Why sound gets through, and how we stop it
Noise travels two ways: through the air (voices, a TV) and through the structure (footsteps, a door closing, a washing machine). Most walls and ceilings are built to stand up, not to stop sound, so both pass straight through. Good soundproofing in Victoria, BC deals with both: it adds mass, breaks the path between the two sides, absorbs sound inside the cavity and seals the gaps where noise leaks.
What goes into a soundproofed wall or ceiling
Depending on the room and the budget, we use a combination of:
- Acoustic insulation in the wall or ceiling cavity to absorb sound.
- Decoupling with resilient channel or sound isolation clips, so the finished surface isn't rigidly tied to the framing.
- Added mass on the finished surface, with damping between layers where it makes sense.
- Acoustic sealant at every edge, and sealed boxes behind outlets and fixtures, because a small gap lets a lot of sound through.
- Solid-core doors with proper seals, since a hollow door undoes a good wall.
Suites, bedrooms, offices and media rooms
We soundproof the ceiling between a main floor and a basement suite, shared walls in townhomes, bedrooms beside a living room, home offices where you need quiet for calls, and media rooms where you'd like to turn the volume up without the rest of the house hearing it.
The best time is during a renovation or basement build-out, when walls and ceilings are already open. We can also soundproof an existing finished room; we'll tell you honestly what each option will achieve before you decide.
Finished to the same standard as the rest of the house
Soundproofing shouldn't look like soundproofing. Once the acoustic work is done, we finish the room with trim, doors and paint so it matches the rest of your home. Ask about finishing carpentry and interior painting to complete the job.
We provide soundproofing across Greater Victoria, including Langford, Colwood, Saanich, Esquimalt and Oak Bay, with evening and weekend scheduling available.