Before you make soundproofing in your car, you need to decide on its purpose. It is made by motorists to get rid of squeaks, to increase the degree of comfort, and also to improve the sound of music in the cabin. Moreover, the choice of material depends on the purpose of the sound insulation. If your budget is limited, then you should not undertake work on the entire machine at once (especially if you are going to do everything yourself). It is much better to do everything in parts, gradually improving your skills.
Tools and materials for work
You will need a certain arsenal of tools to do the work yourself. Here is just a sample list:
- Building hair dryer. Do not use any homemade hair styling product as it will not provide the required heat.
- rollerstitching, with which the soundproofing material is laid and leveled on the surface.
- Big scissors to cut material. You may also need a sharp knife.
- White spirit, thinner, kerosene - any of these degreasers.
Of course, you may need any tools in the process. Therefore, everything should be at hand. Now it is worth considering all types of soundproofing materials. This is important to know before you make soundproofing with your own hands in the car.
Silver and Gold vibroplast
Elastic, flexible, vibration-absorbing material. It is a self-adhesive material, on the outside of which aluminum foil is applied. It has markings in the form of 5x5 cm squares. Thanks to this marking, it is possible to cut large sheets into elements of the required size and shape.
This material is waterproof, does not decompose under the influence of external factors, performs the functions of anticorrosive and sealant. Its installation is easy, regardless of the terrain. Surface heating is not needed, without defects it fits on the cold elements of the car body. The mass of sound insulation is not more than 3 kg / sq. m., thickness stable 2 mm. Loss coefficient (mechanical) in the range 0.25…0.35.
Doors, roof, body sides, interior floors, a shield separating from the engine compartment, hood and trunk lids can be trimmed with such material. Vibroplast type "Gold" is very similar to the one described above, but there are differences. A square meter of material has a mass per kilogram more, since the thickness is 2.3 mm. Mechanical losses are about 0.33. Since this material is thicker, the sound insulation quality is better, all extraneous sounds disappear.
Bomb B-Mast
This material is also vibration absorbing. The multi-layer construction consists of several layers, the outer one is an aluminum-based foil. Bituminous and rubber compositions - the second and third layers. When you carry out the installation of this material, you need to warm up the surface to a temperature of at least 40 degrees (more effectively - up to 50). Since it will not work to make a soundproofing of a car with your own hands without heating, you need a good hair dryer.
"Bi-Mast" does not absorb moisture, is considered the best vibration-insulating material today. It has the highest efficiency. It is worth noting that the loss factor is approximately 0.5! But the mass of the material is rather big - 6 kg / sq. m., thickness - 4.2 mm. Ideal for audio preparation of loudspeakers. They process wheel arches, areas above the driveshaft and muffler, a shield between the passenger compartment and the engine compartment.
Splen 3004, 3008, 3002
A soundproofing material that has been coated with an adhesive. Its peculiarity is high thermal insulation qualities. Easy mounting on curved and vertical surfaces. Waterproof, resistant to aggressive environmentsdecomposes, and the weight is less than 0.5 kg/sq. m., with a thickness of 4 mm. The operating temperature is in the range of -40 … + 70 degrees. This material processes the shield between the passenger compartment and the engine compartment, wheel arches, tunnels, doors. Before you properly make soundproofing, you need to study all types of materials.
On sale you can also find "Splen" with an index of 3008, which has a thickness of 8 mm, and also 3002 - it has 2 mm. As you can see, the last digit is the value of the material thickness. This material is glued after vibration isolation (discussed above). In order for the connections to be strong, it is necessary to clean and degrease the surfaces. The optimum surface temperature is in the range of 18..35 degrees. If lower, then the material properties are lost. Please note that the application of "Splen" should be done without tension, as it can be damaged.
Antiskrip "Bitoplast"
To get rid of squeaks, rattles in the cabin, this noise-absorbing material is used. It is based on polyurethane foam, also has a sticky layer and a protected anti-adhesive gasket. Waterproof, durable, not subject to rotting and decomposition, noise insulation, it also has the properties of a heat insulator. Moreover, it does not lose its properties even in the conditions of the Far North. With a thickness of 0.5 cm, the mass of the material is only 0.4 kg / sq. m. There is a variety and twice the thickness (10 mm), called "Bitoplast-10". It is not difficult to make soundproofing a car with this material. And a big plus - get thermal insulation.
Accent-10
"Accent-10" consists of a film with the addition of metals, which is located on a flexible polyurethane foam. The last one has a sticky layer. This material is waterproof and not susceptible to decomposition, it is also used as a heat insulator. As a rule, it is used as a sound-absorbing material and heat-insulating. Capable of absorbing approximately 90% of noise. The thickness is only 10 mm, and the weight is not more than 0.5 kg/sq. m. The operating temperature ranges from -40.. + 100 degrees. Processed using the "Accent-10" trunk lid and hood, as well as the partition between the passenger compartment and the engine compartment.
Madeleine
Serves as a seal but is often used as a decorative material as it is based on black fabric. Thickness - no more than one and a half millimeters, on the one hand - an adhesive composition, as well as protection against adhesion. It is used to process gaps in decorative elements of the body and interior, dashboard, air ducts. It is worth noting that these materials are the most common, their quality is at a high level. But on sale you can find similar products from various manufacturers. And their prices can vary significantly. Of course, practice shows that at a low price you get the same quality. But if you wondered how to make soundproofing from neighbors (in the yard, in the case of a metal fence), then you can choose any available material.
Carrying out work on soundproofing the hood
Please note that after soundproofing the hood, you will not get rid of the sound of the engine. It is made only in order to keep warm in winter. Hood insulation is done using Vibroplast and Accent, discussed above. The most important thing is to take into account the mass of all material. If it is too large, it will affect the operation of the front suspension. It is clear that the more severe the winter, the thicker the layer is desirable to do. But, on the other hand, one should not forget about the "native" thermal insulation. It should not be thrown away, it would be best if the new one acts as a help for the existing one.
Insulation of car doors
This is where the extraneous noise that comes from the movement of the car happens. But it’s also worth saying that the front speakers located in the doors sound much nicer with high-quality noise isolation. It will be enough to lay one material - "Vibroplast" or its analogues. The amount of total material depends directly on the area of coverage and the thickness of the metal. But it is not necessary to make the door much heavier - the hinges will begin to sag and the locks will collapse. Here's how to soundproof a car door. The main thing is to maintain the norm, not to overdo it and not to do less.
