Soundproofing polystyrene foam walls in an apartment or house: how to do soundproofing with penoplex yourself?

In today’s busy world, soundproofing your home or apartment is more important than ever. Unwanted noises can easily ruin your quiet time, whether it’s the commotion outside or the rowdy neighbors next door. Soundproofing your walls with polystyrene foam, such as Penoplex, is one efficient way to combat this.

Penoplex is an excellent choice for soundproofing because it is a multipurpose material that helps to block out noise in addition to insulating. The good news is that you can install it yourself without the help of a professional. You can greatly lower the noise levels in your living area with a few simple tools and some advice.

This article will walk you through every step of using Penoplex to soundproof your walls, from installation to preparation. At the conclusion, your home will be cozier and quieter.

Step	Description
1. Prepare the surface	Clean the wall and make sure it"s dry and even.
2. Measure and cut	Measure the wall and cut the Penoplex panels to fit.
3. Apply adhesive	Use a construction adhesive to stick the panels to the wall.
4. Attach the panels	Press the Penoplex panels firmly onto the wall, ensuring there are no gaps.
5. Seal the joints	Fill any gaps between panels with foam sealant to prevent sound leakage.
6. Install finishing layer	Cover the panels with drywall or another finishing material for a smooth surface.

Penoplex is a cost-effective and efficient way to soundproof walls in your home or apartment. This insulating material can be installed correctly to greatly reduce outside noise and create a more peaceful and comfortable living area. This post will walk you through the process of doing it yourself and make sure you get the best results without hiring an expert.

Penoplex for soundproofing walls

Navigating pages

One of the most important jobs is to soundproof a room’s walls.

Particularly in the city center, where you can’t unwind after a long day due to the incessant noise of traffic, maintenance, and neighbors.

Penoplex has only lately been applied to walls to provide soundproofing. It has shown to be a highly effective sound and insulator.

Characteristics and properties of the material

This foam is made of extruded polystyrene. Composition: air-filled balls that reduce vibrations in sound. Application: this refers to the room’s temperature regime.

Positive and negative characteristics of the substance:

• soundproofing indicators – 23-41 dB – a good indicator;
• thermal conductivity coefficient 0.031-0.032 W/(Mx0K) – practically does not transmit heat;
• water absorption per day 0.4% – does not absorb moisture;
• tensile strength at bending 0.25-04 MPa – durable material;
• fire resistance category G3.4 – low-flammability;
• easy installation of the material;
• shelf life 20-50 years, depends on the installation location and the factors influencing it;
• not susceptible to aggressive environments – many building materials do not destroy the structure of penoplex.

An installation at a height is a drawback. You must extend an invitation to a group of skilled artisans.

Will it help for soundproofing walls and ceilings

At first, the foundation was constructed and repaired using polystyrene foam. The building’s base was shielded from the elements and moisture.

Penoplex was then installed as insulation for attics, balconies, and building facades. Because of its qualities, the material is now also used as a noise-absorbing material.

Range of the content:

1. Insulation of dachas and country houses, cottages.
2. Insulation of balconies and soundproofing of apartments.
3. Application in factories and hotels, churches.

Different materials are used in different methods to produce soundproofing. Penoplex is a good choice if you want to create a quiet environment.

How to decorate the walls and ceiling yourself

Soundproofing the room with 3–4 cm thick polystyrene foam is required to keep it warm and quiet. If these are load-bearing walls that face the street, they need to be made 15 cm thick. The type of walls in the room—brick, concrete, or slab—also affects how silent it is.

To finish independently with penoplex, there are several steps that must be taken.

What is required

Prior to beginning, you’ll need the following tools:

• a construction knife and a set of blades;
• a container for adhesive mortar and a construction mixer;
• a hammer drill;
• a level;
• a hammer.

From the supplies you must purchase:

• dowel-nails;
• penoplex;
• adhesive mixture for laying tiles;
• primer;
• mounting foam;
• fasteners (fungi).

We get to work after the material is ready and the tool is put together.

Process of work

The material is being installed on the ceiling. If it’s required to shield the space from noises overhead, this is done. With the use of an adhesive solution, the material is fastened to the ceiling.

1. Clean the surface from dust, whitewash, and previous coating. Coat with a primer.
2. Mix the solution using a mixer.
3. Glue the slabs to the ceiling. To do this, apply a thin, continuous layer of glue over the entire surface of the penoplex.
4. Fasten the slabs on top with self-tapping screws. Each is fastened at the corners with screws for strong fixation.
5. After the adhesive solution has dried, the joints are sealed with mounting foam.
6. After 24 hours, cut off excess foam. Apply a layer of plaster according to the rules.
7. After drying, the surface is puttied.
8. After the next layer has dried, the ceiling is covered with a primer and a finishing coat is applied.

Painting, hanging wallpaper, or applying decorative plaster is the last layer.

The following is the work order for soundproof walls:

1. Preparatory process. The walls are cleaned (dust, cobwebs, old coatings), primed.

1. Mix the adhesive solution in a clean container, according to the instructions on the package.
2. Each slab is fixed to the wall using adhesive solution and fasteners.
3. After the glue dries, the joints between the slabs are filled with mounting foam.

The excess foam is cut off after it hardens. There is putty and plaster all over the surface.

Finishing

Plaster and putty are applied to the surface once the mounting foam and adhesive solution have dried.

The following phases comprise plastering works:

• preparation;
• reinforcement;
• application of layers.

For a surface to be strong and even, each step is crucial.

The following are included in the preparatory process: assembling tools and acquiring supplies.

1. Plaster. You can purchase a gypsum-based mixture, but there are compositions for polystyrene foam.
2. Deep penetration primer.
3. Fiberglass reinforcing mesh.
4. Spatulas with different blade widths.
5. Metal corners.

You must examine the surface. To level the surface, trim the foam if needed.

Reinforcement is the next stage.

Fixing the mesh is a crucial step in the process. Erroneous reinforcement could cause the plaster to break and come off. A layer of plaster mixture up to 3 mm thick should be applied in order to attach the mesh to the penoplex. Applying the mesh to the wet layer prevents creases while also avoiding excessive stretching. It needs to be applied and then pressed into the mixture. Utilize a spatula for this.

Plaster is applied directly. You’ll need a beacon profile for this. The solution is the fix for it. There is one meter separating each beacon. Surface plastering calls for expertise and abilities.

A primer is applied to the surface once the plaster layer has dried. Better adhesion to the surface requires this.

The putty layer should not be thicker than two millimeters. Grouting and priming are done after drying.

Such a surface can be covered with decorative plaster, liquid wallpaper, painted, glued, or tiled.

Soundproofing with expanded polystyrene: disadvantages of the method

To enumerate the drawbacks of the penoplex soundproofing technique, it is imperative to elucidate the drawbacks of the substance.

The masters’ primary drawback is their ignition percentage. Penoplex produces toxic smoke when it burns.

Penoplex is not a sound-absorbing material for use in wooden structures. A wooden structure cannot have moisture removed by the material. The tree then develops fungus and stops being able to "breathe."

Impact noise dampening with penoplex soundproofing is less effective. These include construction and restoration work. A lower percentage of neighbor-generated sound attenuation is a drawback.

Another drawback is that it takes time and expertise.

Penoplex is a special type of building material that serves multiple purposes.

• thermal insulation – saving on electricity, paying for heating;
• soundproofing – comfortable rest after a working day;
• flat surface – even when plastering and puttying, you do not need to waste time on leveling.

The material has a few minor drawbacks, and the artisans do not stress that penoplex will make the room completely silent or bring up fire safety during installation.

Using Penoplex soundproofing to create a quieter living area is a realistic and doable project. By taking the appropriate actions, you can drastically lower the noise levels in your home or apartment and create a more tranquil space.

Using Penoplex increases thermal benefits and enhances sound insulation, improving comfort in your house. This solution is effective and simple to install, even for individuals with limited do-it-yourself skills.

Whether your neighbors are loud or you simply want a little more privacy, soundproofing your home with Penoplex is a great way to improve the peace and quiet in your house.

Video on the topic

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