Do you want the ultimate peaceful hideaway when you remodel your basement? You may want to consider soundproofing your walls to dampen any sound that may otherwise disturb you while you’re trying to either relax or get work done in your basement. It may seem like a drastic step to take when ensuring quiet, but having soundproofed walls in your basement can make a huge difference in productivity and rest. So here’s the full scoop on how to soundproof your basement! And the good news is – It also doesn’t cost as much as you may think!
And if you’ve already decided that soundproofing is for you, but don’t know how to go about the process… we have just the article for you! This post will help you get acquainted with installing a highly reputable and effective brand of soundproofing insulation called Rockwool.
First – What is Rockwool?
Rockwool is a company that manufactures environmentally-friendly stone wool insulation. Their brand is the only brand we recommend for soundproofing insulation due to their build quality, materials, and responsible manufacturing processes. Their company produces highly sought-after insulation and have won awards for their efforts in reducing their carbon footprint. Their stone wool is made from a mix of basalt rock and recycled slag from steel companies and is nontoxic to humans.
Benefits of Rockwool Insulation
Rockwool’s soundproofing insulation is made from sustainably manufactured stone wool. Insulating wool made from stone has many beneficial features that make it an excellent insulating material that also dampens sound. For example, stone wool is highly fire-resistant and won’t burn until temperatures reach at least 1000 degrees Celsius. Having less flammable insulation can help prevent fire damage if your house ever does catch fire.
Rock wool is also very good at maintaining the current temperature in your home, which can save you money over time in heating and cooling costs. What makes it especially useful for basement insulation is that it is also waterproof. Basements can be damp places due to their below ground level. Water tends to flow toward the lowest plane, and thus waterproof materials are especially important in basements as moisture will naturally collect in your basement. Using rockwool insulation will help prevent any mold breakouts if moisture does make contact.
So not only is rockwool great if you want to soundproof your basement , it also is a great insulation all around! It can be a good choice if you aren’t even needing soundproofing but want an efficient and safe insulation material.
How to Install Rockwool
Before you even begin installing your Rockwool insulation, you need to buy it first. Rockwool can be bought in bags of various sized panels meant to fit in standard sized stud bays. Measure your stud bays so you can purchase the correct width that will fit them best. Also consider how thick you want your insulation to be. If you’re wanting as sound proof as possible, we recommend going with at least four inch thick pieces or “batts”. They will be flush against your studs and will have a high “R-value”, meaning it will hold heat and cold better. Not only will they soundproof, but the thicker batts will also save you money on heating and cooling costs.
Once you’ve purchased your insulation, installing it is simple. Before you begin, be sure to wear a respiratory mask, long sleeved shirt, and long pants. Although rockwool isn’t made from harmful materials, like all insulation it is irritating to the touch and can be easily inhaled due to its wooly nature. Small particles of the insulation can drift off and make you itchy if it comes into contact with your bare skin. Inhaling particles is not healthy for your lungs, so a respiratory mask will prevent you from taking in small floating particles that you can’t see in the air. Now you’re ready to soundproof your basement!
Okay, what’s next?
Once you’ve taken these precautionary measures, you can start the installation process. Begin by opening the bag and taking out your first pieces of insulation. You want to start putting the insulation starting at the top of the stud bay. Press the insulation into the bay at the very top so that it is flush with the header. Begin patting it into the bay and be careful not to use too much force. Smooshing the insulation too much will pack it down and make it less effective at insulating. Once you’ve got it into the bay, tuck in any sides that are sticking out above the studs so that the insulation is flush. Again, use care to not pack down too tightly.
Now that you have your first piece in, it’s time for the second piece. Since basement heights can be different, you will most likely need to cut the second piece shorter than the first to get it to fit properly without any bunching or gaps. Measure the remaining height left to fill of the bay and then cut the second piece of insulation so that it is a half inch to a full inch taller than the measurement you just took. You can use a drywall knife or an ordinary breadknife to cut through the insulation since it cuts fairly easily.
Once it’s cut, you can tuck in the new piece of insulation below the first one while making sure you don’t press it down too forcefully. The two pieces should be tightly fit into the bay with no gaps. This ensures maximum thermal efficiency to help reduce utility costs in your home.
Hmm…what if there are pipes afoot?
If you have a stud bay that is an irregular size, you’ll need to cut a large chunk out of a batt to make it fit. Always leave half and inch to an inch of extra insulation on each side (horizontal and vertical measurements) when cutting so that there are no gaps. Once your custom piece is cut with a knife, go ahead and install it starting from the top like you did with the very first. But what about if pipes are in the way when you’re trying to soundproof your basement?
If there are pipes that run through your stud bays that you need insulation in, you can cut a batt to fit around the pipe for a snug and efficient fit. Start by marking where the pipe will be on the batt of insulation. Then cut a groove where the pipe would be into the batt and remove about a half of the insulation from the groove you just made. Now all you need to do is tuck your custom trimmed batt into the stud bay and behind the pipe. The groove should be snugly enclosed by your insulation.
If you need to install insulation in stud bays that electrical wiring is running through, you need to go through a slightly different process. Mark where the wire is running on the batt of insulation and then cut about halfway down through the thickness of the insulation on the back side. Once you’ve made your cut, just place the batt in the stud bay with the cut over the wire so that the wire goes into the cut you made, allowing the batt to sit in the bay with no issues.
Once you’re done fitting insulation into all your stud bays you’re done! As you can see, installing insulation is a straightforward process and can be done by most homeowners on their own if they want to soundproof your basement.
And that’s it! Enjoy your new quiet space!
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