In most residential construction, homes are not built with sound-deadening features, even with today’s stricter building codes and advanced technology. Sound control is one of the distinguishing characteristics that separates a standard production home from a custom-built residence.
A primary focus area is bedrooms and bathrooms. These spaces often share walls, meaning a bathroom may back directly onto a bedroom, or sit between two bedrooms—conditions that can easily disrupt light sleepers. To reduce this, we commonly install fiberglass or mineral wool insulation, such as Safe’n’Sound or Quiet Batt, within the walls. In some cases, we also use a staggered-stud wall system, which prevents sound from transferring directly through the framing. While bedrooms and bathrooms are the most common locations for sound insulation, it can also be applied throughout all interior walls for enhanced comfort.
Another important area for sound control is between floors. Consider a master bedroom located above a kitchen or living area: without insulation, noise from gatherings below can significantly affect the quiet above. For this reason, we typically install sound-deadening insulation between floors over high-use areas as a standard practice, with the option to extend this to the entire first-floor ceiling if desired.
For specialized spaces, such as home offices, study rooms, recording studios, or home theaters, additional solutions are available. Options include rubber mats applied to walls and the use of RC-1 channels—aluminum strips designed to flex and absorb sound waves—on which drywall is mounted. This method, often used in dedicated media rooms, is highly effective at reducing noise transmission. Sound-deadening materials are relatively affordable compared to many other home features, and we believe they provide exceptional value for those seeking comfort and quiet within their homes.
Written by Larry Newquist – August 23, 2025