Hush Acoustics were contracted by a musician and sound engineer to turn his garage into a musical haven.

For the soundproofing to be effective, the walls, ceiling and floor had to be acoustically treated.

Here are the key factors to consider when attempting to create an effective acoustic solution.

• For the soundproofing to be effective, the walls, ceiling and floor should be acoustically treated. With special attention paid to any areas where the sound may escape e.g. windows or air vents, to ensure the sound does not find a way out.

• Airborne sound e.g voices, music is only blocked by mass. Therefore, in order to stop this, it is important to add as much mass as possible. The heavier and denser a material is, the more mass it creates.

• When sound hits surfaces, it creates vibrations, which in turn can move through solid walls quite easily. In order to maximise the results, Hush Acoustics absorb the vibrations and stop them transferring around the structure of the building. To do this, they use the ‘room within a room’ technique to create the optimal solution.

Hush began with building a timber frame within the garage, acting on the ‘room within a room’.

This was then filled using a Hush Slab 100 which is a high-density mineral wool.

Once the timber frame had been filled with the mineral wool, the Hush Enhanced Clip and Bar system was installed to the frame.

By separating the internal lining with the Clip and Bar system, the acoustic performance is increased.

A Hush Multi-Panel was also needed, which is an acoustic multi-purpose board which contains high levels of mass and has been specifically designed to guarantee acoustic performance.

The Multi-Panel was used as part of the de-coupling system on the Clip and Bar.

Multi-Panel is extremely long-lasting and effective at reducing sound transfer. Finishing the works with a 15mm fire rated plasterboard ensures a one-hour fire rating.

After the walls were completed, attention was paid to the floor of the garage.

The Hush Mat 15 acoustic floor system is made from rubber and contains high amounts of mass that significantly reduces the airborne sound, this was laid directly on the concrete floor of the garage.

The boundaries were then sealed using the Hush Perimeter seal and the client’s chosen floor finish was laid over the top.

Hush Absorber panels were added to the ceiling and walls; ensuring the garage was acoustically fit for purpose.