DIY soundproofing: save on professional labor

What car soundproofing is, why it’s needed, and some нюанси of its installation, we’ve covered in previous materials, including the article Step-by-step installation of soundproofing in a car. Today we want to explain how to do DIY soundproofing at home. It’s not difficult at all, but it does take some time. One of the most challenging parts is stripping the interior (removing trim, seats, the dashboard, etc.) and then putting everything back together. Once the car is taken apart, you can move on to the work itself.

What tools will we need?

• heat gun;
• solvent;
• pressure roller or a regular glass bottle.

What soundproofing materials should we use?

• Vibroplast – m2, m3 or m4;
• Vizomat – ideally the new-generation Vizomaty Shumoff Mix, Mix F;
• Splen – P4, P8 or Komfort;
• Bitoplast (Germeton) – Shumoff Germeton 7, 15 or 30;

DIY soundproofing: where to start?

• Create stiffening ribs.

As experiments by our studio specialists have shown, this step is essential. So prepare a few sheets of rigid шумоізоляція (for example, Vizomat Mix or Mix F), cut them into thin strips, and apply them generously across the whole body (see photo 1). Don’t forget to degrease the surface the шумоізоляція will be bonded to. Before sticking, the soundproofing material must be heated with a heat gun. This method boosts effectiveness by 30%, while increasing material consumption by only 2%!!!

• Stick and roll out Vizomat or Vibroplast.

After bonding the stiffening ribs, start rolling out the remaining вибра over them:

Use Vizomat Mix or Mix F for the floor, wheel arches, and under the front panel.

Vibroplast M2 (M3 or M4) is bonded and rolled onto other parts of the car – the door inner panel, roof, fenders, trunk (see photo 2).

Keep in mind you shouldn’t roll it too aggressively—do it “softly,” but also make sure no air bubbles remain.

• Apply Splen Shumoff P4, P8 or Komfort.

Note that Vibroplast materials start working effectively when applied to 75% of the car’s surface, while Splen requires at least 95% coverage. Splen bonds easily, so you won’t have any issues working with these soundproofing materials.

That’s it—after this, you can already consider DIY soundproofing done. But for maximum effect, we recommend using Shumoff Germeton materials to eliminate squeaks coming from all the plastic in the cabin. After that, you can reassemble the interior and enjoy a more comfortable ride!

We think you’ll find it very interesting to read the section DIY soundproofing: technology specifics. There you’ll learn which materials are recognized as the best for use in Ukraine and Europe, as well as the sequence of the work and its approximate cost.