Do egg cartons work for soundproofing?
Experts say that egg carton soundproofing is just a myth.
So the shortest answer to this question is no.
While they may help reduce the echo and vibrations in a room, they can never completely soundproof a room.
This is because they are made of very thin cardboard, allowing the noise to travel directly through them instead of blocking them.
They only help control a bit of echo through sound deflection and diaphragmatic absorption.
Sound deflection
When the sound waves touch the egg cartons, they are reflected, scattered, diffracted and refracted due to their jagged shape; we call it sound deflection.
Diaphragmatic absorption
Diaphragmatic absorption, in the case of egg cartons, is when the sound waves strike the face of an egg carton.
But egg cartons are very thin, and they are not effective diaphragmatic absorbers.
So, it’s obvious that thin cardboard, like egg cartons, won’t help with soundproofing.
They only slightly reduce the echo but can’t block the noise because they are too thin.
It will take much hard work and time to decorate your room with egg cartons.
And when you finish, you’ll be very disappointed by the results.
Egg cartons for a studio
Using egg cartons alone can never be enough to block the noise from outside or if you’re trying to build a home studio for yourself.
You may be confused if you’ve seen a similar material, like an egg carton in a studio for soundproofing.
You’ve seen no egg cartons; they just look like egg cartons.
This is because sound panels that are used in studios look a lot like egg cartons.
They may look like egg cartons, but they are made up of high-density foam designed to absorb and dampen the noise very effectively.
The shape and profile of sound panels look a lot like egg cartons.
Secondly, using a bumpy material like egg cartons can never block noise.
It only helps in reducing some of the echoes.
So when you see a studio with bumpy material on the walls, like egg cartons, you should never use the same for soundproofing a bedroom.
This is because a sound recording studio needs to control the echo, so a singer doesn’t sound like he’s performing in a garage.
So it’s obvious now that egg cartons can never help soundproof an area because they can’t block the noise.
They only help in reducing echo and absorbing some of the noise.
But the amount of echo that an egg carton help to reduce can also be reduced by placing more furniture in your room.
And also, there are many other alternatives you can use instead of egg cartons to make a room soundproof.
You don’t need to create a mess around with egg cartons that, too, fail in soundproofing.
So using egg cartons for soundproofing is just a misconception.
Soundproofing alternatives
While the egg cartons are not effective enough to block the noise, many other alternatives may help you make your room soundproof.
Soundproofing foam
Soundproofing foam is one of the best alternatives to egg cartons to make a room soundproof.
If you’re building a home studio or a performance space for your singing, you should better use soundproofing foam.
It comes in various colors and shapes, so you don’t have to worry about it looking messy or aesthetically unappealing.
Doors and windows
To fully soundproof a room, the very first thing you need to notice is if there is any space in your door and window.
The biggest culprits in letting the noise in and out of a room are the door and window.
Remember, if air can pass through them, so can the noise.
If you find any gap between the window and the window frame or the door and the door frame, fill that gap using weatherstripping tape.
Weatherstripping tape is cheap and easily found in the market and online.
You can apply it yourself without the help of any professional.
Then see if you find the door or the windows damaged from anywhere.
If there is some gap or crack due to the damage, then fill that crack using acoustic glue.
Again, acoustic glue is also available easily and is cheap to buy.
You just need an acoustic glue gun to apply it neatly.
After applying it, you can paint the surface using the same colour it was painted before to give it a more neat look.
After this, look for the gap between the door and the floor.
This gap also brings most of the noise inside the room.
Block this gap using a door sweep which is also easily available.
It’s not expensive, and it can be installed easily using nails or glue.
Along with blocking the unwanted sounds, it will also block the dust and unwanted insects from coming inside.
This way, your doors and windows will become soundproof, blocking most of the noise.
Sound absorbing panels
Sound-absorbing panels, also called acoustic panels, are specially designed to absorb as much noise and echo as possible.
They are made of dense fiberglass and can be turned into any shape you want.
The good part is that they are easy to install because they can be installed on the wall.
They work way better than egg cartons if you use them for soundproofing.
You’ll be very satisfied with the results.
Soundproofing curtains
You’ll be surprised to know that there are curtains available in the market now specially designed for soundproofing.
They are made of heavy and thick material that blocks noise from passing through them.
Most of the noise is absorbed by these heavy curtains.
Remember, the heavier the material is, the more noise it will absorb.
If you find these soundproofing curtains out of your budget, use thick, heavy blackout curtains instead.
These curtains will absorb any noise that passes through the windows.
So maximum sound reduction will be ensured.
Soundproofing blankets
Soundproofing blankets that are also known as moving blankets, are easily available.
They are also thick, heavy, and designed to absorb most noise.
They are made up of insulated fabric material that helps reduce sound vibrations.
They can be used to cover the walls, windows and doors.
Soundproofing blankets absorb any noise that passes through the walls, windows and doors.
They help in reducing both internal and external noise.
Anti-vibration pads
Anti-vibration pads are specially designed to reduce the sound vibrations caused by any machinery or instrument if you’re trying to soundproof your studio room.
You can place your drums, speakers and other instruments on these anti-vibration pads and stop worrying about the outgoing and incoming low-frequency noise.
Carpets and rugs
Carpets and rugs are another way to take an extra step towards soundproofing your room.
They are thick and absorb most of the noise.
Along with improving the aesthetics of your room, they also absorb and dampen noise.
Thicker the rugs are more noise they will absorb.
If your budget allows, make the whole area carpeted.
If you can’t afford to carpet the whole area, you can simply place rugs in selective areas.
Especially if you place rugs under any machinery that makes noise or produces more sound vibrations, the rug will absorb these vibrations.
The good part is that rugs will not cost you much and are available in different colours and designs.
You can choose from various designs according to what suits your room best.
Incorporate more furniture
If you place more furniture in a room, there will be less echo.
As much as the egg cartons reduce the echo, incorporating more furniture will reduce more echo.
Hard wooden furniture won’t absorb noise, but it will still work better than egg cartons.
Conclusion
If you choose to use egg cartons for soundproofing, you’ll be very disappointed after all the hard work because they are ineffective.
They may be cheap, but they won’t work for soundproofing.
Egg cartons can help reduce the echoes and sharp sounds but can’t help in complete soundproofing.
If you’re serious about soundproofing, you should consider using professional purpose-made products that will reduce and block out all the noise.
FAQs
1) Can egg cartons be used as insulation?
Egg cartons may help in improving the energy efficiency of homes.
2) Does soundproofing work?
Yes, soundproofing works.
But soundproofing will only work if the correct acoustic solution is used.
3)Can egg cartons be used as a substitute for professional soundproofing materials?
While egg cartons may help reduce echoes and absorb some sound, they are not a substitute for professional soundproofing materials.
In fact, using egg cartons as soundproofing can actually be a fire hazard and may not meet building code regulations.
4)What is the science behind using egg cartons for soundproofing?
Egg cartons are made of a type of paper pulp that contains small pockets of air.
These pockets of air can help absorb sound waves and reduce echoes.
However, the effectiveness of egg cartons for soundproofing is limited, and they may not work well in larger or more complex spaces.
5)Are there any safe and effective alternatives to egg cartons for soundproofing?
Yes, there are many safe and effective alternatives to using egg cartons for soundproofing.
Some options include acoustic foam panels, mass-loaded vinyl barriers, and soundproof curtains.
These materials are specifically designed for soundproofing and are generally more effective and safer to use than egg cartons.