Soundproof a frat house on a college student budget?

Question

My fraternity moved into a new house and we want to soundproof it so we don't disturb the neighbors.

Are there any cheap or common items we can use? We don't care what our walls and windows look like, just as long as guests enjoy our parties and the neighbors stay happy.

Answer 1

Forgive me this; and thanks Del :)

Use your indoor voices.

Egg crates do not work effectively. For one thing the thickness isn't there, and AIR is not a sound deadener.

Certainly construction grade foam sheets at 2 or 3 inches would help some; and the rooms would all be a cute pale Blue or Pink.

I'm assuming this is NOT a house on campus?

One of my first thoughts might be; Make connections with those neighbors; certainly as a sign of good will; and ASK what their tolerance levels might be; on all fronts. IE: Not only noise; but drunken boys falling over their flower beds; or futons on the lawn; soaking in the rain.

Another thought comes to mind, in your statement about "We don't care what..."; Is this a rental? If so; the landlord might care.

ANYTHING that helps deaden sound against the walls such as upholstered furniture; book shelves filled with books; even if no one reads. Heavy/ lined drapes; carpet; indoor window shutters; etc.

If you all have the cash; the permission; and the ability; why not just get sheets/rolls of sound studio/ conical/ acoustical foam; and fill the house with it.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

Organic materials absorb more sound energy than man-made ones, so slapping up bed foam or cheap print fabric might not help. Think speaker covers - they're always polyester, as it absorbs so little sound! That said, I've used sheets of pink insulation, hung thick cotton curtains where no windows existed, and even - yes - used a pallet of chicken egg cardboard crates stapled to the ceiling. That's absolutely hideous and particularly difficult, so...

Put cheap berber carpet remnants on the walls. Bonus: Velcro sticks to some carpets - one installation used indoor/ outdoor carpeting on the walls instead of paint, and the picture frames were all lined in solid Velcro, where they hang perfectly fine to this day.

And turn that crap down - we're trying to sleep. Kids these days...

Answer 3

Double paned windows are great but may be expensive. Put blinds over the windows instead. Use wooden ones if you can, but the plastic are better than nothing. That way the neighbors also won't be peeking in at your fun.

Your best bet is to be sure the windows and doors outside stay closed and your guests stay inside.

Answer 4

soundproof frat house college student budget

Answer 5

You can use egg crates to cover the walls or foam. I am trying to give you some type of material that absorbs sound but is inexpensive.

You could also try using other materials applied in layers.

Answer 6

Plant some trees around the house on each side of the neighbors.

Answer 7

Well, I don't know about your fire reg's, but when I was in a rock band, we used to stick egg cartons around the walls to deaden the sound. Basically anything that has some corrugation to it tends to reflect the sound back.

Answer 8

cheap moving blankets hung on party room walls - multiple layers