DIY soundproofing: key technique and considerations

DIY soundproofing is a fairly labor-intensive process, but it can save the owner a significant amount of money and greatly improve driving comfort.

DIY soundproofing: where to start?

• Disassembly.

First, you’ll need to completely strip the trunk, doors, and interior of the car (or other body parts to be treated) down to bare metal.

• Surface prep.

Next, remove all factory insulation layers, thoroughly clean the surface, and degrease it well. Degreasing can be done with acetone or a special compound. Do not use “white spirit” under any circumstances—it leaves an oily film that can later compromise the seal and adhesion of the insulation to the body surface.

• Applying vibration dampers.

This is, of course, optional, but we still recommend applying a self-adhesive vibration-absorbing material to the prepped surface (Шумофф М2, М3, М4, Мікс, Мікс Ф). Average consumption per car is about 15 sheets (roughly $45) when covering 65% of the vehicle’s area. If you increase coverage to 100%, the effectiveness doubles.

• Installing sound- and noise-absorbing materials.

For this, you can use Шумофф П4, П8, or Комфорт. You’ll need around 4 sheets for the floor pan and the same amount for the doors, wheel arches, firewall, and roof (the cost of this treatment excluding labor is approximately $40–130). We also recommend applying two layers on the engine-side firewall and the arches—this will cost more, of course, but it increases effectiveness, since this is where the majority of vibrations and other noises originate.

• Applying sealing strips.

They are needed to reduce squeaks from plastic interior parts. Here it’s best to use Герметон А7 or А15, which differ in thickness.

Why do we recommend ШУМОФФ soundproofing materials?

Because today they are best adapted to our climate conditions. Our sound and vibration insulation test of various domestic and foreign manufacturers (results published in “Автозвук” magazine) showed that only materials from ШумоФФ lose their vibration-damping properties less than others at low temperatures. Agree—this is very important for Ukraine and Europe.

Overall, we’ve only outlined DIY soundproofing in general terms here. If you have any questions, we’re always ready to answer them promptly. And if you’d like to review prices, specifications, and application areas for the materials listed above, you can do so in the Шумоізоляція ШумоFF section.