I recently rented a UR apartment and I am pretty new in Japan and I have had few posts here earlier to ask few other questions and the amount of info I got is amazing.
So, here I am again with another post and this time I am confused about soundproofing my apartment.
I have a “Steel reinforced concrete structure” UR apartment. From what I know and read through some previous posts is that this is not best structure for soundproofing. But, that’s fine because this apartment suits all my other needs (quite area, greenery, decent rent etc.).
What I see upon inspection is that the walls that connect to my neighbour’s rooms are thicker (probably concrete filled in) and the walls inside my house are wooden (or they’re thin because they sounded hollow on knocking).
I listen to music whole day and I do not want the sound to seep through my room’s walls and go to my neighbours. I haven’t heard my neighbours yet, but I’m 200% sure I need to soundproof the area.
So, I’m thinking of buying :
– Sound absorbing material: [Like this](https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B09DSGXLL3)
– Urethane Sponge Sound Absorbing Material: [Like this](https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B098NMPSXP)
Also, I’ll be laying down some rugs in all my rooms to lower the noise while I walk around.
Those sound absorbing materials may not decrease the noise that’ll pass through, but should at least block some of it. At least the higher frequencies.
Now I could go around and experiment a bit more. But, I’m not sure how I’ll stick these to the walls without damaging the walls. If I get a super sticky tape, it might damage the walls when I take these off, when I move out of here.
But, if I use something on a lighter side for tape, it’ll not hold these.
How have you folks been “soundproofing” your apartments? And what would you recommend to someone in my situation.
4 comments
Steel-reinforced concrete apartments have the best sound and temperature isolation among different building types in Japan. Especially those built after 1986. Unless you’re blasting gabber out of party speakers, you should be fine.
Either way, before doing any modifications to the rented apartment you need to confirm with the landlord whether they allow it. Usually if there’s nothing permanent and nothing is damaged, it is no problem.
I use [this](https://item.rakuten.co.jp/sonorize/gc64-50color/?scid=wi_ichi_iphoneapp_item_share) for my entertainment room.
I also live in UR.
For music I think should be fine. Asked my neighbor they said they can’t hear anything.
Usually I play music / watch stuff at 55 ~ 60 decibels (measured with phone app).
You have to be pretty loud to be able to leak sound, last week I heard DV in action.
Husband was screaming あああああ and ごめんよ as loud as he could, and all I can hear is just faint sound.
There’s spot where you might leak sound, like sliding window and the ventilation fan above it. Might want to seal it.
Not sure about the fan one though haha.
I lived in a UR apartment for 7 years, it wasn’t sound “proof” but it was very quiet, couldn’t hear any neighbors except for the man above us. Steel reinforced concrete is exactly what you want for the most amount of natural sound proofing.
NOTE: They are also air tight due to the concreteness, so you may need to open a vent or window to ventilate.