The interior soundproofing of a vehicle is critical for both the vehicle’s comfort and the safety of its occupants. Sound and vibration isolation is achieved by the use of specialized materials.
In addition to soundproofing, car soundproofing also addresses the problem of resonance. This is done by putting special materials within the doors and on the floor, hood, and ceiling.
Unfortunately, unlike luxury brands where this chapter is dealt with great care, many new automobiles lack a well-designed soundproofing. In order to reduce the amount of time spent listening to the engine’s roar, sound insulation is critical for drivers, especially those who use diesel engines.
Resonance happens when two parts of the car function at the same frequency, and it is critical. Certain components vibrate when this phenomena happens, such as when the engine’s RPM is low, causing an annoyance to the driver and passengers.
Even while soundproofing can be done by car owners, experts recommend that we hire a professional. To begin, automobile soundproofing relies on the car’s wings.
What materials do we use for soundproofing a car?
The wings of an automobile can act as sound amplifiers, especially if they are not soundproofed correctly. First, the wings are coated with primer, followed by two or three coats of antiphonium paint for soundproofing (a rubber paint).
As a result of the use of materials that absorb sound and vibration, the cabin will no longer be disturbed by outside noise.
Applied to the doors and trunk are layers of sound-absorbing materials with aluminum foil on the inside. They come with an unique adhesive that sticks to the door’s surface.
Professionals can use a hot air blower to attach the foils to the inside of the body, which is another option. Using packaging-like materials like air-filled plastic wrap, which is less expensive but less appealing, could be a cheaper alternative.
If you’re doing it yourself, avoid coating the doors with anything that could trap moisture.
Anti-noise paint can be put under the car’s skin, but it should not be used on the areas immediately adjacent to the vehicle’s exhaust system, which quickly heats up. Insulating the dashboard’s metal surfaces is a more complex task.
For this, you will need to remove the dashboard, put aluminum foil on the metal, and then reassemble it. Even if you’ve never had to do this kind of surgery before, it is best to leave it to the experts.
How do we evaluate the effectiveness of soundproofing a car?
It’s important to keep in mind that some soundproofing materials are extremely pricey, but they have unique features that make them worthwhile. Depending on the vehicle, more soundproofing materials may be required to isolate additional frequencies.
If the automobile model allows, additional sealings can be placed to certain portions of the vehicle, such as the doors or hood, to improve soundproofing. Stuff that sticks to the metal of the car is also available.
Lastly, in order to evaluate the soundproofing’s performance, the automobile is observed while the engine is idled as well as when it is moving at a speed of over 100 kilometers per hour in the city (60 mph).
How to check the quality of soundproofing?
Listen to how much the engine is still audible at a standstill, and at speeds above 60 mph, the noise of the wind in contact with the car is taken into account.
Close the doors and listen to the noise they create to see if the soundproofing has been done properly. Before and after decibel measurements can be taken with a commercial sound level meter, which is inexpensive and readily available.
A variety of sites in the car’s interior will be used to measure the noise level, with the most critical being the area near the driver’s head and the area in the back of the vehicle where the passengers are sitting.
Does it make sense to soundproof a car?
There are several reasons why soundproofing is critical for truck drivers and other drivers who spend a lot of time in their vehicles.
The sound insulation in a medium-priced car is likely to be basic and unable to handle the reduction of outside noise. As a last point, if you’ve had the car for a long time or can see that the noise insulation has begun to wear out, you should replace it.
The advantages of soundproofing a car
- Firstly, trips will become more comfortable due to the absence of extraneous annoying sounds.
- Secondly, if you use the audio system in the car, then noise isolation will help you achieve a cleaner sound and enjoy any music without extraneous noise.
- Thirdly, as a bonus, you get additional thermal insulation, because the lining used as a material helps keep the car cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
- Fourth, noise insulation provides additional waterproofing of the car.
Consequently, extra noise isolation offers pleasant surprises.
How much does it cost to soundproof a car?
For soundproofing a car there are several variables to consider, including the size and kind of vehicle, the components to be soundproofed, the materials used for this operation, and the price.
It costs between $500 and $900 to soundproof the entire car.
The consequences of improper installation of sound insulation in your car
Installing a system incorrectly can have the opposite effect of what you’re hoping for. After a home installation, salon personnel often have to fix mistakes, which can be costly for their clients.
The following are the most critical errors:
- insulation does not hold. In this case, the soundproofing itself can become a source of additional sounds. Most often, in this case, the situation will be resolved by complete dismantling and consolidation of the new layer;
- noise insulation can be mounted on the wrong part of the car. In this case, the noise remains, and the removal of unnecessary material will solve the problem.
Soundproofing can be done on your own, but it’s best if you use a professional. You’ll save both time and money by seeking the assistance of professionals.
