Drywall Vs. Acoustical Tile for Soundproofing

Theory

• Soundproofing is designed to keep sound from passing through a wall. It can do this by blocking the sound waves, by depriving them of a medium through which they can travel, by decreasing the vibrations on which sound is dependent or by using a combination of all three of these methods. Because acoustical tile is specifically designed to dampen sound, it is usually more effective than drywall. Acoustical tile is designed to absorb sound waves, while drywall is designed primarily as a wall covering. Installed properly, either one can greatly decrease the amount of sound that travels through a wall.

Structure

• When sound goes through a wall, it travels through the covering of the wall, usually drywall, through the studs that hold up the wall and then through the covering on the other side of the wall. Whether using drywall or acoustical tiles, you can greatly reduce the amount of sound that travels through a wall by creating an air space between the two sides of the wall. This is done by building two rows of studs that are slightly staggered. When the two sides of the wall are each attached to different studs, they function as two separate walls with an air space between them.

Retrofitting

• If you are trying to make a wall more soundproof after it has already been built, you probably don't want to tear down the whole wall and rebuild it. You can make a wall more soundproof by attaching acoustical tile over the surface of the existing drywall. This decreases the vibration of the drywall in the presence of sound and thus decreases the amount of sound that is conveyed through the wall. The same effect can be created by attaching another layer of drywall over the existing layer. The two layers, when screwed together to the studs of the wall, are less susceptible to vibration.

Cost

• Acoustical tile is more expensive than drywall. Drywall is simply gypsum sandwiched between two layers of paper, and so it is fairly inexpensive to manufacture. Acoustical tiles feature a more complex structure that is designed to trap sound, so they cost more to manufacture and thus must be sold at higher prices. Most people who are simply trying to create a quieter home opt for inexpensive drywall, while professionals in fields such as music production need higher-quality soundproofing and use the more expensive acoustical tile.