Bathrooms in most modern apartments and homes are located next to a kitchen or bedroom.
Soundproofing the bathroom is important to ensure privacy.
In this blog post, you will learn about a few tips to help soundproof a bathroom.
How to Soundproof a Bathroom?
When it comes to soundproofing your bathroom, there is no one thing that can do the trick.
You have to analyze and see what makes the most noise and see what all you can do to make sure that the noise is subdued and prevented from going out.
here are 11 effective methods that you can use to soundproof your bathroom
Installing a Solid-core Door
Most interior doors are hollow and don’t provide adequate sound resistance. A solid core door is more expensive, but it also provides better soundproofing benefits.
Solid wood doors have dense sold wood inside.
The solid core repels the sound waves from entering or going outside the bathroom. In contrast, the hollow core doors allow the noise to pass through without any resistance.
Soundproofing Bathroom Doors
A door is the main source of noise from the bathroom. Soundproofing the door is important to block airborne and impact noise.
You can install mass loaded vinyl (MLV) available in most hardware stores to block the noise.
To install the MLV, you only require a hammer, screw gun, and some screws. This will dampen both the impact and airborne noise. So MLV is recommended if you have a noisy washing machine in the bathroom.
Another option to soundproof a bathroom door is to use a spray adhesive. The adhesive will serve as an effective barrier against airborne noise.
In addition, using acoustic panels can also do a great job of reducing airborne noise. You can screw the panels or use hanging strips to hang them over the door to dampen the noise.
Lastly, you can hang a heavy blanket in front of the bathroom door. The blanket can be hung on a curtain rod that can lead to significant noise reduction.
Soundproofing Windows
Double pane windows are more effective in blocking the noise as compared to single-pane windows. There is a space between the two panes that effectively blocks the transfer of noise from the inside to the outside.
Another option to soundproof the windows is by installing thick window shutters. The extent of noise reduction depends on the type of shutters.
Insulated polyester shutters provide better sound insulation properties as compared to wood shutters.
Similar to soundproofing the door, hanging a heavy blanket or acoustic panels can also help in insulating the windows.
Installing storm windows on top of the existing windows can also help reduce the noise. The addition of storm windows creates extra insulation.
Contact a professional to install a storm window as even a slight mistake will make this method ineffective in soundproofing the bathroom.
Soundproofing Bathroom Walls
Soundproofing the walls are recommended when remodeling the bathroom. Ask the contractor to install a soundproof insulation material between the walls.
Wainscoting is a common method to dampen noise and strengthen the wall. It involves installing wall panels that add mass and provide additional soundproofing.
Installing a wall tile can also help dampen the noise.
Tile is a hard material that blocks sound waves. You can install the tiles over the sheetrock or cement board for extra soundproofing.
You should also fill up any holes and cracks in the walls.
Even a small gap can result in noise escaping from the bathroom. To plug the cracks, you will need tape, spackle, a tray, sandpaper, and a knife. You can also pick up a kit at Home Depot to fill the cracks.
Soundproofing Bathroom Floor
You should soundproof the floors to reduce impact noise. Most bathroom floors are tiled, which prevents sound from traveling through the tiles to adjacent rooms. However, the noise can travel through the bathroom floor.
Most people would not want to soundproof the bathroom floor. But if there is a studio downstairs and you don’t want any noise to pass through, then there are some options.
Installing a new layer of the floor can help prevent noise from traveling through the floor. Consider adding a concrete subfloor to the existing plywood before installation of the tile.
The dense concrete will prevent any noise from traveling downstairs.
Another option to soundproof the bathroom floor is to add a thick layer of a floating wood floor along with the padding.
This will soften the footsteps, thereby preventing noise from passing through the tile. You can also add a layer between the padding and the tile for additional soundproofing.
If you can’t afford a bathroom remodeling project, you should consider placing a plush rug. But one that is made for the bathroom since some rugs get wetter than others.
Sealing the Gaps
Soundproofing the bathroom also involves sealing the gaps between the window/door pane and frame. Moreover, you must plug the gap between frames and adjoining floor or wall.
Sealing the gaps will prevent the flow of sound from the inside of the bathroom to the outside.
You can use a self-adhesive foam seal and a door sweep to plug the gaps. Also, you should use a caulk to fill any cracks between the frame and walls.
Using the adhesive foam, door sweep, and caulk will fill the empty spaces where noise can travel outside. It will make a significant difference in reducing the noise.
Weatherstripping is a great option to fill the gaps around the door edges. It will dampen the noise and also make the door tight, thereby preventing the flow of water outside.
You can find weather strips of different thicknesses. Thicker strips are recommended as they will allow more sound reduction.
Installing Drywall
Installing drywall is yet another method to soundproof the bathroom. Drywall adds mass that blocks the sound. Consider installing thick drywall for maximum soundproofing benefits. Adding a 5/8-inch layer of sheetrock is recommended for effective soundproofing.
If you want to add additional soundproofing, you can install an acoustic vinyl layer between the layers. This will provide more sound insulation properties, thereby blocking significant noise.
Reducing the Echo in Bathroom
Echo in the bathroom is also annoying for most people. This will be a problem, particularly if you have a large bathroom.
Filling up the bathroom will help reduce the echo. The sound waves will not hit the walls and bounce back when there are many items inside the bathroom. They will get absorbed, due to which you won’t hear the echo.
Placing soft materials like curtains and a thick rug can also dampen the echo. A laundry basket is a great idea to reduce the annoying echo.
In addition, you can place a towel rack with plush towels to prevent echo noise in the bathroom.
Soundproofing a Toilet
Soundproofing a noisy toilet is also possible with sound insulation material. You may want to soundproof the toilet if your bathroom is located near the bedroom.
Get a toilet cover lid to prevent it from making an annoying noise when you open the lid. Also, you should place some bumpers at the bottom of the toilet seat to dampen the loud noise when the toilet seat falls.
A toilet also makes a lot of noise when flushing. To avoid the noise, you should consider replacing the toilet with a newer one. New model toilets have smaller capacity tanks that make less noise during each flush.
Another option to muffle the noise each time you flush is to create a tight seal around the tank. You will need adhesive foam tape for soundproofing the toilet tank.
Take off the lid and dry the edges and top of the tank. Now, peel the paper off the adhesive tape and stick it around the edges.
The lid of the tank will now fit tightly. The method won’t eliminate the noise. But it will dampen the sound so that the noise of flushing is not heard outside.
Reducing Toilet Noise When Filling
Does your toilet make a strange noise when filling? If so, it can be due to faulty plumbing.
You should make sure that the internal parts and water intake is secured properly. In addition, you should also ensure that the valve is fixed correctly.
Older toilets have a problem with faulty valves. You should consider replacing the old toilet with a new as they are less noisy when the tank is filling up.
Noise from Exhaust Fan
A noisy exhaust fan in the bathroom can be annoying. You should buy the right fan that does not make a lot of noise. Larger fans that cycle more air per minute generally make more noise. These fans also don’t last long as compared to a smaller fan.
You should buy a good quality fan that is appropriate for the bathroom. Buy a small fan if your bathroom is not large. The motor of a small fan will make less noise that will not be as annoying as a larger fan.
Conclusion
Soundproofing the bathroom requires consideration of privacy preferences and cost. Some soundproofing techniques result in more dampening of the noise as compared to others.
You should select a technique that meets both the requirements of privacy and your budget.
A bathroom remodeling is recommended if you want to completely soundproof the bathroom. While this will be more costly, it will help in eliminating all types of noises.
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