Green Glue vs Quietrock: Which is Better to Reduce Noise

Let’s face it, today’s world is a very hectic and loud one.

We live in a society that almost always seems to have new ideas or methods on how to make yet more noise to drown out even the thoughts in your head.

As a mother and someone that works from home, I can tell you it’s a downright nightmare, trying to ignore the noise at times.

A son that plays drums, a husband who likes loud games and the external noise of the street and neighbors…

It could drive a person insane without much trouble if it was something you couldn't combat. We’ve talked before about some low-cost ways to make sure you can turn a room into a sanctum of silence.

Ordinarily, professional grade solutions would be a huge undertaking. You’d need to be ready to invest both a lot of time and money into a remodel, to achieve truly great results.

However, these new, modern methods are much easier and cheaper while also maintaining a high standard of quality. That’s why we’ll be focusing on them and trying to discern which is the best choice for you, out of them.

Green Glue vs Quietrock

First, let’s make sure we touch on some key points for why these two are so effective:

So, while we are comparing these today, rest assured that both are good and valid choices and we shall only be delving into them to provide more explanations and give you a better idea of what the right choice is for you and your specific situation.

Let’s go down the list:

Which Works Better?

To answer this question, let’s look at some of their general characteristics and compare those, in order to understand why one might be more effective than the other:

Green Glue relies on a polymeric formula that's made in such a way that the energy of air vibrations made by sound is converted into almost negligible amounts of heat.

In this way, it dissipates noise quite handily, simply by redirecting and dispersing it with nearly flawless ease.

It needs to be applied between two materials to achieve this, as it needs this chamber, the space between two pieces of drywall, let’s say, to work its magic.

This additional requirement is probably the reason why it gets such good scores on tests for sound dampening, managing to come damn near close to perfect and total reduction.

QuietRock relies on a totally different principle. It’s by no means worse for it or unusable, but the gist is that it’s based on panels and using them to block noise.

Whether you use it on its own or over existing drywall, the principle remains the same.

The panels of gypsum are engineered to give the highest performance possible, far more than their counterparts can normally manage, even when compared to other, more outdated double layer panels of gypsum.

This material the panels are made of allow QuietRock to block out noise and push it away, essentially deadening its impact and then re-directing it.

It has a range of thickness options as well, allowing you to choose what fits your situation best.

At the end of it, looking at scores alone and general end results, the Green Glue edges out QuietRock by a margin that is noticeable.

It’s by no means an absolute victory that makes it head and shoulders above the competition, but be aware that ultimately it does end up blocking more noise.

Installation and Ease of Use

While effectiveness is an important thing to consider, the appeal of these products is that they’re a lot less of a mess to install than most other traditional soundproofing methods.

That’s why we need to discuss which of them outperforms the other in this arena, as well. To do so, we’ll consider:

Additional Materials

The first item on the list puts QuietRock solidly in the lead for this category, as it is the kind of product that is ready to go as soon as you unpack it.

You simply buy it and bring it home, then put it up where you need soundproofing. Your job is then done.

You can also stack on QuietCoat and QuietPutty for additional sound deadening effect. They are manufactured by the same company and complement well.

With Green Glue, things are a lot more complicated, comparatively speaking. It’s still not complicated or difficult by any stretch, but it’s decidedly less simple.

First of all, you need at least one additional layer of drywall as an added material, because it functions on the principle of being sandwiched between two materials to work.

Additionally, you should use a caulking gun as well, which is an added necessity.

Time

Now, let’s get into the second bit of the list. Again, Green Glue is ousted here, as it does take more time, both due to needing to be careful in applying it and taking more time overall with its application’s method.

After all, filling in a gap between walls is bound to be more of a time-sink than simply plastering something over a wall. So, QuietRock wins again.

Adaptability

In the next category, we come to a bit of a snag. Both of these products are high quality and can provide insulation without any real need to change things up too much.

However, we do have to consider the fact that Green Glue does necessitate some changes, even if it’s nothing radical. QuietRock is merely going to be going on things, or even under them and that’s the end of the story.

It's done its job and you can get on with your life. The best example I can give is that you can comfortably place it where a TV fixture was, return it afterward and all is well. It's a much less intrusive way to do things.

Versatility

The final point on the list provides an upset. When it comes to versatility, both are amazing, but Green Glue is a much more valued product.

QuietRock is mostly recommended for walls and isn’t good for ceilings or flooring.

Furthermore, while it’s good to use it with new construction, renovations are where it truly shines, thus making it far more of a specific tool for a job than its opponent.

Green Glue is extremely versatile, quite good for both floors and ceilings, on top of wall soundproofing. Furthermore, it’s good for both new buildings and renovations.

Finally, unlike QuietRock, its rating is so good that it warrants usage even in non-residential buildings.

From hospitals and office buildings to apartment blocks, its applications are quite varied. That’s why it redeems itself here, even if it still loses this round of the bout.

Price According to Need

The deciding factors in your choice should be:

• What you need the product for
• What it costs

It may seem obvious, but these two products are both very good and useful. Picking between them, in the end, comes down to what you need and can spend to get it.

It won’t surprise you at all that Green Glue is much more expensive, overall. I’ll just use that one example to illustrate just how large the gap between their prices is.

Simply put, Green Glue provides higher quality and more total coverage and soundproofing levels. That comes with a much higher price tag, even with comparatively less coverage of space offered.

On the other hand, QuietRock is much more budget friendly and able to cover a lot more of your walls and home with a lot less spending.

It often comes in at prices that are 3 times less, for material that can cover maybe twice if not three times the space Green Glue does.

This means that QuietRock is actually the better value for money proposition while Green Glue is what you choose when you need the absolute best quality.

In the end, there is no better product, as their uses and applications are highly situational, so choosing a winner that applies to every single user would be impossible to manage here.

Conclusion: Green Glue vs QuietRock

Both of these are great at what they do and a lot less of a headache than most other methods.

Now that you know their strengths and weaknesses, you can feel confident in choosing one and using it for your needs.