Who would’ve thought that soundproofing a car is now done and considered by many motorists and travelers? Even car companies and manufacturers are devising ways to come up with new soundproofed car models. Why is that so?
The most common noise problem on any vehicle is the droning sound of the engine, especially if the car is already old. Because almost all of the car is made of the metal sheet which is a very good conductor, engine noise coming from under the hood is ultimately transmitted to the passengers’ ears.
Screeching tires, clanking sound from the shock, yelling drunken bystanders and the ear-splitting sound from the drill in a highway under construction are just some of the noise you want to avoid when you’re driving home in your car. Sometimes, closing the car windows would do the trick but sometimes, doing that isn’t nearly enough; you need to soundproof your car.
How To Soundproof A Car:
The good news is that there are a great number of available products out there for soundproofing a car. You can choose from among an array of mats, foams and other modern vehicle upholsteries. The bad news is that there is very little useful and how-to information on actually soundproofing a car anywhere. When sound deadening your car, you need to follow some essential directions and guidelines. Here’s an effective way I found somewhere:
First, you need to do something about the problem of engine noise. Detach the fiberglass hood mat from the underside of the hood and clean the entire area thoroughly. Next, cut a piece of closed-cell foam mat, probably a dense vinyl nitrile type, carefully following the pattern and contour of the hood. If you want to make the task easier and if you want to have a precise cut, then use an electric kitchen knife. An additional tip is to make use of your car’s protective mat. Cut the soundproofing foam in the same pattern as the car mat so that you’ll be sure that it would fit and conform to the ridges perfectly.
After you have finished cutting the foam, clean the bottom of the hood with a rag and some alcohol. This process is to make sure that the adhesive would really stick to the metal. Spray contact cement to the base of the hood and to the smooth side of the soundproofing mat. Keep the two pieces away from each other for a while then stick them together when the adhesive already becomes quite tacky. You may use some sort of a tape to support the mat until it becomes dry enough to hold on its own. Most soundproofing mats and foams can withstand hot temperature and are durable enough to last for years.
Then there are those materials that you can use for the floors, the doors and the back section of a van or the compartment of your car. Other people even have their classic cars soundproofed with insulating materials. Soundproofing a car doesn’t only guarantee a quiet ride but it also relieves you of the added stress from the many bothersome noises on the highway while you’re driving home from work.
Before you DIY:
Before you go out and soundproof your car there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind. Firstly get your car checked by a mechanic. There is no benefit of soundproofing your car if the noise is internal and can be fixed by fixing a part or two. Secondly, when you soundproof your car you need to keep the budget in mind. Don’t go overboard with soundproofing and there is absolutely no need to hire a professional if you have a tight budget. So do follow these tips and get rid of those noises!
