Choosing the right soundproof panel is a big decision and will make all the difference in the quality of your soundproofing! Often the right soundproof panel depends on more than just your budget and you need to consider space, the type of noise, wall makeup and your wider soundproofing solution. If you need a total guide to wall soundproofing, then hop over here to find out all your need to know.
Do soundproof panels work?
Yes, soundproof panels are integral to soundproofing your wall and room panels correctly. Your type of noise complaint and the space available will determine which soundproof panel you need.
How do soundproof panels work?
The soundproof panel has a high mass makeup which allows it to reflect soundwaves. The soundwaves do not carry enough energy to transmit through the soundproof panel and cannot enter your room. Discover the science of soundproofing here.
How many soundproof panels do I need?
For soundproof panels, (not acoustic/absorption), the whole wall needs to be covered for a level finish. You can soundproof just one wall in a room but the whole wall will need to be treated to keep the surface level and make the soundproofing effective.
What are soundproof panels made of?
Soundproof panels are a layered system usually using soundproof plasterboard as a rigid base. Various materials such as mass loaded vinyl, closed cell foam and visco-elastic membrane can be adhered to this. Examples are MuteBoard 2,MuteBoard 3 and MuteBoard 4.
Do soundproof panels keep noise in?
Soundproof panels insulate against airborne noise by reflecting it. This means it keeps noise inside a room and stops other noise from entering your room, too. You are soundproofed from disturbing your neighbours with your own noise and from noisy neighbours disturbing you!
How to use soundproof panels
You have a variety of options for using soundproofing panels; they can be installed on your walls and on your ceiling. For walls, there are additional options to consider that will depend on your space, budget and level of noise. Some panels are available for ‘direct to wall’ installation which reduces your prep work and the amount of space they take up.
Other soundproof panels are designed ot be used as part of a wall soundproofing system, such as the MuteBoard 2. This is a soundproof panel made from one layer of soundproof plasterboard and with an extra layer of visco-elastic membrane, Tecsound, adhered to the back. Alone, this wouldn’t offer enough soundproofing, but as part of a wall system it is highly effective and space-saving.
Which soundproof panels do I need?
This is an important question to begin with! You might not need a premium system to tackle the noise you are hearing, but you need to check what will and won’t work. Firstly, what type of noise are you trying to soundproof against? Here are some examples to consider:
- Noisy neighbours – talking and shouting
- Music – is the base heavy?
- Drumming
- TV – is it wall mounted?
- Traffic noise
- Noisy neighbours – in a flat
Noisy neighbours that disturb you by talking, laughing or shouting are disturbing you with mid-frequency airborne noise, mostly. This is something that can be soundproofed against very well with high-mass materials. This means you might not need an independent wall system and could save time, space and money. It’s always worth talking to our helpful technical team before you source your soundproof wall panels to check you have the right solution though!
If you are struggling with heavy bass from music and drumming then you might want to consider a more heavy-duty solution. Incorporating an isolation clip will help to decouple the wall and your new soundproof panel. This reduces the sound vibrations that can pass through the wall and into your room. This system takes a little more space but would be more effective against bass noise.
For persistent issues that are particularly hard to drown out, like traffic and a TV mounted to the other side of your wall, then a full wall soundproofing solution would work well. This involves an independent stud frame, soundproof insulation and soundproof panels, of course. This is a comprehensive solution specially designed to reduce airborne noise and flanking transmission.
Which soundproof panels do I need?
This is an important question to begin with! You might not need a premium system to tackle the noise you are hearing, but you need to check what will and won’t work. Firstly, what tupe of noise are you trying to soundproof against? Here are some examples to consider:
- Noisy neighbours – talking and shouting
- Music – is the base heavy?
- Drumming
- TV – is it wall mounted?
- Traffic noise
- Noisy neighbours – in a flat
Noisy neighbors that disturb you by talking, laughing or shouting are disturbing you with mid-frequency airborne noise, mostly. This is something that can be soundproofed against very well with high-mass materials. This means you might not need an independent wall system and could save time, space and money. It’s always worth talking to our helpful technical team before you source your soundproof wall panels to check you have the right solution though!
If you are struggling with heavy bass from music and drumming then you might want to consider a more heavy-duty solution. Incorporating an isolation clip will help to decouple the wall and your new soundproof panel. This reduces the sound vibrations that can pass through the wall and into your room. This system takes a little more space but would be more effective against bass noise.
For persistent issues that are particularly hard to drown out, like traffic and a TV mounted to the other side of your wall, then a full wall soundproofing solution would work well. This involves an independent stud frame, soundproof insulation and soundproof panels, of course. This is a comprehensive solution specially deisnged to reduce airborne noise and flanking transmission.
Soundproof plasterboard – 15mm
As already mentioned, a soundproof plasterboard is a big component of a soundproof panel and will provide rigidity for the layers. It also makes soundproof panels easy to install, just like regular plasterboard. One thing to note is that soundproof plasterboard has a high mass and is quite heavy, so have an extra pair of hands if it’s a DIY job!
Soundproof plasterboard is the cheapest soundproof panel we stock, however, we don’t recommend using it as a single-panel solution. This is because it won’t provide enough of an improvement unless it is teamed up with other soundproofing materials. To make life a little easier, we offer soundproof plasterboard as a half sheet, as well as full, which makes it much lighter to move!
You can find a brilliant range of wall soundproofing systems that use soundproof plasterboard right here. You can also use soundproof plasterboard on ceilings and will find a range of systems for ceiling soundproofing here.
How to install soundproof plasterboard
Soundproofing plasterboard can be used in much the same way as regular plasterboard, but it is heavier. Our 15mm soundproof plasterboard can be scored to size easily and fitted to your wall without removing the current drywall, (providing it is structurally sound).
- Before installing, fill in any cracks or holes with a filler and ensure the surface is flat. If the wall is not sufficiently flat, the soundproof plasterboard will not have a flush finish.
- To fix soundproof plasterboard to the wall, use heavy-duty fixings of 18 per board and remember to leave a 2-5mm gap from the adjacent surfaces.
- Fix with tapered edge vertical.
- Fill all gaps, including the butting of the plasterboard joints and around the perimeter with acoustic sealant. The aim is to make sure the surface is as airtight as possible to reduce airflow, which is how airborne noise travels.
- Use a scrim tape on joins to provide a strong bond for skim plastering. You don’t require additional lining paper for skimming, it is ready to go!
Soundproof panel board for walls
Our first proper soundproof panel for walls is the MuteBoard 2, already mentioned above. This is a simple, slim-line soundproof panel that comprises of two materials: soundproof plasterboard and a visco-elastic membrane, Tecsound. Tecsound adds more resistance to airborne and impact sound by absorbing them. The slight elastic quality allows the material to flex with the sound vibrations so they are not transferred into the rigid material of plasterboard which could vibrate with it.
The MuteBoard 2 soundproof panel is another panel that should be used as part of a system. This is because we would ideally need more mass-loaded materials to confidently soundproof against airborne noise complaints. However, as part of a wall soundproofing system, MuteBoard 2 is highly effective and easy to install, thanks to the two materials pre-fused together.
What is MuteBoard 2 soundproof panel?
It’s a two layer material that can reflect airborne noise with the high mass plasterboard and then absorb some sound vibrations with the addition of Tecsound. These two material combined make it an excellent addition to premium wall soundproofing systems, but we don’t recommend using it solo.
Soundproof plasterboard – 15mm
As already mentioned, soundproof plasterboard is a big component of a soundproof panel and will provide rigidity for the layers. It also makes soundproof panels easy to install, just like regular plasterboard. One thing to note is that soundproof plasterboard has a high mass and is quite heavy, so have an extra pair of hands if it’s a DIY job!
Soundproof plasterboard is the cheapest soundproof panel we stock, however, we don’t recommend using it as a single panel solution. This is because it won’t provide enough of an improvement unless it is teamed up with other soundproofing materials. To make life a little easier, we offer soundproof plasterboard as a half sheet, as well as full, which makes it much lighter to move!
You can find a brilliant range of wall soundproofing systems that use soundproof plasterboard right here. You can also use soundproof plasterboard on ceilings and will find a range of systems for ceiling soundproofing here.
How to install soundproof plasterboard
Soundproofing plasterboard can be used in much the same way as regular plasterboard, but it is heavier. Our 15mm soundproof plasterboard can be scored to size easily and fitted to your wall without removing the current drywall, (providing it is structurally sound).
- Before installing, fill in any cracks or holes with a filler and ensure the surface is flat. If the wall is not sufficiently flat, the soundproof plasterboard will not have a flush finish.
- To fix soundproof plasterboard to the wall, use heavy-duty fixings of 18 per board and remember to leave a 2-5mm gap from the adjacent surfaces.
- Fix with tapered edge vertical.
- Fill all gaps, including the butting of the plasterboard joints and around the perimeter with acoustic sealant. The aim is to make sure the surface is as airtight as possible to reduce airflow, which is how airborne noise travels.
- Use a scrim tape on joins to provide a strong bond for skim plastering. You don’t require additional lining paper for skimming, it is ready to go!
Soundproof panel board for walls
Our first proper soundproof panel for walls is the MuteBoard 2, already mentioned above. This is a simple, slim-line soundproof panel that comprises of two materials: a soundproof plasterboard and a visco-elastic membrane, Tecsound. Tecsound adds more resistance to airborne and impact sound by absorbing them. The slight elastic quality allows the material to flex with the sound vibrations so they are not transferred into the rigid material of plasterboard which could vibrate with it.
The MuteBoard 2 soundproof panel is another panel that should be used as part of a system. This is because we would ideally need more mass-loaded materials to confidently soundproof against airborne noise complaints. However, as part of a wall soundproofing system, MuteBoard 2 is highly effective and easy to install, thanks to the two materials pre-fused together.
What is MuteBoard 2 soundproof panel?
It’s a two-layer material that can reflect airborne noise with the high mass plasterboard and then absorb some sound vibrations with the addition of Tecsound. These two materials combined make it an excellent addition to premium wall soundproofing systems, but we don’t recommend using it solo.
How to use the MuteBoard 2 soundproof panel?
We have a comprehensive wall soundproofing blog that details many different wall soundproofing methods. If you’re specifically interested in the MuteBoard 2, then you’ll be looking at the MuteBoard 2 Stud, which uses an independent stud frame filled with acoustic mineral wool for added strength.
The independent stud frame doesn’t touch the existing wall and is fixed to the adjacent wall, with a layer of isolation strip between the wood and the wall. This decouples the structures and reduces the transfer of sound vibrations through the structure. The acoustic insulation is installed between the timber joists and will help to dampen sound energy as it tries to pass through by converting it to heat energy. This also prevents the cavity from echoing, which will amplify sound!
To finish, the MuterBoard 2 is installed as a final layer of defense against noisy neighbours! This system is a strong combination of different soundproof materials to ensure that you get the best results.
MuteBoard 3 Soundproofing Wall Panel – Direct to wall
Now, if you’re looking for a direct-to-wall solution, our MuteBoard 3 can provide this. The MuteBoard 3 is what we call our ‘cheap’ wall soundproofing option as you can install it directly to your wall without any other materials needed. This makes the MuteBoard 3 a quick and slim solution for soundproofing projects that are constrained.
The MuteBoard 3 is a combination of soundproofing materials and is able to reflect a wider range of soundwaves than the MuteBoard 2 thanks to materials with different levels of mass. By including different levels of mass, different frequencies of sound will be reflected! Every material has a resonant frequency, so, say the first material vibrates with the sound that tries to transmit through the wall, then the second material with a different resonant frequency, thanks to its different level of mass, might be able to reflect it away.
MuteBoard 3 also includes a layer that is similar to the Tecsound and able to absorb sound vibrations. It adds a layer of flexibility to the rigid materials and will convert sound energy to heat as it tries to pass through. The closed-cell foam is the final layer in this soundproof panel that is sure to make a wonderful difference to sound levels in your room.
How much is MuteBoard 3 soundproof panel?
At the time of writing in 2023, it is £49.95 per sheet and is our most cost-effective direct-to-wall soundproof panel. This is why we often call MuteBoard 3 the cheapest soundproof panel, as it can be used a whole system in itself!
How to use the MuteBoard 2 soundproof panel?
We have a comprehensive wall soundproofing blog that details many different wall soundproofing methods. If you’re specifically interested in the MuteBoard 2, then you’ll be looking at the MuteBoard 2 Stud, which uses an independent stud frame filled with acoustic mineral wool for added strength.
The independent stud frame doesn’t touch the existing wall and is fixed to the adjacent wall, with a layer of isolation strip between the wood and the wall. This decouples the structures and reduces the transfer of sound vibrations through the structure. The acoustic insulation is installed between the timber joists and will help to dampen sound energy as it tries to pass through by converting it to heat energy. This also prevents the cavity from echoing, which will amplify sound!
To finish, the MuterBoard 2 is installed as a final layer of defense against noisy neighbours! This system is a strong combination of different soundproof materials to ensure that you get the best results.
MuteBoard 3 Soundproofing Wall Panel – Direct to wall
Now, if you’re looking for a direct-to-wall solution, our MuteBoard 3 can provide this. The MuteBoard 3 is what we call our ‘cheap’ wall soundproofing option as you can install it directly to your wall without any other materials needed. This makes the MuteBoard 3 a quick and slim solution for soundproofing projects that are constrained.
The MuteBoard 3 is a combination of soundproofing materials and is able to reflect a wider range of soundwaves than the MuteBoard 2 thanks to materials with different levels of mass. By including different levels of mass, different frequencies of sound will be reflected! Every material has a resonant frequency, so, say the first material vibrates with the sound that tries to transmit through the wall, then the second material with a different resonant frequency, thanks to its different level of mass, might be able to reflect it away.
MuteBoard 3 also includes a layer that is similar to the Tecsound and able to absorb sound vibrations. It adds a layer of flexibility to the rigid materials and will convert sound energy to heat as it tries to pass through. The closed-cell foam is the final layer in this soundproof panel that is sure to make a wonderful difference to sound levels in your room.
How much is MuteBoard 3 soundproof panel?
At the time of writing in 2023, it is £49.95 per sheet and is our most cost-effective direct-to-wall soundproof panel. This is why we often call MuteBoard 3 the cheapest soundproof panel, as it can be used a whole system in itself!
How to Install MuteBoard 3
How to Install MuteBoard 3
Step 1
For a direct to wall solution, begin by preparing your wall:
- Fill holes and cracks
- Add socket insulation cups
- Remove loose wallpaper
Step 1
For a direct to wall solution, begin by preparing your wall:
- Fill holes and cracks
- Add socket insulation cups
- Remove loose wallpaper
Step 2
- Measure wall
- Score and cut MuteBoard 3 to size
- Screw to wall with heavy-duty screws
Step 3
- Fill gaps and joins wiht acoustic sealant
- Finsh all joins with scrim tape ready for plastering
MuteBoard 4 – The Best Soundproof Panel
For the very best soundproof panel, you’ll be needing our MuteBoard 4. This is a great way to stop airborne noise from transmitting through your wall and call be used direct to wall or as part of a system. If you have a light weight stud wall that you need to soundproof and want a direct solution, then the MuteBoard 4 is your best choice.
The MuteBoard 4 is an upgrade on the MuteBoard 3 as it has an additional layer of mass loaded vinyl over the closed-cell foam. This additional layer has a different mass to the other vinyl next to the soundproof plasterboard. This means the MuteBoard 4 incorporate 3 different high mass materials and an absorption layer, too. Remember that with 4 layers of soundproofing material, these panels will be heavy and you should take care when handling them.
How much is the best soundproofing panel?
The best soundproof panel, MuteBoard 4, is £62.95 and will provide noise reduction of up to 49dB on a brick wall! Although the most expensive soundproof panel, the quality of reduction it provides makes the MuteBoard 4 a solid investment that will deliver you the best results.
How to install MuteBoard 4 and soundproof a wall
You have two options with the MuteBoard 4: direct to wall, or, with an independent stud frame (a system). For a direct to wall method, it is the same as our MuteBoard 3, but for the full MuteBoard 4 system, we will need an independent stud frame.
The stud frame is the first layer of decoupling in this solution and decoupling is especially effective against persistaent loud, bass noises – like music. This stud frame is erected around 5mm away from the existing wall so that they are not in direct contact. To ensure this new frame remains detached from the rest of the building, when it is secured to the adjacent walls, an isolation strip made from rubber, goes between the two walls. This reduces the vibrations that can be passed through from the existing wall to the new frame.
Inside the new fame work, we install acoustic mineral wool that helps to absorb any vibrations out of the frame. The acoustic mineral wool damps sound energy by transforming it into heat because the mineral wool does not easily vibrate with the sound energy, and so the sound is ‘exhausted’ .
Next, the MuteBoard 4 is installed to the new stud frame work and this includes the closed-cell foam layer. This layer is another way in which the frame is decoupled, as the closed-cell foam performs in a similar manner to the mineral wool and ‘sucks’ sound energy out of the other materials. To finish all of this off, we have a layer of soundproof plasterboard and two different layers of mass loaded vinyl.
This makes the MuteBoard 4 the best soundproof panel and a comprehensive solution to your sound complaints – even noisy neighbours. To discover a range of wall soundproofing solutions, you can take a look at our systems page, give our technical team a call or continue reading about wall soundproofing here.
How to build an independent soundproof wall
As you have seen, many of our soundproof panels can be used in soundproof systems that have an additional stud wall. These can be made by confident DIYer’s with a little patience. Of course, you can always hire a soundproof installer if you would prefer to hand this over to someone else though!
To learn how to make a secondary timber stud wall, watch this video.
Soundproof wall installers near me?
If the idea of building a stud wall, or so much as putting a screw into your existing wall sounds like potential for a long, frustrating weekend, then worry not. We have a network of soundproofing installers up and down the UK who can take on your wall soundproof job and make sure it’s completed to the high standards.
To find a soundproofing installer near you in the UK, fill in the short form below and get a response in 24 hours!