Car Soundproofing

Whether you drive an older car, are passionate about your car audio, or just want to find a way to make your evening commute more peaceful, there’s dozens of reasons you may want to make your car quieter.

We don’t know what you searched online to get here, but what we do know is you probably have a lot of questions. The idea of soundproofing your car can feel a bit intimidating at first, so we wrote this quick guide to help you get started.

 

WHY USE CAR SOUNDPROOFING?
Almost all cars, especially older vehicles, have problems with noise. These issues are made even worse if you have upgraded your sound system or vehicle in any way. The key to keeping your car quiet isn’t just blocking outside noise, but reducing the noise made by your car. Vibrations, rattling, loose parts - all of these things contribute to unwanted noise.

People sometimes wonder does sound deadening a car work, and it is a definite yes if you buy and apply the right materials! We’ll help you identify the noise, and find the right materials to properly tackle the sound issues in your vehicle.

How to Soundproof a Car

Depending on the area of the car you’re soundproofing, installation can range from a straightforward project you can tackle in a Sunday afternoon to something… a bit more complex. All in all, there’s basically four steps with every soundproofing project. Find the noise Strip the area Clean the sheet metal Apply your material – sound deadening layer applied to the metal, then sound blocking layer We’ve been doing this a long time, so we’ve seen it all. We’re here to help you with your car soundproofing projects. Have questions? Give us a call or email us. We’ll help you find the right soundproofing and insulation materials.We’ll also walk you through how to install any products. STEP 1: FIND THE NOISE Drive around and identify where the noise is coming from. Is it outside noise from construction and other cars? Or is it road noise making its way up through the floor of your car from the pavement? Listen for rattles and shakes coming from the doors or trunk. Honing in on where the noise is coming from will help you determine the types of material you need and the placement. STEP 2: STRIP THE AREA Soundproofing is all about coverage, and that’s hard to achieve when there are parts, carpet, wires, and everything else in the way. Safely strip down your car until you get to the metal. If it’s removable – take it out. This will make it far easier to apply material later on. STEP 3: CLEAN THE SHEET METAL Like looking under the couch cushions, you’ll be amazed at what you find underneath the carpet and parts of your car. Thoroughly wipe down and clean the sheet metal with denatured alcohol. The soundproofing material may be very sticky on its own, but doing this step will increase the bond strength. Besides, there’s probably at least a few dollars worth of quarters down there. STEP 4: APPLY YOUR MATERIAL Like we said earlier, coverage is key. Sound and vibrations are like water and will move through every crack and gap available. For sound deadening material being applied directly to the sheet metal – leave it out the sun to make it more pliable and then use a hand roller to ensure that it sticks to every corner and crevice. Any air bubbles you leave will substantially reduce the mat’s effectiveness. With thicker materials make sure you have enough clearance for the materials to fit. Also, don’t leave gaps and seal edges with foil tape. Fewer gaps will reduce the space noise has to get through and sealed edges protect from consistent water exposure.