How to properly soundproof partition walls made of plasterboard. How the cost of materials and construction of a partition wall affects the quality of sound insulation. What materials are used for insulating partition walls. Why special attention should be paid to the type and quality of carpentry
A partition wall is often the only solution to create another room in an apartment and provide additional privacy for the household. However, visual protection is not enough if the partition wall does not have adequate sound insulation and does not retain sound.
Sound insulation – as important as physical separation
Plasterboard and metal framework are practical methods that can be directly installed on any surface without extensive preparation, including parquet. Additionally, this is a form of dry construction that does not involve much mess and is completed very quickly. Also, a plaster wall can be treated as a temporary solution, which can be easily removed after a few years if it is no longer needed, and the room dimensions can be restored with minimal repairs.
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However, when it comes to plasterboard partitions, one detail requires special attention, and that is sound insulation. Sometimes, it is not enough to physically partition rooms to prevent light and views from passing through. If the new room is not soundproofed, depending on its purpose, this can significantly reduce its usability and living comfort.
Plaster – an affordable and efficient solution
Working with plasterboard is very advantageous. They are perfectly flat, mounted on a metal structure, so even craftsmen with little knowledge and experience can easily achieve excellent results. However, details that need to be done correctly after the work is finished are not visible, so many people are very satisfied with the work done, not knowing that the quality of the work in terms of sound insulation could have been much better.
It is essential to fill the cavity between the plasterboards with mineral wool. It is crucial that the mineral wool completely fills the space to avoid leaving gaps in some places. In such cases, so-called sound bridges occur that transmit noise, so if the insulation is poorly installed in a few places, it negates the rest of the well-insulated wall.
In principle, the quality of sound insulation depends much more on the quality of the work than on the cost of the material used. Even if a lot is invested in material, it will not be enough if the work is not done professionally.
Stone wool or glass wool?
Stone wool or glass wool is used for insulation. Stone wool has a higher density and is therefore a better sound insulator, but it is delivered in rigid boards that are harder to fit perfectly within the plaster wall. Glass wool is delivered compressed in rolls. When unpacked, it is more like a sponge, making it more suitable for filling the plaster wall, especially if there are complex parts, such as places where various installations and pipes pass through. If the sound-insulating material is installed correctly, stone wool is a better choice.
A step that most craftsmen skip as unimportant is applying insulation tape. It is glued to the floor and walls at all points where the metal framework rests. This creates an elastic connection between the walls and the metal structure that prevents noise transmission. The metal framework is attached to the floors and walls with screws and plastic plugs. If the room has a dropped ceiling, it must be removed at that point so that the plaster wall can be screwed to the solid ceiling. Besides the need to fix the plaster wall at the top, this is necessary because otherwise, noise would freely pass through the cavity above the dropped ceiling from room to room.
Pay attention to the quality of carpentry
When constructing a partition wall, another very important item to pay attention to is the doors. In most cases, a door needs to be installed in the partition wall so that the room created by the partition can be used. When a room is partitioned, there is usually a problem with free space, so sliding doors are often installed instead of standard ones.
These doors generally provide poorer sound insulation. They lack an adequate rebate and threshold, allowing sound to pass through, nullifying all soundproofing techniques used during wall construction. If it is a workspace or bedroom requiring good sound insulation, it is necessary to ensure that the door itself provides adequate sound insulation. These are generally high-quality standard doors with rebates, seals, and thresholds.