How do you insulate a bedroom from noise?

Roads, cars, café terraces, aeroplanes... If you live in a city centre, you're probably exposed to noise all the time. And if your bedroom is poorly insulated, this noise can prevent you from getting a decent night's rest. Too much noise in your bedroom? Here's what you can do about it.

Understanding the types of noise pollution

To choose the most suitable soundproofing solution for your bedroom, it's essential to understand the different types of noise pollution you face.

Nuisances fall into two categories (each category requires a slightly different approach):

1. Airborne noise: is the noise that travels through the air. It accounts for the majority of noise pollution in Luxembourg homes (traffic, chatter outside, horns, etc.). These are the easiest to deal with.
2. Impact noise : vibrations or shocks transmitted through the building's structures. Typical examples are the sound of neighbours' footsteps, machines running (dishwashers, washing machines, lifts, ventilation) or stairwell noise transmitted through the walls of the building. These noises are more difficult to deal with because they affect the structure of the building.

Solutions to insulate your bedroom against airborne noise

Here's how to reduce

• Insulate your walls: The walls of the room allow noise to pass through. Ideally, double up your walls with insulating plasterboard (metal framing or glued). This will greatly reduce the passage of sound waves, but you will lose some floor space in your bedroom.
• Insulate the ceiling : This is especially effective if the noise in question comes from your upstairs neighbours. In this case, a suspended acoustic false ceiling is the most effective solution, with a suspended metal framework fitted with anti-vibration springs and mineral wool acoustic insulation placed between the old and new ceilings. However, if you don't have the space, you can opt for an insulated stretch ceiling - this technique will only require a height of 5cm.
• Replace your windows : Windows are a major source of noise when they are no longer airtight or are too old. Have them replaced with perfectly sealed models with double or triple glazing. You'll notice the difference instantly.

With all these measures, you can reduce transmitted noise by -25 to -35 decibels (which is considerable, as the decibels correspond to a logarithmic curve)

Once you've done all this work, you shouldn't have any problems with noise in your bedroom. Contact a professional for a free quote in Luxembourg.

Solutions for building structure-borne noise

This approach will be more complex because it involves large-scale work.

• If it's coming from your home, you can try and see if it can be solved by adding insulation under your flooring. For example, if you are bothered by footsteps, special insulation can absorb these shocks and reduce their transmission. This is particularly the case in homes where the floor coverings have been laid directly on the concrete slab (without a screed or intermediate insulation).
• If the nuisance is coming from another dwelling or a communal area, there is unfortunately little you can do. If the property is new or recently built, try to arrange for a survey to be carried out, which could be covered by the building's ten-year guarantee. If not, try to find out whether other neighbours are affected so that the matter can be referred to the co-ownership association. If the nuisance is unbearable, it may be possible to find solutions at building level, but this will be a long process.