Does Soundproof Paint Work? Everything You Need to Know Here

Before I answer yes, I have to give a disclaimer. Soundproof paint works in the right setting for the right application to absorb the right sound waves.

I know you’re giving me the side-eye right now, so let me explain.

Soundproof paint is a thick, water-based paint filled with sound-absorbing molecules. These sound-absorbing molecules are known as thermacels. Thermacels are specifically designed as a paint additive to reduce sound by absorbing the sound within the cells.

This is where the “right sound waves” part comes in because not all sound waves are the same. Thermacels in soundproof paint work best in mid-frequency situations. They will best absorb the sounds coming from normal talking, TV, or music levels nearby. If the sound waves are emitted in a normal range, soundproof paint will help absorb it.

Situations to Use Soundproof Paint

Painting every room in your home won’t turn your home into a silent sanctuary, but you can add soundproof paint to certain rooms of your home for certain situations.

Apartment 

Adding soundproof paint to the bedroom of your apartment will help you sleep through the night if you are frequently awoken by conversations, music, or the television from your neighbor’s apartment.

Additionally, if you are concerned that you may disrupt your neighbors’ sleep, soundproof paint in your apartment will help contain and absorb the sound of your apartments’ voices, TV, and music.

Baby’s Room

Photo by Victoria Borodinova from Pexels

I remember being told that my newborn should learn to sleep through noises so that even the smallest noise would not wake her up; therefore, when people came over to visit while she slept, I allowed them to talk at a normal level, and baby girl slept peacefully throughout the conversation. But this isn’t always the case, especially if you have finally gotten your baby to sleep for the first time in what feels like forever.

In this case, you would benefit greatly from painting baby’s room with soundproof paint. This soundproof paint on the walls of baby’s room will allow the sound of normal-level talking to be absorbed and reduce the likelihood of baby being woken from casual conversation.

Classrooms

Kids are often distracted, and I was one of them. Maybe distracted isn’t the word. Maybe it’s nosey. I digress. Whether it’s distracted or nosey makes no difference. If kids in a classroom can hear the neighboring classroom through the walls, it makes focusing difficult.

Classrooms would benefit greatly from soundproofing paint to reduce the chatter of kids’ and teachers’ voices nearby.

How to Apply Soundproof Paint

You will need quality soundproof paint, and you will need a lot of it to produce the best results.

First, you will want to purchase quality soundproof paint or purchase a soundproof paint additive to add to the paint you want to use.

Acousti-Coat Sound Deadening Paint is a water-based, bright white, flat finish soundproof paint that can be applied to all surfaces. You can apply this paint with a brush, roller, or spray gun. This paint comes in a one gallon can or a five gallon bucket.

Thermacels Insulating Paint Additive is a soundproofing additive you can add to any paint or coating.

Whether you are using soundproof paint or a soundproof paint additive, you will want to apply at least three coats to your wall for the best results. In addition, soundproof paint is super thick, so you have to throw typical painting concepts out the window.

When painting a room, typically you can tell if it needs another coat of paint by the visual appearance of the wall. Sometimes you can see the residual color underneath, or there may be some unsightly streaks when the paint was applied.

You will want to throw this concept out the window when applying soundproof paint because, let me tell you, the thickness of the paint will make you think the walls are sufficiently covered after just one coat.

Quick Application

As you will be applying multiple coats of soundproofing paint, you will want to use a tool that allows you to quickly and effectively paint the walls.

The ETERNA Paint Roller 6-Piece Kit is perfect for painting effectively and efficiently because of the multiple pieces and size of the brushes. This kit comes with a paint tray, 9” paint roller with two extra naps, and 3” flat paintbrush.

With the number of coats of soundproof paint you will be applying, using a roller to apply this thick paint will save on time and labor.

Pair Soundproof Paint with Other Soundproofing Materials

To get the most out of your soundproof paint, you will want to pair your newly painted walls with an additional soundproof element or two; depending on how much soundproofing you are trying to achieve, of course.

If your sole goal is to lessen the noise coming from your neighbors’ talking, television, or music, then soundproof paint should do the trick without any additional soundproofing elements.

However, if your goal is to drown out heavy city traffic or constant dogs barking outside, you will want to pair the soundproof paint with additional soundproofing equipment, such as foam panels, soundproof curtains, or soundproof blankets.

It all depends on the frequency you are trying to dampen and how nearby the sounds are to your room or home.

The Bottom Line

Soundproofing paint is worth the money and the labor if you use it in the right situation.

Keep in mind that mid-frequency sounds, such as normal range voices in-person and through music and television will be soundproofed the most effectively through the use of soundproof paint. Additionally, if there is a specific room in your home you want to add an additional layer of soundproofing, such as a nursery, home office, or study, you would benefit from painting these rooms with soundproof paint. These are the rooms in the home that will benefit the most from soundproof paint, but you can add it to any room in the home you wish.