The first thing that I want to raise is that it’s important to note is that a normal wooden garden shed is not an ideal place to use as a music studio or somewhere else where noise and sound is important, whether you want to keep it out or in.
If do need a more fit-for-purpose building, then you should really consider building a soundproof shed or studio from scratch. You will have to use double layers of a material that has a high mass, such as breeze block. You then need to build a room within a room, preferably manufactured from steel.
Using this type of design is the only way of sealing in noise completely, to a high level of effectiveness.
But let’s be honest, that’s a large job and also very expensive.
However, if you just want to reduce noise levels, such as playing music while you work in the shed, using a drill or your kids playing in there, then this is actually a bit easier and you can soundproof a garden shed to a reasonable level very cheaply.
You may not be able to keep all noise locked in (or out), depending on how thick the walls of the shed are, but you can dampen it down to a reasonable level with some cheap and easy to do soundproofing methods.
Here are my five tried and tested steps for garden shed soundproofing, with easy to understand instructions set out in a quick tutorial. I also reference the cheap products you will need to buy on a website such as Amazon to complete the project successfully.
Step 1: Soundproofing the Shed Walls
Many people choose to use regular insulation when soundproofing the walls of a garden shed, but this can be complicated, and it’s not always effective to an acceptable level.
These tiles can also be used to cover the roof and door of your shed and you will need to glue the tiles to the walls of the shed, using a decent spray adhesive.
Moving forward, make sure that you vacuum the tiles regularly in order to keep them in good condition.
Now although, the instructions that come with these tiles state that they can be used for soundproofing a music studio, you should remember that this level of sound insulation can only really be attained if a structure has walls made from solid materials such as breeze block. But for some quick noise reduction in a garden shed, they should work reasonably well.
Step 2: Soundproofing the Shed Windows
Windows are often over-looked when soundproofing, which is crazy because they have thin glass in most cases and could have gaps and cracks around them where noise can escape or enter.
But it can be one of the most difficult takes in the whole project.
You could start by using plastic sheets to provide an extra layer to the glass that’s already there. But for the better results think about something called a window plug – I have written an article on how to make one by clicking here.
But by far, the quickest and easiest way is to hang up some soundproof curtains over the window (view on Amazon), or use removal blankets (usually cheaper, and be found on Amazon again).
You’re not done though.
You should also ensure that gaps around the windows are dealt with. To do this you can use soundproofing seal strip (view on Amazon) which does the job, as well as improving the weather and rain coming into your garden shed.
Step 3: Soundproofing the Shed Door
The door of your garden shed is another problematic area when it comes to sound proofing. You should start by using the same seal strip that you used for the windows, to seal the area around the door.
Again, this helps to insulate your shed against the weather, as well as soundproofing it. You can then use the sound insulation tiles that you used for the walls, to cover the door itself, or a soundproof curtain, or even cheaper by using those removals blankets I referenced earlier – honestly, they do work really well when hung over a door area.
Do not forget to pay attention to small details, such as making sure that you place a cover over the lock.
Step 4: Soundproofing the Shed Roof
Never be tempted to just soundproof the walls of your garden shed. If you want the soundproofing to be as effective as possible, you need to make sure that every area of the shed is covered.
You can use the same type of tiles that you used to soundproof the walls to do the same to the roof.
Step 5: Soundproofing the Shed Floor
You may not realize it, but a lot of sound can escape from the floor of any wooden shed. This is why you need to soundproof the area. It’s possible to use a thick layer of carpet for this, but it’s better if you can invest in some soundproofing mat.
This is made from material that is specially designed to block the transfer of noise. It’s recommended that the mat is positioned between two layers of wood, so you may want to install a false floor over the top of it. That might be too complex for most, so see what results you get simply by laying the mat down.
For garden shed floors, I recommend this sound deadener mat (view on Amazon). It’s manufactured for cars but works just as well in sheds, especially when laid under an existing carpet.
You could consider laying carpet on top of your new false floor, to maximize the effect.
Now Test the Results
Once you have finished soundproofing your garden shed, you should test the results by checking to see how much noise from inside the shed can be heard outside, and at what distance. If you can still hear noise at a significant level, try to determine which part of the shed it’s coming from. This makes it easier for you to make adjustments and get the soundproofing just right.
Just for a final word, this level of cheap soundproofing will not be sufficient to reduce the noise of a band rehearsing in a shed. You will have to build a bespoke music studio to get that level of sound proofing exactly right.
But using the tips and steps above, you can make sure that the noise of you working, or your kids playing in the shed does not disturb the neighbors.
You can also reduce the amount of noise coming into the shed from outside; making it a more peaceful place to spend your time, when you want to get away from the noise and chaos in the house.
