#MASS LOADED VINYL VS RUBBER WINDOWS#

While acoustical materials help you increase the sound quality in a space, soundproofing is all about blocking sound from getting into a space at all. This is because much of what you read treats acoustics the same as soundproofing, but in fact they are different problems with different solutions. While this advice isn’t incorrect in every situation, it is misguided. However, if that is not an option and you rent an apartment, then a MLV curtain would be an alternative option and yes, it would help block noise from outside.A lot of people ask, does mass loaded vinyl work for soundproofing? A common misconception on the internet when it comes to soundproofing is that you need to cover your room with egg cartons, soundproof cardboard, foam, or some sort of acoustic paneling.

#MASS LOADED VINYL VS RUBBER WINDOWS#

There are now sound blocking windows on the market. If you need to reduce noise levels and you own a home, change the windows.

However, it appears to be finding uses in other applications. Personally, I think MLV is best left for industrial acoustical applications, as that is what it was originally designed for. There are numerous websites that sell acoustical curtains, always check the density before purchasing. Those gaps would leak sound into the space you were trying to reduce the noise level in.īut, what if you’re still interested in finding an acoustical curtain? Maybe you live in an apartment building and you are limited to what you can do. In a window application, if you found a way to hang MLV you would end up with a product that has many exposed edges and areas that create voids for sound to escape into the apartment or building. Sound, much like water, will find any open areas to escape. A thinner version would then not have the acoustical blocking capabilities of a denser version, and that would be a potential drawback. The material does not easily roll up, and you would have to use a thinner version of MLV to get that added flexibility. Hanging the material as I noted would be an issue. Can you imagine hanging a massive piece of black rubber-like material on your window? That would not look visually attractive.

The other issue with MLV is that it is only available in one color, black. But, using our 4’ x 6’ example that curtain would now be 24 pounds. A good substitute would be a reinforced MLV material as that has a density of 1 lb psf. There are thicker MLV on the market but using a thicker version does not reduce the tearing aspect. Finding a way to hang it could also be problematic, as it could result in tearing if grommets are used. In a window application that amount of weight is substantial. Using a 4’ x 6’ curtain as an example would result in a curtain that weighs 12 pounds.

The thinnest MLV we stock is ½ psf density that translates into a weight of ½ pound for every 12” x 12” piece. At GLT Products we manufacture and sell MLV from ½ lb psf to 2 lb psf density. MLV is a dense polymer material that is used extensively in industrial and commercial applications.

But what if you are unable to follow any of these recommendations and you’re trying to find a solution to the excessive street noise leaking through your windows? The answer might seem to be MLV in a curtain form. There are a number of remedies that can be undertaken, such as: removing yourself from the situation, wearing hearing protection, reducing the noise from the source, or treating the environment to reduce the noise that is the root cause. Exposure to high sound levels results in the development of noise-induced hearing loss, which can be a serious physical, psychological, and social problem. We all know that excessive noise can damage hearing and pose a threat to our well-being. Let’s dive into those drawbacks for this application. The short answer is that it could potentially work, but there could be some drawbacks. Recently we received an inquiry on whether or not mass loaded vinyl (MLV) is effective at blocking sound through windows. Our sales email is often filled with some interesting questions.

Mass loaded vinyl vs rubber