Comprehensive sound insulation of walls, ceilings and floors will help prevent extraneous noise from entering your apartment. But completely soundproofing an apartment is very expensive and not always advisable, especially in cases where the source of annoying noise is a specific apartment. If you are annoyed by your neighbors on the floor, you can get rid of the noise in their apartment by soundproofing adjacent walls. In this article we will figure out how to soundproof walls.

When building new houses, there is an increasing tendency to reduce the weight of the structure. This allows you to reduce foundation costs, which negatively affects the sound insulation of the room. Not everyone is interested in hearing what their neighbors are doing. That is why soundproofing an apartment is a concern not only for those who live in old panel houses, but also in new buildings.

Due to the large assortment of soundproofing materials on the market, you can get confused. The choice should be approached responsibly, because each material has its own purpose. Increasingly, people are interested not only in how well the material will combat sound, but also whether it is safe to use in a residential area. Not everyone wants to breathe phenol vapors and install glass wool.

In this article we will look at materials for soundproofing walls Russian manufacturer MaxForte.

Which can be used for framed and frameless schemes.

MaxForte EcoPlate

Sound-absorbing basalt slabs made of volcanic rock.

They have excellent acoustic properties. The slabs are used for soundproofing the most complex objects: cinemas, recording studios.

Material with impeccable ecology. Can be used as fire protection. High sound absorption coefficient α W at all frequencies (including low).

Without phenol and slags.

1. Non-flammable material.
2. Without smell.
3. Resistant to moisture.

MaxForte EcoAcoustic

Plates made of polyester fibers (acoustic synthetic padding), without glue in the composition. To give shape, thermal bonding technology is used. The material does not emit or contain harmful substances. Only primary raw materials are used in production. To maximize sound absorption, aerodynamic fiber laying is used. When working with the material, no special clothing, gloves or a respirator are required.

1. Made from homogeneous raw materials.
2. No fiberglass.
3. Hypoallergenic product.
4. They are not afraid of water.
5. Maximum class “A” for sound absorption.

MaxForteSoundPro

Rolled composite material, new generation. Created taking into account theoretical developments in the field of building acoustics. With a thickness of 12 mm, it provides maximum protection against airborne and impact noise. An irreplaceable material in small apartments. No glue or chemicals included. Also acts as fire protection and thermal insulation.

1. Completely non-flammable.
2. They are not afraid of water.
3. Without phenol and odor.
4. Easy installation.
5. Maximum class “A” for sound absorption.

MaxForteSoundPro And MaxForte EcoPlate

For enhanced sound insulation, a combination of materials is recommended, for example - MaxForteSoundPro And MaxForte EcoPlate. Using such a scheme will allow you to obtain the highest possible sound absorption, including low frequencies(stereo systems, home theaters)

But it is not always possible to “eat up” precious centimeters from the wall and need to be done as subtly and effectively as possible. In this case, frameless sound insulation will be a proven option.

How to install sound insulation without making a frame with MaxForteSoundPro:

Everyone chooses the best method for themselves based on their strengths, personal preferences and financial capabilities.

If you make soundproofing according to our recommendations, you can safely count on good comfort and silence.

Soundproofing of walls is carried out using the following materials:

• • Self-adhesive soundproofing membranes.

• • Combined panels with a layer of sound-absorbing materials.

• • Plates made of synthetic and mineral materials.

• • Mineral wool.

• Cork panels.

In addition to the basic materials, depending on the soundproofing method you choose, you will need:

• Metal profile or wooden blocks for frame guides.
• Drywall, particle board or other decorative coating for wall decoration.
• Double screws.
• Fastenings for plates.
• Screws.

Each soundproofing manufacturer has its own installation technology, so you may need additional Consumables, not included in the list.

Installation of sound insulation

Preparatory work

Before you begin installing sound insulation, it is necessary to carry out a number of preparatory work:

1. Remove old wall covering (wallpaper, decorative panels).
2. Remove sockets and switches. If there is a distribution box for wiring on the wall, remove the cover from it. Don't forget to turn off the power first.
3. Remove the wires from the box and the sockets for the switch and outlets.
4. Extend the wires for the switch and sockets to the length of the future insulation.
5. Temporarily insulate the exposed wire ends.
6. Fill the nests and box with cement mortar or foam.
7. Inspect the wall and the joints between the slabs for cracks.
8. Seal the cracks with cement mortar.

If you have little knowledge of electricity, then invite a professional electrician for work related to wiring.

Frame making

The best way to block sound is the frame method of sound insulation, so we will consider it in our article:

1. Place a thin soundproofing membrane over the entire wall area. You can use a self-adhesive membrane or use special glue for fastening.
2. Make a frame frame; to do this, install vertical guides along the edges of the wall, as well as horizontal ones, under the ceiling and on the floor. To secure the guides, use dowel screws.
3. Install the vertical guides inside the frame, at a distance of 40-50 centimeters from each other.
4. Place soundproofing material between the frame rails. To secure the sound insulation in the frame, you can use glue or a bendable metal strip attached to the guides with screws.
5. Inspect the frame for voids and gaps. There should be no gaps or empty space in the frame.
6. Lead the wires of switches, sockets and wiring through the insulation.
7. Install plasterboard sheets or other sheets on the frame finishing slabs. When installing panels, make holes for junction box, switch and sockets.
8. Seal the seams between the panels.
9. Carry out installation finishing coating walls (wallpaper, plaster).
10. Install sockets, switch and junction box.

Soundproofing methods without frame

To save space, many people prefer to use a frameless soundproofing method. This method really allows you to reduce the thickness of sound insulation by 2-3 centimeters, but at the same time, the quality of noise insulation is significantly reduced.


For sound insulation without a frame, they mainly use combined panels that are glued directly to the wall. After this, the panels are plastered or covered with wallpaper. In addition to gluing, soundproofing panels and slabs can be installed on the wall using special fasteners located in the corners.


In addition to rigid slabs and panels, sound insulation without a frame can be made using soft rolled material, for example, a self-adhesive membrane. The membrane is glued to the wall and covered with finishing panels. True, the quality of sound insulation with this method leaves much to be desired.

All noise can be classified into three categories: airborne, impact and structural. The most common type, of course, is airborne noise - this includes the sounds of passing vehicles, the hum of equipment, and the sounds made by animals and people.

The ability of a material to protect from noise will tell you the index of sound insulation – Rw.

Impact noise, as the name suggests, occurs when shocks occur, such as when hammering nails or moving furniture. Finally, structural noise is the sounds of nature that penetrate the structural elements of a home.
The key characteristics of soundproofing material are sound insulation and sound absorption. It should reflect or absorb sound, preventing it from entering the room.

From the point of view of acoustic engineers, there are no soundproofing materials in nature - only special designs, in which structure is extremely important. Often, builders use multilayer systems in which sheets of dense plasterboard alternate with layers of porous materials, such as mineral wool. But, unfortunately, they reduce living space and are quite expensive.

The secret of effective sound-proofing – a combination of special design and material.

Review of popular soundproofing materials

Modern technologies make it possible to use simpler and more cost-effective materials that provide insulation from external and internal noise. Thus, ZIPS sandwich panels have proven themselves well on the market. They are a combination of dense gypsum fiber and soft glass wool layers. Their thickness varies from 40 to 130 mm, and Rw is 10 dB.

A thinner material is ISOPLAAT heat and sound insulating boards. Their thickness does not exceed 25 mm, and their sound insulation index is twice as high as that of ZIPS - 23 dB. In addition, ISOPLAAT is made from environmentally friendly fibers coniferous trees. The boards are mounted using glue and “breathe” well.

The thinnest panels are EcoZvukoIzol and Kraft - 12 mm and 13 mm, respectively. The first ones are made of a seven-layer cardboard profile with the addition of quartz sand, the second ones are made of wood fiber boards. Both are easily attached with ordinary glue. The sound insulation index of both is approximately 23 dB.

Finally, it is worth warning about the most common misconceptions. There is an opinion that materials such as cork, PPE, polyurethane foam do a good job of soundproofing and at the same time, due to their small thickness, help save square meters. In fact, this is not entirely true - they only absorb impact noise, but do not at all isolate from the air.

If it is possible to place a soundproofing system on the side of the sound source, we recommend this option. The fact is that the concrete panel or brickwork as a rule, it is a more massive obstacle to the path of a sound wave than an additional structure. The more massive it is, the stronger the sound absorption. If some of the sound is sufficiently reflected and attenuated before it enters the concrete or brick, it will not come out. In this case, strong sound suppression is not required at the input. As a result, there will be enough thin wall sound insulation, and the whole solution will be cheaper.

When the structure is installed on your side, the output sound encounters a less massive barrier and penetrates more easily into the room.

What to do if there is no way to isolate noise from neighbors?

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to install sound insulation with outside, entrance or other room where the noise comes from. Will there be any benefit to installing it inside your room then? Undoubtedly it will. But in this case, in order to effectively combat noise, it is worth making a more massive “sandwich”. Precisely “massive”, not thick. Our solutions use a special, denser type of stone wool. This allows you to achieve higher noise absorption without increasing the thickness. This material is used in the Optima, Thin, Thin Plus and Maxima solutions.

Trust us to carry out soundproofing work professional firms, engaged in soundproofing apartments and rooms.

What materials cannot be used for soundproofing residential premises?

The following materials are not suitable for soundproofing premises:

• Styrofoam;
• Chipboard, fibreboard, cork;
• polyethylene foam, polypropylene foam, polystyrene foam;
• polyurethane.

Using these materials you will not achieve the desired result. And in some cases, you can even make the situation worse. For example, foam plastic, when rigidly attached to the surface, only increases sound conductivity. Those. noise can increase by 5 dB!

Also on the market today there are many materials positioned as sound insulators and noise absorbers. Some of them really work, and can, if the client wishes, be used as part of frame sound insulation. Unfortunately, using only one layer does not give the desired effect. The sound is damped either not strongly enough, or only in a certain frequency range. Those. You won’t hear a high-pitched whistle, and music with strong bass will thunder just as loud as before.

Egg cartons don't work either.

Noise levels for different types of sounds

Why do you have to do additional insulation?

In modern SNiPs, which are used in the construction and design of buildings, as a norm for standard concrete floors, thickness 140 mm, sound insulation index Rw=52 dB. Moreover, it consists of the indicators of the overlap itself plus the increase in the index due to the device of the leveling screed.

As we can see from the infographics, Rw = 52 dB, just enough to not hear what your neighbors are peacefully talking about over a cup of tea. If they start being a little louder - swearing, laughing, watching action movies or listening to music without headphones, we will hear it. Every 10 dB is perceived by the ear as approximately doubling the volume.

It's good that all this noise usually refers to air type. Indirect transmission of sound waves through structures adjacent to the partition is weak. This means that it will be quite enough to soundproof only the partition adjacent to your neighbors in your apartment. The most effective option is a vibration-decoupled multilayer structure. or consult by phone to choose the most suitable option.