Soundproof for sex

[Abbe W]

There are lots of threads about soundproofing for music, rehearsal rooms, home theaters, but not a single one about soundproofing a room for sex. Maybe it doesn't matter what you're soundproofing for, and people don't want to admit why they're really asking?

I don't know anything about soundproofing at the moment - so please give me your best links, tips, and references to other good threads on the topic. However, I think the biggest question I have is: Is there any difference if you're soundproofing for sex? We're talking about soundproofing a bedroom - is it more or less important than, for instance, for a rehearsal room?

Room within a room is probably the best way to soundproof, as I understand it, but if the room is already quite soundproof - can it be increased even more without changing the construction? What functions do various soundproof panels, tiles, and carpets serve in practice?

Today we have a basement bedroom with a heavy fire-rated and soundproof door, and if you're loud there, it doesn't reach the floor above at all. However, we're moving and starting to consider how we should think when we look at houses. I also want to get an idea of how much work it would take to achieve a reasonably soundproof room. Those of you who have soundproofed a room for various reasons and done it yourself - what did it cost?

Thanks in advance for all the knowledge you can share!

I have an entire wall soundproofed against the living room area to our bedroom/walk-in closet section. It's done with double drywall and an OBS board on both outer layers, then a fiberglass insulation, plastic, and then an air gap not connected via beams up and down and vice versa to the next room. This dampens well but not completely against loud singing or laughter. It's enough for me to be able to sleep even if the party continues.

Blueprints are available on Svensk Träguide, an excellent site for all timber construction.

 

[krfsm]

How has TS thought of deceiving the children this time, when they ask -"Mom! Why are you nailing here. Why. What is this going to be?"
It can be a pedagogical challenge 😱

Wasn't it in preparation for a move that TS was asking? So then you can fix at least minor things before moving in, if it's important.

 

[engs]

Make sure the parents' bedroom is separated.

I've considered the same theme regarding layout in many houses, even new ones when looking at the builders' plans. Where the parents' bedroom is wall-to-wall with the children's.

Seems very ill-thought-out, in both directions.

Children who might accidentally hear things they don't want. When they reach their teenage years and start having partners themselves, it can be in both directions where you unwillingly hear things you don't want.

Besides bed-sharing, it could be all sorts of noise, music, a teenager snoozing 7 times, etc. An impractical layout in general.

(It reminds me of the Solsidan episode where Alex's mom moved in with them with a new guy. They're bothered by the nightly marathon sessions the elderly couple has. Until in the final scene, you see that the sound is coming from the old man standing and sanding some furniture...)

 

[nickwest]

Yes, I answered that initially.


Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying too, it's completely irrelevant.

I've already done that, the seller of those materials (sheets/plates, etc.) has the information on how each product dampens.

The cheapest and easiest is to soundproof the sound source.

What answer do you have yourself?

Is it a goal of yours to be an annoying and troublesome jerk? Leave the thread if you have nothing sensible to contribute.

 

[Nissens]

Is it a goal for you to be an annoying and troublesome jerk? Leave the thread if you have nothing sensible to contribute.

Why are you commenting on something written several days ago if you don't want to bring it up?? 🙄

You really seem like a nice guy. 😊

I'm not going to comment on your post, it speaks for itself, written with an account that has only made 5 posts. Are you afraid to use your regular account?

 

[Lovan83]

There are many threads about soundproofing for music, rehearsal spaces, home theaters, but not a single one about soundproofing a room for sex. Does it maybe not matter what you are soundproofing for and are people reluctant to admit why they are actually asking?

I know nothing about soundproofing at present - so please give me your best links, tips, and references to other good threads on the topic. However, I think the biggest question I have is: Is there any difference if you are soundproofing for sex? We're talking about soundproofing a bedroom - is it more or less important than, for example, a rehearsal room?

Room within a room is the best way to soundproof as I understand it, but if the room is already quite soundproof, can it be improved further without altering the construction? What functions do different soundproofing panels, panels, and mats have in practice?

Today we have a basement bedroom with a heavy fire-rated and soundproofed door, and if you're loud there, it's not heard at all on the floor above. However, we are moving and starting to think about how to consider this when looking at houses. I also want to get an idea of how much work it would take to make a reasonably soundproof room. Those of you who have soundproofed a room for different reasons and done it yourselves - what has it cost?

Thank you in advance for any knowledge you can share!

All credit to those of you already working on making your relationship function with an addition.

To perhaps give more direct answers to the questions...
Essentially, you want a music studio. They should be able to dampen vocals and loud instruments (think drums) from other parts of the building.
Then, how much dampening you need is something you must consider. Is it okay if it makes some noise in the adjacent rooms, or should it be anonymous what is happening in the room?
That answer will affect what kind of building you need to look for, the location of the room, and how extensive you need to convert the room.
There is no exact truth, but generally, it's easier with a room in a basement or ground floor with a concrete slab. The floor is usually the most expensive to resolve dampening against.
Ceilings and walls are “relatively” simple.
Ventilation shouldn't be a huge problem as sound dampers will likely suffice.

Regardless, many people work with these issues and can probably solve this much better than we on a forum can. Look for acousticians who work with home music studios or home theaters. It's invaluable to have someone who can guide from start with experience.
If you live in a major city, it's no problem finding these people, but if it's more isolated, you can surely get someone good to help you remotely.
I believe it's worth spending money to make the relationship work! 🙌

 

[JensHaglof]

For it to be successful, one should probably arrange the material configuration to be heterogeneous; otherwise, as mentioned, you'll likely get resonance frequencies.
Maybe glue up broken pieces of gypsum board, wood pieces, etc.?

Or partially mix styrofoam, sand, and (wallpaper?) glue into an uneven mixture?

[link] - Acoustics according to LN: Soundproofing - Wall & Construction (2018-03-05)
07:36 To dampen low-frequency sounds, you need to use very hard and stiff materials. Thus, it's not just the weight (density) that matters.
07:55 You must place damping material between the wall materials such as mineral wool.

If airtightness is essential, perhaps you can use what I suggested in another thread, which is to encapsulate the entire room in bathroom flooring that you seal with ultrasonic welding.

With all this insulation, there's a certain risk that it will get very warm in the (bed) room. So, you might need some radiator in the ceiling and a pump to transport the heat away.

Hi! Note that I wrote that you want to avoid three walls with an air gap between. You only want one air gap, or alternatively, no air gap (a thick wall). But perhaps you understood that? I haven't heard of using heterogeneous materials.

Interesting, regarding the stiffness of the boards. It sounds logical that a stiffer board vibrates less. I have, however, heard that it is solely the weight that determines it, i.e., you want to find the cheapest weight for the money. In that case, gypsum boards are best. Will research this further!

 

[Rabbithole]

Hello! Note that I mentioned wanting to avoid three walls with an air gap in between. You only want one air gap or no air gap at all. (A thick wall) But perhaps you understood that? I haven't heard of anyone wanting heterogeneous materials.

Interesting about the rigidity of the boards. It sounds logical that a stiffer board vibrates less. However, I've heard that it's solely the weight that matters, i.e., you want to find the cheapest weight for the money. In that case, gypsum boards are best. I will research this further!

Gypsum is cheap and heavy. Stiff/hard materials reflect incoming sound waves to a greater extent. Soft ones tend to absorb the waves better while the stiff materials have lower transmission losses. Loose tiles glued to insulation boards, for example, act as a reflector that doesn't transmit structure-borne sound.

The difference isn't huge, though, so it's easier to focus on more mass and thickness in the form of gypsum.

 

[JensHaglof]

Plaster is cheap and heavy. Rigid/hard materials reflect incoming sound waves to a greater extent. Soft ones tend to absorb the waves better, while the rigid materials have lower transmission losses. For instance, loose ceramic tiles glued on insulation boards work as a reflector that doesn't transmit structure-borne sound.

The difference is not huge, so it's easier to focus on more mass and thickness in the form of plaster.

Yes, that sounds more logical. A hard surface vibrates more and longer, not worse. It should be easier to set it in motion.

 

[4774]

The risk is that the children talk to teachers, neighbors, etc., who may have a different narrow view of sex or misunderstand. Especially when there is both moaning and spanking involved. It can take time to explain to such people, and there are better things to spend time on. Social services boards are particularly filled with peculiar people.

Do you mean that people in general are so prudish and concerned that they see sex between two adult individuals as something that must be eradicated from society? I understand what you mean, but can it really be that bad? My goodness, people are killing each other left and right, but woe to the adult who wants some fun, pleasurable sex. Then social services will take the children, school administration will be appalled with disgust. Sex is the most natural thing that exists between two consenting adult people, and it was thanks to our parents' sex that we were all born (more or less).

 

[spikplanka]

You only want an air gap or no air gap at all. (A thick wall) But perhaps you understood that? I haven't heard of wanting heterogeneous materials.

It seems counterintuitive that more density variations (air-versus-mineral wool etc.) would reduce dampening. The only downside should be size and material use.

Heterogeneous materials are from the experiences when I got tips from the acoustics doctoral student. They break up sound waves.

Do you mean that people, in general, are so prudish and concerned that they see sex between two adults as something that must be eradicated from society?

There are plenty of peculiar individuals in power positions. And there are quite a few people who feel the need to step in when someone acts outside their established norms.

 

[TRJBerg]

Exactly, and the simplest solution is for the wife not to scream. Do you mean that there are more problems?

Obviously, your/woman/women haven't had it good enough to need to scream.

 

[spikplanka]

I have the entire wall facing the living room space soundproofed to our bedroom/walk-in closet section. It's done with double drywall and an OBS board on both outer layers, then a layer of insulation, a plastic sheet, and then an air gap that is not connected via beams up and down and inversely out to the next room.

Like this?
Drywall
Drywall
Insulation
Plastic sheet
Air gap
Plastic sheet
Insulation
Drywall
Drywall

Thickness of the materials?

 

[TRJBerg]

The cheapest option is to tell the kids that mom is screaming because she won in an adult game.
+ NO, you may NOT come and watch!

 

[jonko]

The MSB has a guide for constructing rooms intended for the delivery of confidential information, which contains some suggestions on how to build to achieve different levels of soundproofing.
https://rib.msb.se/filer/pdf/28771.pdf