Tips for buying acoustic foam
Acoustic foam is also known as sound absorbing foam. It is available in a variety of colors and dimensions. These comprise of polyurethane or melamine foam. Acoustic foam can be attached to walls as well as ceilings or to any other parts of the room.
Even before you install this it is important that you should check the ceiling for any leakage. While attaching on the walls you should considered the wall paint, the ceiling height and the fixtures as well. Acoustic foams work by eliminating the echo and resonance in the room. The sound is dissipated and turned into mild heat energy.
Varieties of acoustic foams
The following are different kinds of acoustic foams
- Wedge acoustic foams. The wedges are positioned perpendicular to the room and therefore give a maximum absorbing effect. However when installing wedge foam it should be kept in mind that the position of the studio monitors would determine the installation of the wedges. For studio monitors which are placed vertically wedge should be placed horizontally and vice versa.
- Pyramid acoustic foams. These have a greater surface area and therefore is able to provide diffusion from the sound. An advantage of pyramid foams is that it doesn’t flatten the sound completely. This is why It is the first choice of most recording artists.
- Square acoustic foams. These offer mild to high frequency absorption and are a great addition to any room because of the elegant and aesthetic look. For interior decorators and architects square acoustic foams are in high demand, especially for ceilings. Square foams are great to look at plus it also helps reduce the standing waves in the room.
Installing acoustic foam
Make sure that you buy acoustic foam only after measuring the dimensions in your room. The foam is not supposed to be placed on all the walls of the room but rather it should be placed strategically. You should get recommendations for the layout of the foam.
Soundproofing with acoustic foam
If your only aim is to soundproof the room using acoustic foams you should keep in mind that these might not be very effective. Acoustic foam simply reflect the sound and help to make the room sound better. They do not possess any sound isolating properties and therefore are unable to completely soundproof a room.
If you are looking to soundproof the room you may need to use material which is made from vinyl, plywood or any other barrier. Placing of sheet block between two layers of plywood can provide the right amount of density to sound proof a room.
However it should be kept in mind that when you are buying acoustic foam you should only buy these from a trusted supplier. Make sure that you do not go for foam which is too cheap in price because it might affect its quality. Choose foam which you can afford but which would also offer you the effect that you are looking for. If you are not too sure about the kind of foam which you should be buying you can always get advice from professional suppliers.