Adding drywall or a temporary wall might provide the best results for reducing noise in a rental, but you may not be able to change the structure in an apartment rental. To block out and absorb undesirable sound coming through the walls, hanging up art and tapestries can be the next best thing.
How To Soundproof Against External Sounds
Best Soundproofing for Walls and Ceilings
DIY Ways to Soundproof a Room Cheaply
Additional Soundproofing Solutions
Best solutions: High-NRR foam earplugs — Foam earplugs with a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 30+ dB are highly effective at blocking mid-frequency sounds.
Walls you are likely talking insulation or an extra layer of drywall. There is specific insulation for sound. If the vents are purely openings, sound's probably getting through, but you need to ensure there's air return/circulation within your house so that might be difficult to get rid of.
Mass-Loaded Vinyl (MLV) – Best for Blocking Sound
While it's more affordable than some high-end soundproofing materials, it remains highly effective for walls, ceilings, or floors. If you need a cost-effective way to reduce sound transmission, installing MLV is an excellent choice.
Using Green Glue to add a new layer of 5/8” drywall is still industry standard because it's a high performing, cost-effective solution to soundproofing a wall without removing the drywall that's already up.
Use Practical Soundproofing Methods: Add acoustic panels, rugs, curtains, weather stripping, and upgraded insulation to reduce noise impact.
By layering insulation, membrane, and acoustic plasterboard, you create robust soundproofed walls that drastically reduce noise from neighbours, whether it's voices, TV, or footsteps. Top Tip: Seal gaps around sockets, windows, and doors with acoustic sealant. Sound can sneak through even the smallest cracks.
Ignoring Air Gaps or Cracks
It includes leaving a significant gap under the doors. Often, people create excessive holes for pipes and cables. Cracks around the window frames are another common mistake found in offices and households—proper soundproofing demands sealing all the cracks.
It's normal to hear some sound through shared walls. However, if you can clearly hear your neighbors discussing dinner on the other side of the wall, you need soundproofing.
However if the walls were just 2 inches thick you would be able to hear the music (especially the bass). So bottom line, the only thing cannot pass through would be a vacuum as there are no molecules to set in vibration. Everything else will transmit sound.
Install Acoustic Insulation Inside The Wall
Fill the wall cavity with acoustic insulation material like mineral wool, fiberglass, or acoustic foam. This helps absorb sound and prevents it from passing through the wall.
Acoustical caulk is your best friend in a soundproofing project, because you'll see large gains just be sealing gaps around the perimeter of the wall and any penetrations, like outlets and vents. Next, add a new layer of 5/8” drywall with Green Glue between the two layers of drywall.
What is the best alternative to drywall? For soundproofing and noise control, Wall Blokker is one of the best drywall alternatives available. It installs behind drywall as a thin mass loaded vinyl barrier that blocks up to 75% of airborne and impact noise while improving moisture and air resistance.
Here are several "do-it-yourself" options you could consider:
5 Household Items that Can Help in Soundproofing
Resonant panels, Helmholtz resonators and other resonant absorbers work by damping a sound wave as they reflect it. Unlike porous absorbers, resonant absorbers are most effective at low-medium frequencies and the absorption of resonant absorbers is matched to a narrow frequency range.
Sound Insulation
Plywood is a good base layer but is less soundproof unless it's combined with something else like insulation. Drywall works better at sound insulation in multi-layer drywall systems.
Adding drywall or a temporary wall might provide the best results for reducing noise in a rental, but you may not be able to change the structure in an apartment rental. To block out and absorb undesirable sound coming through the walls, hanging up art and tapestries can be the next best thing.
Once you've identified the source of the scratching sounds, you can take the next step more confidently, which is to get professional help from either a pest control expert (like Environmental Pest Control) or a wildlife removal company.
The cheapest way to soundproof a wall is to use thick blankets and quilts. To block outside noise, put blankets over the walls, doors, or windows, depending on where the sound is coming from. To keep the sound in, hang blankets on both sides of the doors or inside walls.