Hot Toddy: Soundproof Walls
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Quiet Riot: Soundproof your space with fabric and foam. -
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Posted by ReadyMade
Project by Todd Oldham; photo by Kate Lacey
If your rock star ambitions are constrained by the shared-wall syndrome that plagues urban dwellers, put up some smart-looking sound-muffling panels. Not only will foam trap sound, it will also improve acoustics. Turn a closet into a recording studio, or cover a wall from floor to ceiling and rock the padded jailhouse look. The pattern shown here will cover a 9' by 7 1/2' area in 18" by 18" squares, but customize at will. (Placing squares in a diamond layout, for instance, adds length to a room.) You can leave the edges raw or trim them with a grosgrain ribbon and contact paper dots, as I did here. Use self-adhesive Velcro or back the pieces with cheap wood paneling if you want to save your walls. Silicone caulk or a few finishing nails are a more permanent option. The self-healing surface of your new padded wall doubles as a bulletin board for your about-to-go-platinum albums and phone messages from Spin.
Skill Level
Easy
Active Time
Weekend
Cost
$$$
- 68 square feet (14 2' x 8' panels) of 1" Styrofoam insulation (often called Blueboard; see Tip)
- 23 yards of dollar-bin fabric
- Duct tape
- 26 yards of 1 1/2" grosgrain ribbon
- 120 Velcro dots
- Thumbtacks
- Contact paper
Materials
- Pencil or marker
- Measuring tape
- Straight edge
- Utility knife
- Scissors
- 1" hole punch
Tools
Measure the Styrofoam into 18" x 18" squares.
Align a straight edge along your marks and use the utility knife to cut out the squares. Take care to protect those music-making fingers!
Cut your fabric into 24" x 24" squares.
Center a Styrofoam panel in a fabric square and, wrapping the pad like a present, fold and secure the edges to the back of the panel with duct tape.
Repeat Step 4 with each of the squares.
Type A rockers will want to take measurements and mark them in pencil on the wall before putting up each panel.
Affix four Velcro dots to the reverse of each panel and, making sure they align, put corresponding dots on the wall.
Attach all panels to the wall.
Measure and cut lengths of ribbon to cover the vertical and horizontal seams, adding about 4" to allow the ribbon to wrap around. You should have four 9'4" lengths and five 7'10" lengths in all.
Align each piece along a seam, and attach the ends to the back of the end panels with duct tape.
Stick a thumbtack through every point where the ribbons intersect.
Use the hole punch to cut dots out of contact paper, and cover each thumbtack.
Bring the noise.
Tip: Most DIY megastores also stock Soundboard, which is thinner, cheaper, and just as sound-absorbent as Blueboard.
