Before discussing what s wrong with using carpet the walls for soundproofing let s examine the difference between soundproofing and sound absorption.
Sound absorbing carpet for a wall.
The big three stc sound transmission class stc is simply a numeric value defining how well a building or in this case a floor is at reducing the effect of airborne noise.
It s particularly effective for use under carpets because it s so thin.
Soundproofing materials are useful for stopping sound from entering or leaving a particular room.
An acoustic curtain for an average size window can weigh 15 pounds and lies flat against the wall or window trim to block out sound and actually deflect it back outside.
Bxi sound absorber 16 x 12 x 3 8 inches 6 pack high density acoustic absorption panel sound absorbing panels reduce echo reverb tackable acoustic panels for wall and ceiling acoustic treatment 4 2 out of 5 stars 390.
They re made to improve the sound inside a room such as a home theater but they re also helpful in reducing sound transmission through walls.
What to look for.
This stuff you d actually put around the floor joists so under your flooring and it does the same job as insulating a stud wall.
Sound deadening floor insulation.
You may have heard the term sound absorption as well as soundproofing before and assumed them to mean the same however these are in fact different strategies for fighting unwanted noise.
Of course the walls absorb some of the sound as well as people and furniture but hard surfaces definitely create the echo effect.
Some noise absorbing curtains glide along tracks for easy opening and closing.
They are often used interchangeably but there is a notable difference between them.
This type of carpet turned out to be a favorite.
Providing the carpet is porous not one with a sealed rubber backing it can be used to cover a cheap absorbing material such as medium density rockwool mineral wool slab 50 to 100 mm thick to create an effective mid high absorber with an attractive cosmetic finish that also prevents the mineral wool fibres from escaping.
The dense material prevents sound waves from echoing.
Absorbing sound with acoustic panels.
Orange shag back in the 70s many acoustic studios were using wall treatments to take in the sound.
Sound absorbing carpet padding carpets with a cheap pad don t perform as well as a carpet with a thicker more dense noise absorbent padding.
Acoustic panels absorb sounds before they can bounce off walls and ceilings.
Alternatively fibers in carpet soak up the sound like a sponge providing less echo than wood or tile.
So you ll want to use them for things like blocking the music.
What materials absorb sound.