How Do You Soundproof a Tiny House?

by Beth Rush

One of the best aspects of living in a tiny home is enjoying a sustainable lifestyle and minimizing your footprint while still enjoying superior privacy. Unlike apartments, you don’t have to worry about heavy footfalls on the floor, letting you enjoy a HIIT workout in your living room at 3 a.m. if that’s your yen.

However, there are times when even the most well-constructed tiny homes benefit from additional soundproofing. For example, intentional communities with units close together or musicians living in a mother-in-law pad behind their parent’s rancher may need an extra touch. Sometimes, you need to bang out a drum solo well past 8 p.m. bedtimes.

How do you soundproof a tiny house? Here’s what you need to know.

Soundproof Your Tiny Home’s Exterior

Start with your exterior to soundproof your tiny home. The process begins at the drawing board with the construction phase. Prefabricated tiny homes with steel frames already offer superior soundproofing as metal absorbs sound waves better than wood, drowning out that noisy freeway nearby. Those who DIY must make savvy decisions, as everything from framing to insulation choices can influence how quiet or loud their home becomes.

Furthermore, noise often enters your tiny home via the same methods as people, pets and chilly drafts. Here’s how to soundproof specific aspects of your property to practice your drum solo undisturbed.

1. Walls

You already know that well-constructed walls aid soundproofing. What can you do to an existing home? Ambitious DIY types can add specialty acoustic panels to deaden noise. Many manufacturers today design these to look like wood or stone to integrate with your decor.

If you’re not up to paneling your walls, adding tapestries is a simple trick for noise insulation. Thicker blankets cut more but can create a college apartment aesthetic. Still, this trick works for folks who opt for a tiny home on wheels (THOW) or RV as a sustainable lifestyle choice, as the extra padding serves as additional insulation against thin walls on cold days.

2. Ceilings

Unless you built a THOW, you have no restrictions on ceiling height. Most tiny homes avoid vaulted ceilings to reduce the structure’s carbon footprint. However, you might have space for a small drop ceiling, or you can install acoustic panels, which detract only an inch or so from the overall room height — an important detail if you’re six and a half feet tall.

3. Windows

If you wonder why you always feel cold when sitting by your bay window, it might be caulk gun time. Furthermore, pay attention to window quality when installing yours, as dual-pane models offer superior insulation and soundproofing over single-pane.

What if you chose single-frame windows because you salvaged them as part of your sustainable build? Look for a one-way film that increases the available light in your tiny home by eliminating the need for daytime curtains. It protects your floor and furnishings from UV rays while adding some insulation and soundproofing to your panes.

4. Floors

Tiny homes don’t have basements to worry about, but sound can still enter through the floor. If building a tiny home intended for a fixed location, ensure you install it on a firm foundation and have adequate subflooring to prevent noisy squeaks.

What about THOWs? These are similar to RVs in that they have ample room for noise and cold air to enter your home from underneath. Install proper skirting when parked to reduce the chill, protect your pipe and cut noise. You might also add soundproofing material to the underside of your trailer and an impact barrier flooring underlayment to further soundproof your rig.

Install Interior Noise Insulation

Noise can also arise from inside your tiny home, a huge problem if you use your backyard facility for recording podcasts. Here’s how you can dim the din from within through interior noise insulation.

5. Wrapping Pipes

Your water and drainage systems sing a veritable melody in a tiny home each time someone runs the faucet, and they rarely harmonize with your flute solo. The noise can interfere with your daily routine, but you can stop it with soundproof wrap.

Soundproof pipe wrapping offers a crucial bonus if in a THOW or an extreme climate. Many brands contain a heavy foam layer that prevents pipe freezing. A burst pipe can easily flood your entire structure — lower your risk and cut noise by putting a coat on yours.

6. Stopping Creaks

A creaky floor also creates noise from within, even if the only “person” sharing your pad is your loyal golden retriever. Soundproofing your floor during construction helps, but what if you buy your tiny home second-hand and it squeaks?

Installing a soft, absorbent flooring surface like rolled vinyl or carpet helps. It’s a wise choice for older adults concerned about falls, as such surfaces provide much more cushioning than hardwood or tile. Keep this in mind if constructing your tiny home as an in-law suite.

A quick fix that requires no DIY skill is adding a throw rug and pad to silence the sound. You might also try special powders or lubricants sold at hardware stores.

Soundproofing Your Tiny Home

Well-built tiny homes offer much more soundproofing than apartments. However, the right noise insulation makes these facilities ideal for folks recording podcasts or music from home or whose noisy hobbies at odd hours create problems for neighbors. Take the above steps to soundproof your tiny home. When you start with a solid construction, the minimum noise insulation lets you enjoy nothing but the blessed sound of silence within your miniature abode.