Commercial Q&A
How do I know what to do?
Most of our clients don't before they start. Remember that most of our first time callers are new to the art of soundproofing. We didn't build this site for the acoustic engineer. Our customers are mostly one-time, first-time calls for help, and we simply pattern our treatments after the room or sound source you describe. The first step to take you've already taken if you're reading this. When you're through with the Basics homework, click to your Application and let us guide you to your treatment.
How do I know how much material I will need?
Quantities installed for controlling room acoustics is important. Our models target the break-even coverage we can prescribe only by phone once you feed us your room's dimensions. The quantities will of course dictate your price, but will also be triggered by the size, shape and surface textures of your room. Call our help desk with your room's dimensions when ready!
How much does it cost?
The cost for sound control will range from $1 to $16 per square foot for material. The cost to treat your room or sound source depends on the size, shape and surface textures of your room, which in turn dictate the quantities required for your treatment. Small recording studios can run $500 while large sanctuaries or gymnasiums can run $15,000 or more.
Are there minimum order requirements?
No. You can order any of our products one piece at a time if you like. But remember, if you undertreat your room, your acoustics results will decelerate drastically. Follow our models and stay with the appropriate quantities in order to trigger the acoustics results the products are meant to deliver.
How will sound panels improve my room's acoustics?
Sound panels do not typically make original sounds less loud. Instead, they absorb unwanted sound reflections in the room which in turn will clean out the background noise. As a result, new sound signals including speech and music can be heard without the unwelcome interference from extended sound reflections in the background. The process then produces greater sound clarity and lowers overall decibel level exposure.
How do I know if the treatment will work?
Trust is a big factor in any soundproofing treatment. Recognize that since 1990, NetWell has prescribed successful treatments to thousands of clients throughout the world. While we are confident the acoustics in the room will improve, the degree of satisfaction is a much more difficult bench mark to ascertain. While we know in writing how well our products perform in a laboratory setting through test results, what we don't know is how the results will deteriorate when applied in any one field setting. Every room we treat has unique qualities to its size, shape, surface textures, and flanking paths of noise that can serve to deteriorate results. Our recommendation is to set your expectation levels according. If we can eliminate 90% of the noise bleeding through a wall, or cut 80% of the unwanted background noise out of a room to deliver terrific sound, that should be the victory. No treatment will cure, we are only after better control with every single customer.
Will a ceiling treatment work better than a wall treatment?
Remember that noise travels like a pebble wave in a pond, traveling 770 miles per hour. Faster than you can blink, the noise will reflect off all the surfaces in your room. This means that if a ceiling treatment is more practical or aesthetic for you, then do it. The acoustic effects will be triggered with either treatment. The key is not location, the key is quantities installed.
How do I know where to place my sound panels?
Start with the size of the room, and let NetWell prescribe quantities required to treat the room. Then divide the quantities out by panel sizes to determine quantities to be installed, and evenly space them as best you can around the room's perimeter or from the ceiling. Again, the quantities we are working with will trigger the success of your project. The locations become secondary. This is not to say that scientific measuring equipment won't be able to pinpoint more "live" than "dead" spots in a room, they will. But the judge and jury here will be human ear, not that equipment. Our treatments target better control, not cures, and the models that target quantities will deliver the results you seek. Your job is to place the panels, baffles, wallcoverings, tiles, etc..where they will stay protected with less traffic, and compliment the room aesthetically.
Are sound panels class A fire rated?
All fiberglass panels and melamine foam panels are class A fire rated, approved for use in public buildings. Polyurethane foam panels are not class A fire rated. Some advertise them as fire retardant, which they are. They meet a self-extinguishing test called the UL94 HF-1 test. They are good for use in private settings, but not public buildings. For more information, see our Fire chapter of this Basics section.
Do you guarantee results?
While we know how well our products perform in a laboratory setting under controlled conditions, we cannot be held responsible for the decay in the acoustic results when the products are applied in the field. Too many variables beyond our control exist for each treatment we work with. Light cannisters, exhaust fans, drain pipes, supply vents, speakers, switch plates, and a host of other flanking paths of noise will let noise in or out of a room despite our best intentions. Therefore we do not guarantee the results, but we still stand by them. You are welcome to visit our Forum and converse with others who share your same sound control concerns and hear from them that the products will deliver results. Again, we are not after a cure to your noise problem, just better control.
How thick should my sound panels be?
Thicker panels target lower bass and impact sounds. If your sound source is human voice, thinner panels will suffice. Depending on whether your products is foam or fiberglass based, if in question, just call our help desk or go to ASK!
Do I need to cover 100% of my surface?
For barrier treatments attempting to block the bleed of noise through any common surface, the answer is yes. You need to cover 100% of any surface that you seek to protect. But if enhancing room acoustics within a room is your goal, then the answer is no. There is a break-even point of diminishing returns when attempting to absorb unwanted sound reflections. The closer you get to absorbing 100% of the noise, the more difficult it becomes to gain incremental advantages. At some point, the decision should be made to stop adding more material. You've hit your target. What that number is lies inside our models at 1-800-638-9355. Call us with your room's dimensions and we can figure your totals.
How tall should my ceiling be to hang baffles?
In a gymnasium setting with sporting events, we look for 20' clearance to the ceiling. If there are no sporting events, the answer is up to you and your lighting. Remember too you can suspend horizontal Clouds in lowering ceiling settings.
Can sound panels double as bulletin boards?
Yes. Ask for our FabricTack panels that have a substrate behind the cloth that creates a tackable surface.
Are sound panels waterproof?
Most of the absorption products are made from either foam or fiberglass. These core materials cannot take direct moisture. But we can spray the foam with a hypalon skin, which is a waterproof membrane. And the fiberglass can be wrapped in a water protective skin such as the VET baffles wrapped in PVC material, or the USDA panels wrapped in PVF film. Remember that the more reflect a surface you apply to protect against moisture, the more reflective the panels become and are therefore less effective for absorbing echoes.
Do foam panels work better than fiberglass panels?
No. They can perform equal, depending on your coverage, your thickness, the frequency of the sound source, and a host of other variables unique to each application. Neither would outperform the other, your product selection should be based on fire ratings, thicknesses, water resistance, budget, etc.
How do I block noise from going through my walls?
We outline this in our Walls section of this website. For new or existing walls, you need to structurally sever the contact points within the wall, and then line the wall with weight. The treatments are outlined for you in the Walls section where we address the use of dB-Bloc and a variety of framing techniques.
Do ceiling tiles block noise?
No. Standard ceiling tiles are there to block the view of the pipes in the ceiling, giving easy access to the ceiling, or to absorb reverberations within the room. They are not designed to block noise from bleeding in or out of a room. Upgrades to the ceiling tiles, however, can block noise. Our Granite Tiles are lined with density, and will block noise as a finished surface material. Also our Ceiling Caps can be ordered to simply rest atop your own ceiling tiles to help trigger the blocking feature you need.
Do sound panels block noise?
No. Absorption panels absorb reflections within a room, but cannot be relied on to block noise from transmitting out of a room. That's what our Barrier line of products will do. The exceptions are when we create a hybrid product such as a FabricBloc panel. This is a sound absorption panel lined with density and designed to trigger both a block in the bleed out of a room, and the absorption of unwanted sound inside.
Does fiberglass insulation in my walls block noise?
No. There is no weight in fiberglass. Density and disconnected framing techniques are what trigger a drop in sound bleeding through a common wall. Most contractors outside of our industry know only to stuff this material between joists. While it serves a great purpose for thermal insulation, fiberglass will let noise bleed through it like water bleeds through a sponge. The lone case where fiberglass batting will help is if the common wall is structurally disconnected and sound waves are collapsing inside the wall. Then the fiberglass can serve to absorb the trapped energy and control some of the bleed out through flanking paths such as outlet plates, pipes, exhaust fans, supply and return vents, etc.
What is a staggered stud wall?
This is a simple framing technique designed to disconnect contact points from one room to another through a single wall. Simply lay a 2x6 down as your floor plate, then stagger 2x4 studs to run flush with either side of the plate. The result is that no stud will connect structurally to both rooms, which will collapse waves from vibrating through from one room to the next. The visual is listed in our Sound Treatments section of our Academy.
What are resilient channels?
These are horizontal sets of metal frames applied to a wall surface that serve to lift and disconnect a final layer of drywall away from the structure of the wall. The disconnection helps control vibrations from bleeding noise in or out of a room. Hat Channels are also a popular version, with the corresponding ISO Clips that are used to anchor them to the wall. These ISO Clips are featured in our Product Guide.
What is sound masking?
Sound masking is a soundproofing system designed to heighten background noise levels within a room to help disguise human voice and protect confidentiality in open office settings, cubicle workstation locations, etc. The background noise that is created is often referred to as "white noise". It is designed to simulate HVAC noise. Some systems work better than others, and the installation and placement of the system also play key roles in the effectiveness of this treatment.
What is sound diffusion?
Square or rectangular shaped rooms carry echoes along repeated paths of reflection. This creates "live" and "dead" spots in a room. To help balance out the presence of sound, diffusion panels are used to accept an incoming reflection and scatter the noise into multiple directions, breaking up the "live" or "dead" spots in the room. This treatment is ideal for Auditorium settings or recording studios where equal balance is critical for broadcast or recording purposes.
How do I proceed from here?
Starr by clicking through to the Applications Guide and discovering your treatment that awaits you. You will be informed about your options, introduced to products and given valuable tips to help eliminate your noise problem. At any time along the way, click back to the Basics section for more background support and click on ASK for help. Once you arrive to the Products Guide, you should have a good understanding as to which products will best suit your particular needs. Then on to the Contact page where you can call our help desk, order online, fax us your room dimensions, or a host of other action steps that you can take to help move you closer to a better world of acoustics. Good luck!
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