![]() ![]() When used with other products, it can increase a wall’s STC rating to 58, which is a big improvement.īut, this is perhaps the biggest drawback of Green Glue. Green Glue has plenty of test data on its website that shows how its products help improve STC ratings. This is what helps them reflect and dampen sound waves. It’s effective only if it’s spread in between two layers of stiff and dense material, like drywall.īoth the damping compound and acoustic caulk never fully cure, meaning they stay slightly rubbery. You spread it on a sheet of drywall during construction, adding another layer of damping to the wall structure. The damping compound does exactly that, dampen.The acoustic caulk works much like any other sealant, except it has viscoelastic properties (like mass loaded vinyl).However, it’s excellent at insulating from impact sounds (ΔIIC: 25). It’s a fairly good sound blocker but not as good as MLV. It’s more than 3 times cheaper than MLV (1lb density). The underlay that I found provided the best STC and IIC on the market is the FloorMuffler UltraSeal. A dense, spongy material is your best bet for floor underlayment. Polypropylene foam is a good option, but so is cork. Instead, pay attention to the material used in the underlayment. I discuss how STC and IIC ratings for underlays are calculated and their limitations in a different article. ![]() This is when it’s used as part of a floating floor setup, which is a lot of work. For example, FloorMuffler Underlayment claims to have an STC of “up to” 73. However, be cautious when looking at these units. IIC stands for Impact Insulation Class, and I probably don’t need to explain what this measures. The market is flooded with products that apparently provide world-beating STC and IIC ratings. It acts as an extra layer for muffling impact sounds and airborne noises passing through a floor/ceiling structure. You can put floor underlayment under hard floors and carpets, but it’s particularly useful for the former. I provide STC ratings where possible, so you can get a good idea of what works best. So, my best mass loaded vinyl alternatives suit different areas of a room. For example, you wouldn’t use the same product for soundproofing floors and walls. The right alternative to mass loaded vinyl will depend on where you’re applying it. The 4 Best Mass Loaded Vinyl Alternatives So, for the best mass loaded vinyl alternatives, we must look for products with similar STC ratings. The STC of mass loaded vinyl can be anywhere from 20 to 32, which is decent for such a thin product. STC of a wall/material is measured by comparing the noise level difference between emission and reception. The higher the number, the more sound it attenuates. To measure a material’s ability to attenuate sound passing through it, we use a rating called Sound Transmission Class (STC). Impact sounds, on the other hand, require spongy materials or decoupling hard surfaces with softer ones. While mass loaded vinyl will help with both, it’s more useful for airborne sounds because most waves don’t go through, and dissipate when they come into contact with it. We use different methods to block and/or absorb impact and airborne noises due to their differing energy levels when passing through structures. The footsteps create vibrations, which pass through the floor and come out the other side as sound waves. Impact noises come from an object hitting a surface, such as footsteps on a floor.Common examples are TVs, people talking, and music from speakers. Airborne sounds are waves that travel through the air into surfaces (such as a wall).We can divide sound waves into 2 types: airborne and impact. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |