Soundproofing an apartment: steps to optimum comfort

Summary, to rediscover the pleasure of silence (even in the city)

• Probing the secret passages of noise in your home: the partitions that laugh, the glazing that groans, and the floors that fear nothing. Ah, the real sound mapping of an apartment, often full of surprises, is already half the battle.
• Adopt the anti-noise parry that fits your skin: rock wool or acoustic fleece, carpet or discreet joints... Each urban nest requires its own magic potion, never universal, sometimes homemade, always adjusted.
• The ritual of preparation, installation and testing. On the construction front, it's all about taking care of the details, taming the site and, above all, enjoying the peace and quiet you've regained, if only for a sigh.

Sometimes, all it takes is a burst of laughter or a book accidentally dropped on the floor above to turn a quiet aperitif into a marathon for the eardrums. Surprisingly talkative walls, windows that vibrate like a festival, and the hum of the city inviting itself into the bathroom... Frankly, who hasn't dreamed of a "mute" button on urban life? And that persistent myth, supposedly reserved for the affluent in isolated lofts, where all noise miraculously evaporates... 

Doesn't exist. Yet it's much easier to create a bubble of peace and quiet in your own apartment, and it starts with a few basics that every city dweller would do well to know. Ready to track down the hum of the neighbors and rediscover the pleasure of silence with an acoustic curtain?

Noise diagnosis: where does noise enter your home?

Before braving the DIY department, there's one thing you must do: identify all the sound infiltration zones. Sometimes you think you know it all... but there are some surprises in store for the curious. You'll have to find an anti-noise solution for your apartment. 

What noises are really invading your apartment?

The ballet always starts with this airborne noise: voices coming through the partitions, a neighbor's rock song, or even a siren outside leaping up from the street like an unexpected guest. Then, without warning, comes the sound of impact. Who can say they haven't jumped at the sound of footsteps in the middle of the night? A ball against the ceiling or a saucepan dropped at the wrong moment? These rhythms are impossible to ignore. Special mention must also be made of equipment noises: an energetic toilet flush, an elevator squeaking like in a horror movie, pipes chattering behind an unlucky wall... And what about stairwells that transmit everything like a giant amplifier? Which corner of your apartment is the noisiest?

Which areas deserve your priority attention?

Suspicions are quickly aroused: the light partition, that wall of separation that lets in the light - and obviously everything else. The old, single-glazed window: a veritable boulevard for morning traffic, the bus and the rear-view mirror rattling below. Floors that resonate at the slightest step: historic but noisy parquet, thin tiles, paper-like ceilings. And let's not forget those pipes that convert the slightest drip into a drum solo. Look around you: where does life go... and noise?

Home diagnosis or calling in an acoustician: mission impossible?

A piece of paper slipped into the window, a free app to measure decibels, or simply an ear glued to the wall: this is the first step, and it's more reliable than you might think. For the most stubborn cases - or before considering the big job - a professional diagnosis saves precious time (and money). Acousticians detail every sound passage, identify every air gap and propose a suitable solution, far from magical promises: here, no miracle curtain sold on the networks, but a solid recommendation.

At this stage, who wants to wait for peace to return on its own? Deepening the diagnosis is the first step towards appeasement.

Which soundproofing solutions are right for you?

There's a world of difference between what your neighbor says and what really works. Obviously, it's impossible to imagine the same solution for a stairwell and a bedroom adjoining a noisy living room. It's time to open the acoustic toolbox.

Which materials make the most of silence (and why)?

Rockwool, cellulose wadding, glass wool... Even the least do-it-yourselfers have heard of them, sometimes without really believing it. The reason is that good insulation plays on mass, flexibility and absorption capacity. Some opt for foam panels to be glued to the wall ("giant cushion" effect), while others go for phonic plasterboard, a two-point-zero version of good old plaster. When it comes to openings, double or triple glazing is the best way to forget the street. Acoustic curtains can be installed without breaking the bank. Last but not least: the budget. Rockwool doesn't offer the same results - or the same price - as genuine top-of-the-range glazing. There's a material for every configuration, and a solution for every noisy situation.

Walls, floors, ceilings, openings: what tactics?

It's impossible to say that a single system rules everywhere. Lining a wall with framing, rock wool and plasterboard gives a room the secret of a real cocoon. Under squeaky parquet, a good underlay or floating screed muffles the impact of the neighbor upstairs (or your own, we're not judging). Suspended ceilings take the cake in certain configurations, simply by removing the noise. And for vintage windows and doors, sometimes magnificent, changing the door or adding thick seals and curtains makes all the difference. Some people say that a simple seal on an old door has put them back to sleep... Who would have thought?

How can you get by with little work (and a smart budget)?

You don't have to wait three winters and three condominium approvals to improve your living space. A few tricks can transform the atmosphere:

• Door bushing or "anti-draft" cushion: effective for stopping sound intruders under the door.
• Thick curtains, soft carpets, solid furniture: every material, every volume, absorbs its share of the sound wave.
• Acoustic sealant applied in cracks: this small, discreet gesture changes everything.

When renting, it's sometimes enough to dare to find reversible solutions, so as not to sacrifice anything on the day of departure. Who would still say that nothing is possible without breaking everything?

The essential steps to successful soundproofing (or almost successful soundproofing)

Here, the concrete takes over. A good insulation project is never a question of a magic formula, but of method and attention to detail.

How can you prepare the ground for work without regret?

Sometimes, condominiums impose their limits: it's better to prevent than to have to explain why you're making noise at dawn. A signed estimate from a professional, with a label if possible, avoids many problems. Those who know how to find the right subsidies (MaPrimeRénov, Anah, energy-saving certificates...) often see their project move ahead faster than expected. In the case of older buildings, each modification changes the situation in terms of comfort and standards. Prevent, anticipate and negotiate: the golden rule.

How is the site really structured?

First phase: the big wash. Removing, preparing, and sometimes... discovering the hidden history of the home. Then it's a matter of superimposing, adding, wedging and aligning every material, every millimetre. The finishing touches bring perfectionists together: joints, paint, careful cladding. All that remains is to track down the acoustic bridges that creep in everywhere, to keep an eye on the schedule to avoid the eternal living-room-bedroom transformed into a workshop, and of course... to keep an eye on the expenses.

Is it possible to live with construction without losing your nerves?

Don't underestimate the impact of a job: move furniture, protect the floor, organize the arrival of the professionals. Plan a quiet place to take refuge, negotiate the schedule, work hand in hand with the craftsman if adjustments have to be made. Sometimes, post-job calm is priceless - and that's not just an expression.

Final check: has silence really been won?

As soon as it's fitted, the ear starts to tense up: does the change jump out at the eardrums? A quick test via mobile app or, old-school style, with the ear pressed against the wall... Weak points persist? A phone call to the craftsman is often enough to adjust. But the best thing of all is the feeling of renewed calm, deeper sleep and a new conviviality, even when the city is whispering outside.

Silence thanks to Nokomis

Sometimes silence is absorbent cotton. Sometimes it's a heavy curtain between the talkative street and the living room, where you're trying to read Proust, who knows why? Nokomis love silence as much as others love the golden light of morning. 

Not miracle-workers, but noise tamers, in the style of discreet craftsmen. Noise-reducing curtains, panels sewn in the spirit of the times, French know-how. And in their story, there's this simple idea: to protect tranquility, without ever making life sad. Calm, like a promise.