Soundproof drywall does work and is a very effective noise control solution.
Soundproof drywall, also known as soundproof plasterboard or sound dampening gypsum board, has an extra layer sandwiched in the middle which is made up of gypsum, viscoelastic polymers and ceramic material.
Combined together these form a layer within the drywall that makes it very difficult for soundwaves to pass through, making it a very effective soundproofing product.
In this article will explore how cost-effective it actually is and where to buy it from.
Contents
Standard drywall made from gypsum is easy for sound vibrations to pass through due to its rigidity.
Soundproof drywall has a rubbery material sandwiched in the middle of its gypsum layers which deadens sound energy.
Soundproof drywall is typically made up of:
Below are 4 great suppliers with a list of their best soundproof drywall products:
Manufactured by the National Gypsum Company their Soundbreak XP range features 4 different products:
Product | STC | How Thick Is It? | Fire Rating | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|
1/2" SoundBreak® XP® Wall™ Board | 53-67 | 1/2" | Type X* | Party walls & internal wall soundproofing |
5/8" SoundBreak® XP® Wall™ Board | 53-64 | 5/8" | Type X* | Party walls & internal wall soundproofing |
SoundBreak XP Retrofit® Board | up to 58 | 5/16" | n/a | Flooring |
SoundBreak XP Ceiling™ Board | 58-63 | 3/4" | Type C** | Ceiling soundproofing |
*Type X wallboard provides at least one-hour fire resistance when tested in specified building assemblies under controlled conditions. You can read more about National Gypsum's fire safety information here.
**Type C drywall uses a special type of Type X core which gives it a superior fire performance when used in certain fire-rated Type C assemblies.
QuietRock manufacture 6 different types of soundproof panel, listed below:
Product | STC | How Thick Is It? | Fire Rating | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|
EZ-SNAP | 48-61 | 5/8" | Type X | Party walls & internal wall soundproofing |
EZ-SNAP Mold Resistant | 48-60 | 5/8" | Type X | Party walls & internal wall soundproofing |
QuietRock 510 | 47-69 | 1/2" | n/a | Party walls & internal wall soundproofing |
QuietRock 530 | 52-74 | 5/8" | Type X | Party walls & internal wall soundproofing |
QuietRock 530 RF | 52-74 | 5/8" | Type X | Party walls & internal wall soundproofing |
QuietRock 545 | 60-80 | 1 & 3/8" | n/a | Commercial theaters, studios, and sound rooms. |
Manufactured by CertainTeed the SilentFX QuickCut drywall is a strong performer.
Product | STC | How Thick Is It? | Fire Rating | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|
SilentFX QuickCut | 50+ | 1/2" | Type X | Party walls & internal wall soundproofing |
ProSound's Soundboards have been developed and improved upon numerous times since they first came onto the market back in 2009, their two latest products available for purchase are:
Product | STC | How Thick Is It? | Fire Rating | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|
SoundBoard 4 System | 52-54 | 1.1" (30mm) | Fire rating 30 minutes | Domestic wall soundproofing |
SoundBoard 3 System | 46-48 | 1" (27mm) | Fire rating 30 minutes | Domestic wall soundproofing |
Understanding STC ratings, fire resistance, how soundproof drywall performs vs standard drywall and the cost differences involved are all key factors you should consider when making a purchase.
The STC rating is the most important factor to consider when looking for soundproof drywall.
The rating tells you how well the drywall attenuates airborne sound. It is done by taking measurements of a sound on either side of a wall and measuring the difference between the two sides.
You can read more on how to calculate STC rating here.
The higer the number the better at soundproofing your drywall will be.
You will notice in our tables that we have given an STC range for each drywall product. This is because the drywall will achieve different STC ratings depending on how it is installed.
For example, if a stud wall has a gap in the middle so that either side of the wall is not connected directly to the other side this minimizes sound transfer and will result in a significantly higher STC rating than it would if drywall was connected to either side of the same studs.
Most soundproof drywall panels are Type X fire-rated which basically means that it will provide at least one hour of fire resistance.
There are a few panels listed which only provide 30 minutes, generally, fire resistance depends on the thickness and density of the drywall as well as the materials used.
Depending on which type of Soundproof Drywall you buy you can pay between 5 and 20 (if you buy QuietRock 545) times as much as you would for standard drywall.
Soundproof Drywall is worth investing in for any project that is serious about stopping sound transfer.
It makes a significant difference.
Standard drywall installed on either side of a stud wall which is fitted out with 3.5 inches of Rockwool (or similar insulation) can be expected to achieve an STC rating of around 32.
This is 16 points lower than even the worst-performing soundproof drywall would achieve when installed on the same wall (48). The difference in sound transfer will be clearly noticeable.
You may be tempted to double, triple or even quadruple layer your standard drywall to try and achieve a higher STC rating however this can end up costing almost as much as some of the lower end soundproof products. You will also lose a significant amount of floorspace to drywall which isn't ideal and the labour costs for fitting 4 layers of drywall will add to your total cost too.
For commercial enterprises such as cinemas, theatres and music venues investing in high-grade soundproof drywall is an investment that is absolutely worth it because it gives far superior performance while maximizing available floor area.
Lower-grade soundproof drywall is still worth using for home soundproofing projects for the same reasons, more floor space, lower labour costs with good overall soundproofing performance.