrigerator. 

That is a significant reduction and it, therefore, says a lot for the acoustic properties of plasterboard that it can be reduced to such an extent. It is a great choice for those looking to achieve greater levels of sound reduction.