Before going out and buying a bunch of acoustical foam for your space, you should have a clear idea of how much you need to effectively meet your soundproofing needs.
Depending on your goals and the environment in which you are installing acoustical foam, you may need more or less foam.
The preferred formula for determining how much acoustic foam you should get is a surface area coverage of 15% to 30% of your space. While this is a general statement that doesn't take into account your exact needs, it's a good starting point for anyone looking to soundproof a room or any other area.
For example, if your room has four walls and a total area of 500 square feet, then you would consider purchasing anywhere between 75 and 150 square feet. It may be wise to start at the low end of the range and work your way up until you reach the best location for soundproofing.
PE Soundproof Foam Panel
However, you may want to deal with a space that already has a lot of sound reflection, such as a dance studio or gymnasium.
In this case, you should aim for about 50% or more coverage to ensure that a fair amount of sound is properly absorbed. Many people also use this 50% coverage rule for home theaters, as it is a sure way to eliminate almost any sound problem you might encounter.
My recommendation is to purchase enough acoustic absorption foam to meet your needs. This means starting with a little foam and going from there. Depending on your environment, you may find that you prefer some reflection in your space, so there is no need to rush to spend money that can be saved for other things.
You may want to completely block sound from anywhere, which can be a daunting task depending on the environment and space you are in. There are many reasons why you would want to do this, especially if your business is dependent on it, such as a recording studio or performance venue.
Pyramid Shape Acoustic Foam
When installed facing inward and outward, acoustic foam can completely block sound while covering almost any possible surface area of the space.
Most importantly, it is important to make sure that you have acoustic foam on the other side of the walls of the room you wish to soundproof.
The problem with trying to 100% soundproof a space is the effort and money required to do so.
As I mentioned, some businesses rely on having a clean and soundproof space with no outside sound. However, these businesses can afford to do so and will do their best to ensure that their space is completely soundproofed.
However, if you want to virtually guarantee that there are no sound problems in your space, then all you really need to do is make sure that you have enough foam installed in the walls and have them facing inward and outward.
Follow this advice and you will be well on your way to being able to find a quiet soundproof space.
If you want to get more information about the types of acoustic foam, welcome to contact us today or request a quote.
