How to Soundproof a Loft

How to Soundproof a Loft
March 16, 2022

Table of Contents:
Loft Noise Problems
Soundproof Loft Walls
Soundproof Loft Floors
Soundproof Loft Ceilings
Soundproof Loft Doors & Windows


There’s no way to sugarcoat it — soundproofing is not an easy job. A loft is an open space, which is one of its appeals. And open spaces are naturally very difficult to soundproof. But while you cannot turn your loft into a perfect sound-resistant bubble, loft soundproofing is possible, with a little ingenuity. Here are some tips and soundproofing solutions to consider in your loft space.

Common Noise Problems in Lofts

The first step toward successfully soundproofing your loft is understanding common noise problems. The main noise concerns in lofts come from their construction. Lofts are wide-open areas, often with high ceilings. This means that sounds can easily reverberate around the room, leading to louder noises and more disturbances. Noises from outside can enter and build up, swirling and echoing around the room.

So, you’ll have to make the most of the surfaces available to you while using the right soundproofing products. Doing so will help you achieve more pleasing acoustics in your loft and get the echo and reverb under control. Below, we’ll look at the four areas you should address when soundproofing your loft room — its walls, floors, ceilings and doors.

How to Soundproof Loft Walls

Here, we see the main problem — lofts don’t really have walls. Therefore, if you want to block sound, you’re going to have to build them.

1. Acoustic Partitions

If you don’t have the construction know-how or cash to put up drywall, you can put up acoustic partitions in strategic locations that can catch a lot of the sound. These partitions will section-off areas of your loft, creating quieter areas and reducing a noise’s ability to travel and bounce around the loft.

put up acoustic partitions to reduce noise

2. Soundproof Insulation

If you do put up a new wall, make sure to add soundproofing insulation while you’re doing it. After framing the new rooms, you’ll fit the soundproof loft insulation between the studs like you would regular construction-grade insulation. This loft sound insulation will keep sounds and vibrations from traveling through your loft’s new walls. You don’t want to put in all that effort for a thin wall that lets all the sound through anyway.

3. Acoustic Panels

If you have any existing walls, you might try adding acoustic panels to absorb unwanted sound. Acoustic panels hang on walls and reduce an area’s unwanted sounds. You can even get art acoustic panels to fit your loft’s style while improving acoustics.

How to Soundproof Loft Floors

A loft floor is one place you can really make a difference when it comes to sound control.

1. Use Rugs

Put down thick rugs to soften impact noise and block noise from below. Instead of letting noises bounce back and forth between the floor and ceiling, thick rugs will dampen echos and make movement around the loft quieter. You can also use soft furniture to your advantage, as beds, couches and futons are great at absorbing sound.

2. Install Flooring Underlayment

You may even be able to put down a flooring underlayment to really fight incoming sound from below. It’s best to take this action during a construction or renovation phase, as it’ll involve removing the floor to add the loft sound insulation underlayment. However, the results of making your loft more soundproof could be worth it to you.

Shop Floor Soundproofing Products

How to Soundproof Loft Ceilings

Typically, loft ceilings have a lot of exposed rafters, which can create soundproofing challenges. Is there a way to turn this obstacle into a benefit?

1. Use Hanging Baffles to Absorb Echoes

One thing you may be able to do is hang echo-absorbing baffles from those rafters. These baffles have an attractive design aesthetic and are also great at absorbing sound from above.

2. Install Soundproof Ceiling Systems for Sound Isolation

If you’re in the new construction phase or planning renovations, you can take a more invasive approach to soundproof your loft ceilings with the isoTRAX® Soundproofing System Ceiling Package. Use this system to provide acoustic separation between layers of your ceiling, giving your loft great sound isolation qualities.

How to Soundproof Loft Doors and Windows

solid doors to block unwanted sound

You might be surprised how much sound can find its way through your windows and doors. Soundproof loft doors and windows the same way you would soundproof these items in a home. Here are some suggestions:

  • Weatherstripping: Put weatherstripping around the doors and windows. Sealing these cracks will stop unwanted sound from coming in.
  • Double-pane windows: Replace single-pane windows with double-pane or storm windows. Having an extra layer of glass on your loft windows will make a huge difference in blocking outdoor noises.
  • Solid doors: Hollow doors are notorious for letting sound through. If you’ll be putting up doors in your loft area, choose solid doors to act as barriers for unwanted sound.
  • Door sweeps: Soundproofing door sweeps act like weatherstripping in that they fill the gaps around your loft door to block sound.

Purchase Materials For Loft Soundproofing

The above strategies can be surprisingly effective at controlling your loft noises, and you can find all the soundproofing products you need to carry out these loft soundproofing strategies at Soundproof Cow.

If you are still skeptical about your ability to soundproof your loft, Soundproof Cow can help. Get in touch with us now and we’ll do an acoustic analysis for free, with no obligation. We’ll tell you which of our soundproofing products are best for your needs and how and where to install them.

If noise in your loft has been driving you crazy, don’t give up hope. Find the right soundproofing products for your loft at Soundproof Cow today.

get in touch for a free acoustic analysis

 

Learn More About Apartment Soundproofing

How to Soundproof an Apartment

How to Soundproof a Rental Property

wave designAuthor

About Ryan Yaukey

Soundproof Cow Representative

Ryan has been with Soundproofcow.com since 2013 working on many different types of commercial projects. He specializes in custom applications required by specific building codes and architects. He started in the construction industry building houses. These projects taught him how to construct a home based on standard building codes in Pennsylvania. While on college breaks, he worked on electrical, plumbing, drywall repair, and all types of property maintenance. These skills allow him to remodel portions of his own properties, as well as assist contractors, architects, and homeowners complete their soundproofing renovations successfully. In the beginning if his career at soundproofcow.com he specialized in working with flooring contractors. This experience made him very familiar with STC and IIC ratings for a variety of assemblies. These IIC-rated assemblies determine how much impact sounds transfer in condos and multicomplex facilities which can be a major nuisance. Knowledge of these ratings as well as all types of soundproofing products, have given Ryan the ability to fix customers’ noise issues. His research on all types of soundproofing and sound absorption products foreign and domestic allow him to procure and customize the correct products for a client’s specific need. Please reach out with any questions regarding soundproofing, sound absorption or the application of materials.

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