Noise can be one of the most difficult things to manage in a home. Mass-loaded vinyl provides an effective way for homeowners to control sound but is not always the best option due to its high cost and limited design options. Luckily, there are many MASS-LOADED VINYL alternatives that will allow you to create your own customized solution for your home!
You may not realize it, but Mass Loaded Vinyl is the soundproofing material that’s been used in every home and office for decades.
Mass-loaded vinyl can be an effective soundproofing solution when installed correctly, but it does have drawbacks as well.
MLV has limitations on how much noise it can absorb and still provide structural integrity. MLV is also expensive, and does not have a uniform appearance; Mass Loaded Vinyl can peel, form bubbles, and create unattractive textures over time.
Mass-Loaded Vinyl: Mass-loaded vinyl’s properties are an advantage or disadvantage depending on the space it’s installed in.
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What is mass-loaded vinyl? and how does it work?
Mass-loaded vinyl is a soundproofing material that can be used as an alternative to Mass Loaded Vinyl. Mass-Loaded vinyl is products that have factory-applied weight or density loading and they either hang from walls or ceilings or lie on floors in rooms with elevated noise levels.
Mass-loaded vinyl (MLV) consists of two layers: One layer of polyester sheet insulation beneath a top layer consisting of one-inch thick foam rubber sheets separated by perforated metal foil panels bonded together at seams with adhesive-backed fabric tape.
Mass-loaded vinyl was originally designed for use in place of mass concrete on freeway overpasses but it has been adapted for other uses such as acoustic ceiling tiles and floor underlayment cushions for hardwood floors.
MLV History
Mass Loaded Vinyl Mass-loaded vinyl, also known as MLV for short, is a fairly new product in the market. Mass-loaded vinyl was created to be an alternative to traditional construction materials like plywood and cork by using recycled post-consumer plastic bottles.
It has been around since 2010 but it’s still relatively unknown among homeowners so we’re going to take a look at what mass-loaded vinyl does and how you can find alternatives if that might not suit your needs or budget.
Alternatives of Mass loaded vinyl
Rhino Acoustic Absorption Panel
Rhino acoustic panels are a cost-effective alternative to mass-loaded vinyl. They provide an acoustically superior product for many applications including listening rooms, studios, recording and control rooms in broadcasting facilities.
The unique design of the Rhinos allows them to be mounted on walls or ceilings inside buildings as well as outside where they can help reduce noise pollution from highways, airports, and other sources.
They feature two parallel sheets of high-performance mineral wool insulation with numerous perforations that will not degrade over time; one sheet faces up and the other down so both have sound-reflecting surfaces. This provides twice the amount of absorption than if only one side had fabric facing it.
F Stop Grey Acoustic Soundproofing Tiles
F Stop Grey Acoustic Soundproofing Tiles are alternatives to mass-loaded vinyl. They provide a much more aesthetically pleasing and safe finish that is safer for you, your family, and the environment.
FSTOP’s new tiles have an R-value of 18 per inch making them considerably warmer than regular vinyl soundproofing while at the same time being cool enough to touch without gloves or concern for burns.
The grey surface absorbs noise but does not reflect it as do other competing products, so its performance is superior in both directions – inwardly towards walls and outwardly where reverberation can occur off ceilings even within attics. These benefits may be due in part to FSTop Grey Acoustical Tile’s dual-layer rubberized.
MP Global Products QW100B1LT Laminate Flooring Underlayment
MP Global Products QW100B has been specifically designed to provide excellent and reliable cushioning between the floorboards, giving you peace of mind when walking on your new floors.
MPG QW100B is specially developed for laminate installation as it provides a better sound absorption level than traditional underlayments.
Their products are available in thicknesses from two mm up to 16mm based on individual requirements with MPGlobal’s patented MP-Foam technology which creates optimum insulation properties without adding any weight or bulkiness to the product.
This MP global product also comes in standard size widths of 600mm and 700mm that can be cut down into smaller lengths if required.
Armstrong 2’x2’ Acoustic Ceiling Tiles
Armstrong Armstrong’s acoustic ceiling tiles are perfect for upgrading your home or office. Tiles are made of lightweight, yet durable mass-loaded vinyl to provide noise absorption and reduce reverberation time in sound waves throughout the space.
They’re easy to install with snap tracks that span multiple joists without cutting into any boards below it which makes them more resistant against damage from common household hazards like water leaks and pests.
Armstrong offers a variety of sizes including 12 inches by 24-inch tiles, 18 inches by 36 inch tiles as well as custom-sized options so you can get exactly what you need for the size room you have.
The possibilities are endless when choosing Armstrong Acoustic Ceilings! Armstrong has everything we could ask for durability, flexibility, simple installation, and many sizes to choose from. Armstrong Acoustic Ceilings are a great alternative to mass-loaded vinyl!
Armstrong’s acoustic ceilings can be installed over existing sound absorptive materials such as carpet or wood paneling with no need for removal of any material on the ceiling surface or floor below it. Armstrong offers to snap track installation.
Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound
Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound is the mass-loaded vinyl alternative. It is a green, solvent-free gel that can be applied to almost any surface and dries in minutes.
Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound will not crack like other caulk so there’s no need for periodic maintenance;
It also cures faster than most cement on the market today, giving homeowners an easy solution that solves many of their problems with noise reduction while looking beautiful at the same time!
Shinehome 236mil 16.68sqft Car Sound Deadener Heat Insulation Mat
Shinehome 236mil 16.68sqft Car Sound Deadener Heat Insulation Mat is one of the best sound deadeners in our industry, and here are some reasons why:
- Durable enough to last for a long time with heavy use
- Provides heat insulation that prevents your car from overheating when parked outside (especially during summer)
Very affordable price considering its quality and usefulness as an effective sound barrier.
Shinehome 236 mil 16.68sqft Car Sound Deadener Heat Insulation Mat can be easily cut down into smaller pieces or used in any shape you need it to be without compromising its effectiveness.
This makes Shinehome 236 mil 16.68sqft Car Sound Deadener Heat Insulation Mat perfect for all sorts of jobs, from soundproofing a recording studio to insulating a freezer. Shinehome 236 mil 16.68sqft Car Sound Deadener Heat Insulation Mat is also easy to transport and store because it’s lightweight.
Shinehome 236 mil 16.68sqft Car Sound Deadener Heat Insulation Mat does not release any toxic fumes unlike other products that are made with dangerous chemicals
Shinehome 236 mil 16.68sqft Car Sound Deadener Heat Insulation Mat lasts longer than most cheap alternatives on the market today.
Nicetown Energy Smart & Noise Reducing Thermal Insulated Drapes
Nicetown Energy Smart, Nicetown’s line of energy-efficient window treatments, offers an affordable solution for doing what you can to save on your heating and cooling costs.
Nicetown offers a wide variety of products designed with the consumer in minds such as insulated drapes (available in both lined or unlined), thermal curtains which are available without blackout lining along with many other custom options that give homeowners control over their climate and cost-efficiency.
Thermal insulating fabrics trap heat close to the body and reduce the heat lost through the window, Nicetown’s insulated drapes are a medium-weight fabric that blocks out more than 90% of UV rays and is 100% machine washable so they can be cleaned easily.
Nicetown offers noise-reducing curtains as well to help keep sound from coming in or going out. Noise reduction curtains have an insulating lining which reduces outside noises by up to 30%.
They also come with either a blackout lining option for those who want total darkness when sleeping or without blackout lining for those who need light during day hours but not at night.
Nicetown’s insulation products offer homeowners energy savings options and many other benefits such as easy-care fabrics, installation flexibility, excellent thermal efficiency, and lifetime durability.
QuietRock, Soundproof Drywall
QuietRock and Soundproof Drywall are two different construction products that provide good sound protection.
The former is a pre-fabricated product, while Soundproof drywall needs to be installed in each room when building or renovating the home.
It offers better acoustic performance than traditional mass-loaded vinyl panels because it’s made with an open cell core that traps air between sheets of rock wool insulation boards.
Soundproof Drywall on the other hand creates less echo from outside noise entering your property through plumbing pipes for example then Quietrock does not offer this level of benefit but still provides decent levels of insulation and noise reduction.
QuietRock is the more expensive option expect QuietRock to cost up to $1000 per panel while Soundproof Drywall can be purchased for as little as $20 making it a cheaper option if you’re not looking for superior acoustic performance but still want the benefits of better insulation from outside noise
The Quietrock product will provide greater levels of sound absorption than that offered by most manufacturers because it is made with an open cell core that traps air between sheets of rock wool insulation boards,
Whereas standard fiberglass insulation has gaps in its cells which allow sound waves through. It also offers some level of benefit when compared to regular drywall panels due to its higher density and weight.
SoundProof Drywall on the other hand, is a cheaper and more lightweight alternative that offers excellent sound absorption at 0.08 sone per square meter without the need for any additional installation or equipment
A QuietRock panel will cost upwards of $1000 to purchase while Soundproof Drywall can be purchased for as little as $20 making it a cheaper option.
Floor Underlayment
Alternative flooring materials have been introduced over the last few decades.
Inventors of new flooring products are constantly searching for better ways to provide solutions that meet consumer needs while balancing their need for profits.
This has made it difficult, if not impossible, to come up with a list of options that will be viable in all settings and locations.
The newest product on the market is mass-loaded vinyl (MLV). MLV provides some benefits including its noise-reducing properties due to air bubbles encapsulated within the material which make it soundproof; durability because,
When installed correctly it does not require any extra protection from spills or other types of damage, and versatile since there are many design styles available to suit any type of flooring.
MLV is a popular option for floor covering because it can be installed in virtually any setting and does not require the use of adhesives like some products do.
MLV comes with its own set of drawbacks that you should consider before installing this floor underlayment on your home or commercial flooring project.
Soundproof curtains
They are available in a wide variety of materials such as aluminum, wood, or metal frames with fabric covering the windows; vinyl (PVC) coated wire cloth hung from lightweight metal tubes that can be rotated to cover only part of the window opening; woven fabrics including cotton/polyester blends over scrims on tensioned wires frames, etc.
These systems are manufactured by numerous companies under many brand names and patented designs.
Sound insulation is achieved through acoustical absorption due to thick heavy drapes combined with significant air spaces between each panel.
Sound-insulating draperies, curtain rods, and related hardware are available in a wide variety of materials such as aluminum, wood, or metal frames with fabric covering the windows; vinyl (PVC) coated wire cloth hung from lightweight metal tubes that can be rotated.
Carpets and Rugs
Carpets and rugs are used in the home. They are carpets with loops of yarn or fiber that are woven by a machine into long strands which are then cut to give them their pile height.
They have different thicknesses depending on their use, heaviness, color, pattern, etc carpets and rugs usually come as either loop carpets or flat-weave carpets but not always.
There are many benefits of using these types of carpets for soundproofing your home against noise pollution such as traffic noises being muffled if placed near windows;
they also act as an insulator for cold floors during winter months (carpet tiles); you get easy cleaning carpets and rugs carpets clean easily because the dirt can be vacuumed up; they are also soft so you don’t have to worry about your little ones running around on hard floors.
Carpet tiles come in many different shapes but most often they’re square or rectangular shapes which is easy for laying out when installing it.
Sound Clips
Sound clips reduce noise transfer between spaces. The sound absorption properties are equivalent to a layer of mass-loaded vinyl (MLV) insulation, one inch thick with an R-value of 19 per inch.
The sound clips system is designed for installation in existing walls or ceilings and is sold as trays that fit inside the framing members, such as studs and joists, or from floor to ceiling on the outside perimeter of a room’s drywall surface where they can be secured by screws through holes drilled into the top lip.
Another application would be installing them onto metal “boxes” that have been installed within wall cavities before taping up sheetrock over the boxes themselves.
A single tray contains eight pieces measuring 18×24 inches and covers a total of 144 square inches when installed in an eight-stud wall.
Larger trays are available for larger walls and ceilings to provide soundproofing coverage up to 288 square feet per tray (single layer).
The clips themselves come with holes pre-drilled for screws that can be used as anchors or fasteners.
Conclusion
The MLV has an excellent absorption coefficient and would be the best product to consider if you’re looking for a sound-absorption material with high density.
In comparison, there are other materials that provide low-density insulation which will not offer as much noise reduction capability as MLVs. The MLV is available in all types of thicknesses from ¼” up to ½”.
They also come in standard widths of 48 inches wide or less and lengths ranging from 100 feet (a roll) up to 1000 feet long.
It’s important to know what type of installation style MLVs require: either by adhering them directly onto existing surfaces like walls or ceilings; installing MLVS into metal “boxes” before taping them to the surfaces; or installing MLVs in a closed-cell spray foam construction.
The MLV has an R-value of about 42 per inch, making it suitable for use as both wall and ceiling insulation.
