The Quiet Home

In the past few decades, lifestyles have changed to include more noise-producing activities. Children now play video games inside and more people are working in home offices rather than in commercial settings. Plus, more homes include home theaters, multiple TVs and computers with speakers. These changes are driving home builders to find ways to eliminate noise transfer from room to room, and manufacturers are responding by engineering new products that can create quiet atmospheres inside a home.

Sound control might be a new topic to some single-family home builders because for so long this was an issue only for multifamily residences. Builders were focused only on how to prevent noise from being transmitted from one condo to another. The idea of transitioning this concept to single-family residences is still gaining momentum.

“There is a lot of unmet consumer need for products that control noise,” says Portia Ash, business manager for residential noise control products, Owens Corning. “It’s not talked about or brought up when planning or building a home. We are working with builders to raise awareness for the need for these products and make them more readily available.”

Because these products are required in only multifamily buildings, manufacturers are trying to find ways to educate and support the single-family home builder. “For the commercial builder, sound control has been a standard for 40 years,” says Glenn Singer, manager of building science for CertainTeed. “Residential home builders are behind the curve. There is an education process for builders and homeowners.”

To compensate for the need, but also for a lack of knowledge about utilizing noise control products in single-family homes, Owens Corning is launching its Quiet Down America Tour this fall. “Our Quiet Down America Tour is to raise awareness around noise control products,” Ash says. “Most (homeowners) say that they do things to compensate for noise but don’t connect the need for noise control, such as using home theaters only at certain times. They are trying to find quiet areas in a home that aren’t readily available.”

Because these products aren’t visible like a light switch, it’s harder for builders to be aware of them, says Stan Gatland, manager of building science technology for CertainTeed. CertainTeed is also taking a proactive approach at bringing these products in front of builders. Its website, mysoundchek.com, includes an in-depth explanation and assistance on what sound control is and how to utilize products in regard to reducing noise.

Temple-Inland takes a different approach to introducing sound control to single-family builders. “We have someone that travels the country, working with architects and field salespeople that call on builders,” says Gary Keeling, product manager for fiber products operations, Temple-Inland.

Not Your Mother’s House

Houses built today include more open spaces and hard surfaces which encourage noise transmission from room to room. “Trends in hard surfaces have changed. Hardwood flooring is more popular than it used to be compared to carpet. This contributes to increased sound transmission,” says Andy Pattenden, business development manager, NRI Industries.

Lifestyles are also much louder. “Fifteen years ago there was one TV in the home and now there is an average of four or five TVs. Technology brought into the home now includes video games and computers,” Ash says. “In the meantime, we build interior walls the same as we did 15 years ago. Homes are louder and wall design hasn’t kept up. Architectural design has also changed as more homes are more open. These features impact how noise works in a home.”