If you have a basement, you’re lucky.
Not only does this mean you are living in a landed property, but it also means you have space that could be converted into an entertainment room, living area, or ‘man cave’.
The more time we spend in our basement, the more chance of noise disturbance. There’s also the potential to disturb people upstairs from sounds emanating from below. This is especially true if you are making a racket (bands and music producers, take a bow!).
Soundproofing your basement allows you to get more out of the space and cut down on disturbances.
This guide on ‘How to Soundproof a Basement’ will help you to reduce noise pollution. This article can help you to reduce noise leaving or entering the bottom room in your house.
We’ll go through the main elements involved in basement soundproofing, before offering some advice on the cheapest and best approaches.
Skip to:
- How to soundproof a basement ceiling
- How to soundproof basement doors
- How to soundproof basement windows
- Soundproof Genius hack: Cheapest method to soundproof a basement
- The best way to soundproof a basement
How to soundproof a basement ceiling
There is nothing below your basement. That’s why you can focus your attention on soundproofing your ceiling.
Other parts of your basement may need soundproofing attention. And we will cover them. But it makes sense to start with the ceiling.
Now, let’s get one thing straight from the off. This guidance on soundproofing your basement ceiling is for finished properties. If you are in the process of constructing a property, there are ways you can give your basement ceiling soundproofing qualities by adding mass and structure with insulation, drywall, and resilient channels.
So let’s get to it. Here are some ways you can soundproof the ceiling of your basement:
Soundproof the floor above your basement
Attack the problem from above. The simplest approach is to apply a few noise reduction techniques on the floor above your basement.
As we know, adding mass – along with filling gaps – is one of the two overriding principles of noise reduction. So why complicate things working from below? Start by adding mass to the floor of the room above.
A thick carpet or rug can help. If you don’t want to install a heavier carpet, cover weak spots on the floor above with a heavy rug. Aim for areas with plenty of foot traffic. This can muffle footsteps and other everyday sounds.
Carpet underlay is another option for adding mass. Mass loaded vinyl (MLV) is good value and easy to install for this purpose. It can slot underneath your existing carpet, where it acts as a sound blocker.
Top Tip – if there is one area of the ceiling under which you can hear footsteps loudest, cover it with a piece of furniture to divert traffic.
Add mass to the basement ceiling
On the other side, you can also use MLV to add mass to the ceiling. Ideally, this is done by taking off the drywall first, installing the MLV, and then adding new drywall. That’s a job alright! And you are likely to need professional help. So as an alternative, consider stapling MLV to the ceiling. We know, it looks a little unsightly. But luckily, there are other options…
Acoustic ceiling tiles are great for absorbing sound and reducing reverberation around your basement. They are available in more colors than MLV, which usually just comes in black. Not only that, but they are relatively lightweight and easy to clean with a quick wipe. You can have a go at installing acoustic ceiling tiles yourself, sticking them on with self adhesive or cement. Here’s a useful acoustic ceiling tile installation guide.
Acoustic panels are also a viable option. The acoustic panels you might have seen on recording studio walls can be effective at absorbing sound, but they aren’t effective as MLV at preventing the transfer of sound between rooms. Fabric or foam acoustic panels are better at absorbing sound; reducing echo and reverberation within your basement.
How to soundproof basement doors
Where there are doors, there are potential gaps. After you’ve dealt with your basement ceiling, you may want to turn your attention to soundproofing your doors.
A basement will typically have a single door, and soundproofing this entry point can help to keep out distractions from upstairs, as well as stop noise from exiting.
Filling gaps around your basement door
There are all manner of ways that you can plug those gaps and block sound waves.
A door sweep is a metal or rubber blocker that sits at the bottom of the door to keep out noise. They are either easily slid on or require some simple screwing.
Door gaskets block spaces around the door. Fitted along your basement door frame, they are made of materials such as tubular rubber, reinforced foam, and rolled vinyl. While a door sweep reduces noise entering or leaving below your door, a door gasket can take care of the sides and top.
A door threshold is a bit like a door sweep. The main difference is it’s attached to the floor, rather than the door. Door thresholds allow you to open and close your basement door without dragging the door sweep. However, if being quick and easy to install is a priority, go with the door sweep.
We shouldn’t forget door seal kits, which give you components such as door thresholds, door jambs, and automatic door bottoms (a spring device that automatically seals your door after closing). Door seal kits offer products to seal gaps in one handy package.
Adding mass to your basement door
We are always talking about MLV at Soundproof Genius because it plays the role of sound blocker so well with its excellent mass-to-thickness ratio. Now if you want your basement door to look incredible, placing MLV on its inner side might not be the best option for you. But if blocking sound is the key, adding one or two layers of MLV to your door with self adhesive is such an effective, quick and cheap option. But remember – MLV won’t soundproof your door if you don’t seal the gaps around your door, too.
Acoustic sound panels and soundproof blankets are other good mass adders for your basement door. Acoustic panels can reduce the amplitude of sound waves by increasing air resistance and are easy to install with self adhesive or nailed on. Soundproof blankets (look for the fiberglass ones) will usually cost you more. They form a tight seal over your door, are hung easily with grommets, and can be taken on and off when you like.
More drastic methods of adding mass to your basement door include swapping your hollow door entirely for a solid core door or filling a hollow door with insulation or sand. For reasons of cost and convenience, you might want to look at other solutions.
How to soundproof windows
Some basements have windows. They might face out onto an outdoor staircase, or into a drain.
Windows let in external noise, even when they are closed. For this reason, if you want your basement to be a haven of peace and privacy, consider the following measures.
Double glazing works, but it comes at a price. Single-pane windows have a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating of 26-28. This means they can reduce the noise of a passing motorbike (90 dB), for example, by about 27 dB to 63 dB. Double pane windows have an STC rating of 35, so they can reduce sounds by 7 dB more than single-pane windows, taking the noise of a passing bike engine down to 55 dB. Double glazing is a permanent noise reduction solution for your basement windows, but some of you might not be prepared to pay upwards of a thousand dollars for this solution.
From adding mass to filling gaps – sealing the gaps along your basement windows with acoustic caulk is a much cheaper option than double glazing that can make a difference. Acoustic caulk is made from latex and can do the important job of filling gaps between the frame of your basement window and the interior wall. It’s easy to apply with a caulking gun and can be hundreds of times cheaper than double glazing! FYI, Acoustic caulk is usually white.
Noise reduction curtains can absorb sound waves to reduce noise in your basement, as well as offer you more privacy and block out light when you wish. They offer you a few different styles and materials to choose from.
Then there are storm windows, which are essentially a cheaper alternative to double glazing that offer many of the same benefits, including noise reduction and protection from extreme weather.
Find more options in our article on How to Soundproof Windows: 9 Effective Ways
Soundproof Genius hack: Cheapest method to soundproof a basement
Despite offering you valuable space, some people may view their basement as the ‘poor relation’ of their house. That’s why you might not want to spend a lot of money to soundproof this room.
We think the most cost-effective and painless way to soundproof your basement is to focus on the floor of the room above.
A heavy carpet, carpet underlay, rug, or a combination of these floorings can make a world of difference. Not only can these measures muffle the noise from foot traffic coming into your basement from up above, but they can also reduce the noise escaping your basement and traveling upstairs.
The best way to soundproof a basement
We understand. You are on a mission to soundproof your basement and are prepared to spend the time and money – within reason – to do so.
In this case, we suggest that your plan of action should be as follows:
1. Add a heavy carpet, rug, or carpet underlay to the flooring of the room above.
2. Fill any gaps around your basement doors and windows, using methods such as door sweeps, door seal kits, and acoustic caulk.
3. Consider measures to soundproof your basement ceiling, such as adding acoustic ceiling tiles, or if you have the budget, to install MLV behind new drywall.
