Acoustics in a frame house – how we effectively soundproof our walls
The Resonance Box Myth – why you don't have to be afraid
Many investors fear that a wooden structure will act like a guitar box – amplifying sounds instead of dampening them. This misconception stems from a lack of understanding of wall construction. An empty box actually resonates. But a wall in our system is not empty.
The key to silence is tightly filling the space between the posts with high-density material. We use the Mass-Spring-Mass principle here:
- Mass (Cladding): Plasterboards or gypsum-fiber boards reflect part of the sound wave.
- Spring (Filling): Mineral or rock wool inside the wall acts as an absorber. Its fibrous structure breaks sound waves, converting acoustic energy into heat. It is also a material that insulates thermally perfectly, which is a double benefit.
- Mass (Other side): Another layer of boards closes the system.
Thanks to this arrangement, sound does not have a simple "straight through" path, as in the case of homogeneous material (e.g., a thin partition wall made of blocks). The sound wave must change the medium many times, which drastically weakens it. That is why our walls achieve high acoustic insulation indices, often exceeding traditional masonry solutions of similar thickness.
Acoustic bridges: the silent enemy we eliminate
Even the best-designed partitions can lose their properties if sound finds a shortcut. We call these acoustic bridges – places where sound transmits directly, bypassing insulation materials. In System-S, we pay special attention to their elimination. This mainly applies to gaps around windows and doors, installation passages (pipes, cables), and wall connections with the floor and ceiling. We use flexible seals, special acoustic tapes, and precise assembly to ensure the continuity of sound insulation and maximum acoustic tightness of the entire system. It is attention to detail that makes the promised acoustic comfort a fact.
Airborne sounds vs. impact sounds – distinguish the enemy
To effectively fight noise, we must know where it comes from. In building acoustics, we distinguish two types of sounds:
- Airborne sounds: Conversations, music, TV. Here, drywall acoustics combined with wool handle perfectly. Often better than in masonry houses, where hard plasters reflect sound, creating reverberation. A frame house is "soft" acoustically – interiors are comfortably quiet, there is no echo.
- Impact sounds: Footsteps, moving chairs, falling objects on the floor. This is a bigger challenge for wooden floor structures.
How does System-S eliminate noise between floors?
Since we know that a wooden ceiling can transmit vibrations, we must separate them. It is not enough to throw wool between the floor beams (although that is the basis). We use solutions that "cut off" the floor of the upper story from the ceiling of the ground floor. This is a comprehensive, systemic approach, confirmed by laboratory tests and quality certificates.
Key ceiling soundproofing techniques:
- Floating floors: On the structural floor plate, we lay hard acoustic wool or special soundproofing mats, and only on them the actual floor. Thanks to this, boards or panels do not touch the structural beams directly, eliminating vibration transmission.
- Weighing down the ceiling: We often use concrete screeds (anhydrite) on the upper floor (if the design allows) or heavy board sheathing. Mass is the enemy of noise – the heavier the partition, the harder it is to excite it into vibration.
- Acoustic hangers: The suspended ceiling on the ground floor is not screwed rigidly to the floor beams, but hangs on flexible hangers that dampen vibrations and provide an additional layer of air insulation.
Partition walls – will I hear what's happening in the bathroom?
In standard developer construction (masonry), partition walls often have a thickness of 12 cm and are made of light blocks that transmit sound perfectly. In a frame house, every partition wall is actually a sandwich of wool, and its construction is often more acoustically advanced than traditional counterparts.
For the most demanding Clients, we use double plating. Instead of one plasterboard on each side, we put two. This doubles the mass of the partition. Such a wall with a thickness of approx. 15 cm has acoustic insulation at a level that in masonry technology would require building a wall almost half a meter thick. Properly selected acoustic wool ensures that intimacy in the bedroom or bathroom is fully preserved.
Summary: Silence is a matter of technology and system, not material
Do you hear neighbors or housemates in a frame house? Only if the house was built carelessly, without attention to details and insulation. A properly executed building in System-S technology offers acoustic comfort comparable, and often higher than traditional construction. Instead of empty spaces, you receive a tight, multi-layer barrier that separates you from the noise of the outside world and ensures intimacy inside. Our solutions are the result of combining knowledge, experience, and the use of proven materials, which translates into real, measurable acoustic comfort in your home.