How to Soundproof a Hole in the Wall: 6 Easy and Cheap Ways
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If you are hearing that annoying sound and you finally decide to do something with it, then there are several things that you should know.
Namely, most of the people rush into decisions of spending a lot of money for soundproofing without even checking the real problem.
Most of the time, the very problem can be a hole in the wall.
Yes, you heard it!
The tiniest hole can obstruct your sleep just like that.
When my family and I moved into a new apartment, we rushed into some decisions about soundproofing the whole room without even seeking for the real problem.
So, we spent a lot of money for some unnecessary methods of soundproofing instead of finding out first what the problem is.
Finally, when we have done soundproofing some parts, we found out some little holes in the wall that made a problem much bigger than it seemed.
Therefore, the first thing to know about soundproofing is to go step by step.
Your priority should be to inspect first and just afterward commit to the solution.
Inspect for the holes, as they might be the biggest problem (in most of the times).
Also, solving this problem is much easier than any other method of soundproofing.
Nevertheless, you will spare some money.
Of course, some methods are pricier than others, but all in all, soundproofing the holes is the cheapest among all soundproofing methods
How to Soundproof a Hole in the Wall
1. Use green glue or other alternatives
First of all, we need to define what is the size of the hole that you want to seal.
If the hole isn’t that big (from some cables that were going through), then your problem has a really cheap solution.
Both green glue and this substance (Touch n’ foam) are fitting products for this cause.
They basically work similarly and have the same effects. It’s up to you which one will you use.
How do they work?
Well, since they are quite strong substances (glue-based substances), they will easily fit into every hole and seal it in no time.
Other than soundproofing, you will benefit from several other things:
- Great thermal insulators
Simply put, green glue or its alternative will not only soundproof those holes that you have, but prevent thermal leaking, as well as cold air coming through them.
In other words, your thermal bills should be a bit smaller than with those holes unsealed.
- Good against insects
These glue materials will seal those holes and make it impossible for the smallest insects to invade your room.
2. Put the foam and use soundproofing material for the bigger holes
Of course, if the hole is quite bigger, then using green glue or any other sealing substance won’t most likely solve the problem.
You need an alternative for this one.
If you are in a rental property and don’t want to waste much cash on fixing the problem, or whatever the reason is for seeking the cheaper method, then the most reliable solution is to use some special acoustic panel, that you previously cut in size to fit the hole.
Since these panels are probably not as thick as your wall, you will most likely need several layers of them to fit your wall hole.
Click here for reviews of the best acoustic foam panels.
Now, one panel can make a difference; imagine what few layers of it would do to the noise!
Acoustic foam panels are great noise absorbers, and in most of the cases, they will cut the noise by 60-80%.
Effectiveness also depends on the level of that noise.
Just make sure that you cut them so there is a several millimeters difference between the foam and hole in the foam’s advantage.
That way, the foam will perfectly fit and fix itself inside the hole.
We recommend the Acoustic Pro Fabric Wrapped panel. Fabric is 2x more effective than foam in sound absorbing. It also improves sound quality and speech intelligibility by reducing reverberations and echoes and it is Made in the USA.
Other than acoustic foam panels, you can use:
- Try soundproofing curtains
As their name says pretty much, soundproof curtains are mostly used to soundproof windows.
However, they are thick and great soundproofing material anywhere you put it.
You can use soundproof curtains to cover the hole in your wall as well.
When choosing a soundproof curtain, you should probably look for some with eyelets.
It’s quite easier to put it and cover the hole, rather than making your own eyelets.
This particular model is the one that I would recommend to anyone.
- Go with soundproofing blankets
Soundproofing blankets are similar to the soundproofing curtain.
True, they are quite uglier than a curtain can be, but when it comes to soundproofing, they will do even the better job than curtains.
This soundproofing blanket is quite cheap and can do the job in several minutes.
Soundproofing blankets are quite thick and heavy, so the only problem is hanging them on your walls.
You might need a help when installing them or you can simply cut it to the hole’s size and fit into as a temporary solution.
3. Make your own box frame
For this procedure, you will need few things for the start, and of course- a bit more effort.
You will need to make your own removable box frame which will fit the size of your hole.
It might sound strange and hard, but it really isn’t. You can make this box frame just in a couple of hours.
Here is the list of things that you will need in order to manually make the box frame:
Once you gather all of the aforementioned materials, you are ready to start making your own box frame for sealing the hole.
There are few simple steps, and I will guide you through all of it:
Step 1: Measure the hole
The first thing that’s on your list is to measure the dimensions of the hole so that you find out how big frame you need in order to cover the hole.
Once you get your measurements, you are ready for the next step.
Remember to do this carefully. The frame needs to fit tight in order to soundproof that hole properly.
Step 2: Use a measured hole size to create a wooden frame that fits
Once you find out what is the perfect size for the hole, use these measurements to accurately create the wooden frame.
For this purpose, you will need the aforementioned quarter round.
My husband uses this material for creating a lot of household items, so it will perfectly suit your problem as well.
Step 3: Create one more frame
You will need one more frame in order to place the Lucite between these two frames.
The procedure is the same. Make one more frame using quarter round and some nails, and put them aside for the moment.
Step 4: Put the Lucite
Once you have created the frame of your box frame, you are ready to use the Lucite.
Lucite is a great plastic material that is widely used for these purposes.
It will soundproof the hole, prevent thermal leaking, and block those insects from invading the house.
Use these two frames and put the Lucite in between.
Of course, measure the Lucite previously to fit it into the frame.
Step 5: Finish
Once you have done all the previous steps, you will need a glue gun, and of course- a glue to seal the Lucite to the frame.
While using the glue gun, be careful, as the glue may reach your hands and cause some unnecessary and unwanted problems.
Take all the precautionary measure while making your own frame box.
Leave nothing to the case.
Once you have put the Lucite and sealed it to the frame with a glue gun, you should leave it for a short period of time to let the glue take its effect.
Once it cooled down, you are ready for the final and most satisfying step.
Step 6: Use the box for the hole
After fulfilling all the previous steps, you will finally be able to prevent that noise coming from the outside, or some other room.
Use your manually- made frame box with Lucite to fit into the hole.
Once you put it inside, you will be able to enjoy your silence finally.
As you can see, this method sounded like a hard one, but actually it should be a walk through the park for you.
Also, once you finish it, you will feel your inner craftsman’s pride as well!
So, here you are: not only that you will be content with the noise reduction, but with your abilities of a handyman as well.
On Soundproofing a Hole in The Wall
Here are several most common solutions to the holes problem.
The first two methods are quite simple ones, and will not require much investment.
However, the third one requires just a bit more effort, but in the end, once you have finished with it, you will sleep undisturbed and enjoy your peace.
Hopefully, this article will help you improve your overall peace, and seal those annoying holes once and for all.
How to Soundproof a Hole in the Wall: 6 Easy and Cheap Ways
Are there noise leaking through the wall which annoy you? Learn how to soundproof a hole in the wall with easy and cheap ways. Click to read!
Instructions
- Measure the hole
- Use a measured hole size to create a wooden frame that fits
- Create one more frame
- Put the Lucite
- Finish
- Use the box for the hole