Nobody likes excessive noise, especially at home. If you have loud neighbors or want to be mindful of your own noise, QuietRock drywall can reduce disruptions. This type of building material effectively prevents sound waves from traveling as easily as they would through regular drywall.
What is drywall?
Drywall, also called sheetrock, is a building material made from rigid gypsum sheets with paper on both sides. You cover wall framing by hanging it from the sides of wall studs and joists using nails and screws.
Drywall Dimensions
Drywall comes in various sizes:
Thicknesses: ¼-inch, ⅜-inch, ½-inch, ⅝-inch, and even over 1 inch.
Width: Almost all drywall is 4 feet wide.
Lengths: 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 feet.
Types of Drywall
Regular Drywall
Cost: Least expensive
Typically found throughout the main living areas of a home.
Fire-Rated Drywall
Characteristics: Thick and heavy
Common in commercial buildings, residential apartment buildings, and office buildings for added fire protection.
Mold-Resistant Drywall
Characteristics: Resistant to moisture and mold
Ideal for damp areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
Soundproof Drywall
Composition: Made from multiple layers of gypsum, viscoelastic, and ceramic materials.
Helps to minimize noise transmission, making it ideal for home theaters, bedrooms, and spaces where sound insulation is important.
Knowing the basics helps you choose the right drywall for your needs. This ensures that your home or building is suitable for its purpose.
What is Quietrock Drywall?
QuietRock Drywall helps keep rooms quieter by blocking out noise. It’s like a sound shield for your walls and ceilings! This special drywall is thicker and heavier than regular drywall, so it can absorb sounds like music, voices, and footsteps. That means you can enjoy some quiet time without distractions, and your neighbors won’t hear everything you’re up to either. It’s easy to install and a great way to keep the peace at home.
How does it work?
Sound waves travel easily along rigid, hard surfaces. Soundproof drywall, like QuietRock, blocks sound with layers of gummy, rubbery, or ceramic materials. As sound waves pass through the drywall, they reach this intermediate layer and start to vibrate. This vibration traps many of the sound waves inside the drywall instead of allowing them to pass straight through.
Ideal Applications
Because of its ability to minimize sound transmission, soundproof drywall is ideal for:
Music Studios: Maintaining sound quality and minimizing external noise.
Entertainment Spaces: Creating an immersive experience without disturbing other areas.
Movie Rooms: Enhancing audio quality while preventing sound from leaking into other parts of the house.
Common Walls Between Apartments: Reducing noise pollution and increasing privacy.
Using soundproof drywall can make your space better for activities that need a quiet environment.
How does QuietRock drywall compare to other drywall types?
Manufacturers rate their QuietRock products using the Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating. A higher STC rating indicates better soundproofing performance. Conversely, a lower STC rating means more sound can pass through the material.
Effectiveness of QuietRock Drywall
QuietRock drywall is significantly more effective at reducing noise compared to traditional drywall. Here’s a comparison based on STC ratings:
QuietRock: A single ½-inch-thick layer has an STC rating of 52.
Typical Drywall: A comparable ½-inch-thick layer has an STC rating of 34.
This means that soundproof drywall is almost twice as effective at muffling noise compared to standard drywall.
Cost Comparison
While soundproof drywall offers superior sound reduction, it comes at a higher cost. Here’s a comparison:
QuietRock Drywall: Costs between $40 and $55 per sheet.
Typical Drywall: Costs between $12 and $20 per sheet.
Covering a room with soundproof drywall will cost approximately 3.5 to 5 times more than using regular drywall.
QuietRock Drywall Advantages:
Higher STC Rating: More effective at blocking noise.
Ideal for Noise-Sensitive Areas: Great for music studios, entertainment spaces, movie rooms, and shared walls in apartments.
Considerations:
Higher Cost: Significantly more expensive than traditional drywall.
Soundproof drywall is worth the extra cost for places where noise control is important because it blocks sound better.
How to soundproof a room with QuietRock drywall
When soundproofing a room with QuietRock drywall, you have two options. You can either install QuietRock drywall or use multiple layers of standard drywall.
Location:
Location is important because some areas of residential or commercial properties experience higher occupancy than others. For instance, soundproofing a basement requires a different approach than soundproofing a living room. These differences will help you decide which type of sheetrock to use.
Here’s a detailed guide on both ways.
Method 1:
Installing soundproof drywall is similar to installing typical drywall, with a few extra considerations. Follow these steps for effective soundproofing:
Measure and Cut:
Measure the wall space and transfer the measurements to a sheet of soundproof drywall.
Cut the sheet to the required length and width.
Install Drywall:
Position the backside of the soundproof drywall against the studs.
Hold the sheet in place and secure it by driving nails or screws through the drywall into the studs. Ensure the fasteners cause a dimple, not a tear.
Continue this process around the room, making sure to tightly butt adjacent sheets against each other for optimal soundproofing.
Finish the Wall:
Apply drywall compound and tape to the joints.
Sand the compound smooth and prime the wall.
Advantages:
Installation time is similar to that of traditional drywall.
Offers an effective STC rating of about 52.
Considerations:
Heavier than single-layered drywall, making it slightly more time-consuming to install.
More expensive than traditional drywall products.
Method 2: Double Up on Traditional Drywall
Installing two layers of standard drywall can also effectively soundproof a room. This method involves a bit more work but can be cost-effective.
Measure and Cut:
Measure the wall space and transfer the measurement to a sheet of traditional drywall.
Cut the sheet to the required length and width.
Install First Layer:
Position the backside of the drywall against the studs.
Secure the sheet by driving screws through the drywall into the framing. Avoid driving screws too deeply to prevent tears.
Optional Step: Add Mass-Loaded Vinyl:
To improve sound absorption, attach mass-loaded vinyl to the first layer of drywall before continuing.
Install Second Layer:
Install an additional layer of drywall over the first, offsetting the seams to avoid overlap.
Secure the second layer with screws, ensuring tight joints to prevent sound transfer.
Finish the Wall:
Apply drywall joint compound and tape to the joints.
Sand the compound smooth, prime, and paint.
Advantages:
More effective than a single layer of soundproof drywall.
Typically ⅓ to ¼ the cost of soundproof drywall on a sheet-by-sheet basis.
Considerations:
Takes twice as long to install because of the additional layer.
May require modifying outlets, using longer fasteners, and adding more weight to the framing.
Higher labor costs if hiring professionals.
Both methods have their advantages and drawbacks. QuietRock drywall is quicker to install and highly effective but comes at a higher cost. Using two layers of drywall is cheaper and provides great soundproofing, but it takes longer to install. Choose the method that best suits your budget and project requirements.
Final Thoughts
You have the option to use either QuietRock drywall or conventional drywall for soundproofing. The benefit of QuietRock drywall is that it provides greater soundproofing with less thickness. With conventional drywall, you can achieve an STC level of 68 by using two layers on each side of the wall.
However, using a single layer of QuietRock on each side can nearly match this with an STC rating of 52. Although soundproof drywall is more expensive, it eliminates the complications associated with installing double layers of conventional drywall.
Contact ROA Drywall For QuietRock Drywall Installation
ROA Drywall provides drywall repair and drywall installation services in Pflugerville, TX,. If you are looking for Quietrock drywall installation services to reduce noise we are here to help you. Reach out by calling at 512 293 9899 or submit a form below our friendly team of drywall installation will assist you.