Green Glue isn’t actually glue. It is not an adhesive, but a soundproofing or noiseproofing product.
If you are asking yourself ‘what is Green Glue?’, there is a lot more to it than that. This guide discusses what Green Glue is, its benefits, how to use it, and asks DIYers for their Green Glue experience. The article is concluded by some frequently asked questions.
Skip to:
What is Green Glue?
Green Glue is a compound used to reduce noise transmission, also known as a sound dampening compound.
It is a product manufactured by Saint-Gobain and is a viscoelastic (with characteristics of both a solid and a liquid) substance that is largely water-based.
Green Glue comes in tubes – usually 29 oz – and is applied by squeezing out onto a surface in beads. The compound also comes in 5 gallon buckets.
It is usually sandwiched between two layers of building material, such as drywall, and works by absorbing sound waves, and converting them into heat (this is known as sound dampening).
Thanks to its highly effective performance in sound transmission loss, Green Glue is favored by construction professionals and DIYers in soundproofing projects for residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
Benefits for soundproofing
Green glue disrupts the pathways of sound transmission, and is an alternative to traditional acoustic caulk. Its benefits for soundproofing include:
- Cuts sound transmission through walls, ceilings, and floors significantly – according to the manufacturer, Green Glue can improve the sound transmission class (STC) rating of a partition such as a wall or ceiling by 12 when sandwiched in between two layers of drywall. That means, when used in this way, Green Glue can reduce noise transmission by 12 decibels (dB).
- Enables thinner partitions – because Green Glue doesn’t take up much space, it can allow you to use less material when soundproofing a wall, saving on space and money.
- Easily applied – Green Glue isn’t only for construction professionals. You’ll find it easy to use even if you are a DIYer with moderate experience. You don’t need any special skills or training.
- Provides resistance to mold and moisture – the compound is resistant to mold growth. Also, Green Glue is unaffected by water and humidity, but the sealant is not intended to be a water seal, or to be used on exterior surfaces.
- Affordable – Green Glue won’t break the bank. You can make cost savings compared to buying extra layers of drywall or using more insulation for your soundproofing projects. You can buy a 28 oz tube of Green Glue for around $30. Consider purchasing larger packs of 6, 10, or 12 tubes to make a saving. The 5 gallon buckets of Green Glue are available for around $450.
How to use Green Glue
Green Glue can be used with a variety of building materials, from drywall to OSB and plywood, offering another layer for noise reduction.
Among the popular applications of Green Glue for soundproofing are: Recommended applications include:
- New walls & existing retrofits
- Multi-family party walls (shared walls between apartments or business units
- Home theaters
- Recording studios
- Office partition walls
See our infographic below for ways in which Green Glue can be used:
Whichever purpose you are using Green Glue for, the basic process remains the same. We’ve broken the process down into 6 simple steps:
- Clean the whole surface of the area you wish to soundproof. This will ensure proper adhesion.
- Select and prepare the layer you will place on the surface, sandwiching the green glue. This may be drywall, plywood or another material.
- Use a knife to open the Green Glue tube, making a ¼ inch hole.
- Screw the nozzle tightly on top of the tube’s tip, before cutting another ¼ inch hole.
- Secure the Green Glue tube in a 28 oz caulk gun. You are now ready to apply the compound.
- Apply the green glue evenly over the surface of the second layer of drywall (or other material). Applying the substance in a zig-zag pattern of beads is fine. Aim to leave a gap of 2 to 3 inches between each line.
You’re done! It may take 24 hours for the Green Glue to dry completely, so be patient. If you are painting a wall or ceiling afterward, allow 48 hours before you begin.
Additional green glue tips
- Comprehensive coverage – cover the surface in its entirety. The more surface you cover the better. Depending on the size of the surface, you might find that you use more Green Glue tubes than you thought! See the image below for the idea:
- Seal edges – corners and crevices are important. You should make sure that the compound reaches all of these spots, as they are prime areas for sound transmission.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions – in this article, you can read a simple outline on how to use Green Glue, but you should also refer to the manufacturer’s instructions when you start using the product.
User stories
We’ve done the rounds to ask real Green Glue users on Reddit about their experiences.
How effective did construction professionals and DIYers find the compound? What did they use it for? And did they have any horror stories to share?
Kai used Green Glue for his home theater project and was impressed with the compound. He found it more effective than adding only mass (drywall). Kai said of its noise reduction capabilities:
“Added a good 3-6db of drop per wall and ceiling assembly. Acted as a damping layer between 5/8″ sheets of drywall. Completely killed 250hz+ from piercing the structure.”
He also had some words of warning:
“Don’t get this in your hair, it’s a nightmare to remove.”
Jason is a construction professional. He said that Green Glue is often requested by customers, but that it was hard to ascertain just how much difference it made:
“I use it on occasional studio or rehearsal spaces in construction, but mostly because the customer or acoustician specs it. I don’t have results on hand, but there may be a slight noticeable difference in actual impact sound on a wall, but not much else.”
He also warned users to be careful when applying it in case they get it on their clothes:
“I have a shirt and pants just for applying green glue.”
Green Glue FAQs
Let’s conclude by answering come common queries on Green Glue:
How much Green Glue do I need?
Bear in mind the following rules of thumb when covering surfaces with green glue:
A 5 gallon bucket of Green Glue will give you enough cover for 365 sq ft.
Each gallon will cover around 40 to 60 sq ft.
A 29 oz tube will offer about 16 sq feet coverage.
Is Green Glue effective on its own?
Not really. Green Glue requires mass around it to be effective for soundproofing. It works as a sound dampener when it is sandwiched between two substrates (layers). You must ensure full contact between the substrates in order for Green Glue to be effective.
Think of Green Glue as a soundproofing product that can work with sound blocking materials such as MLV, rubber or drywall to further reduce sound transmission in between two spaces.
Can Green Glue contribute to LEED certification?
Because Green Glue is an environmentally preferred product – using a minimum amount of VOCs – and reducing the amount of resources consumed when soundproofing a building (such as additional gypsum board layers) – it can help you earn points for green building ratings. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) points are part of a rating system devised by the US Green Building Council to provide a framework for greener, efficient, and cost-saving buildings.
Is Green Glue fireproof?
While it isn’t fireproof, Green Glue is non-flammable and can contribute to an effective fire barrier. When you apply it as recommended – in between two layers of drywall or another material – Green Glue can improve fire resistance and help to form a barrier against flames.
Is Green Glue easy to use?
Yes. Green Glue can be used without any problems, even by DIYers with moderate experience. The important thing is that the manufacturer’s instructions are followed.
It is applied easily in beads using a caulk gun, or a bulk caulk gun if you are filling the gun up from a bucket of Green Glue, rather than a tube.
Where is Green Glue made?
Green Glue is made in the United States of America by Saint-Gobain. The company has facilities in Missouri and California, and has owned the Green Glue brand since 2008.
