If you have a stainless steel sink at home that is not soundproofed yet, you probably notice the noise that it’s producing. If it disturbs you, you probably want to end the noise.
How to soundproof stainless steel sink? One of the best ways to soundproof a stainless steel sink is through insulating the underside of the sink. The other one involves the use of mass-loaded vinyl insulation attached to the underside using adhesive. Lastly, you can use polyurethane foam insulation. This one is the easiest and the most affordable.
You can choose the best soundproofing technique that works best for you. My hunch is that, depending on many situations, not all of these techniques work. In other words, it is a case to cases basis.
But if ever you want to go with any of the strategies, the following steps will be helpful to get the job done.
Before starting the project, make sure that you have the needed materials such as;
- Masking tape
- Dust mask
- Safety glasses
- Newspaper
- Spray polyurethane expanding the foam
- The first thing you should be doing is to clean the working area. This involves cleaning the under-sink cabinet. Then secure all the flexible hoses by wrapping paper and firmly attach them to the hose with masking tape.
- Make yourself safe during the process. Put on safety glasses for your eyes protection and a dust mask to avoid inhaling the chemical. Then, shake the can of polyurethane foam insulation spray. Follow the application direction indicated on the label.
- It is up to you where you want to start. But in my case, I like to start at the back of the sink. Make sure that the foam is evenly applied on all sides of the sink for better results.
- If you have a double sink, spray the channel between the bowl and its outer side. Add more layers of insulation until you achieve your soundproofing goal.
- After the previous steps are done, let the insulation cures for an hour or two. You can then remove the newspaper at the hoses.
Soundproofing a stainless steel sink can be challenging especially if you are dealing with an existing sink. It is easier if you the soundproofing process before installation.
If you have just bought a new stainless steel sink, you might think that it is already soundproofed. Well, this is usually indicated on the product.
But in fact, sinks are not really soundproofed. This means that if you install it directly, it will be noisy every you use the sink. This is exactly what happened to me.
To my frustration, I searched for an answer. There are several strategies I found helpful. But most of those require masking arduous applications. For a busy person, I don’t have the time to do it.
Fortunately, I found the answer that is quick and more reliable. It requires no masking. The best part is its comfort and effortless installation process.
What I am talking about here is the 3M Automotive Sound Reduction Mat (click here to see this product on Amazon). This material is designed to regulate road noise and vibration of the vehicle on the road.
Because this material is versatile, it also works very well on stainless steel sinks. It is a semi-sturdy and thick enough to provide sound absorption. It is self-adhesive with a peel-off the cover.
In most cases, the product comes with two sheets per box. It can be enough to soundproof one bowl of stainless steel sink.
To proceed with the actual soundproofing process, you need the following materials:
- 3M Auto Sound Reduction Mat
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Putty Knife
- Cloth rag
- Scissors or sharp knife
After having all the materials needed, you can then start the process. Here are the following steps:
Prepare Everything that you need
In this step, you don’t only prepare all the needed materials but also to determine how you can implement the soundproofing process as quick as possible.
Soundproofing a stainless steel sink can be easier if it is installed in the countertop. Especially if the counter is at a comfortable height. This allows you to easily work.
You can start by unrolling the reduction mat to make sure that the whole mat will be lying flat on the surface.
If the soundproof stainless steel sink has an existing soundproofing material, you might need to decide whether to retain or remove them or apply the new soundproofing materials over the existing ones.
But what I like to do in my case is to completely clean the surface of the sink before applying the new soundproofing materials.
The way I do it is by using a putty knife. Once the main material is removed, I would further clean the sink using alcohol. This time, I would remove the remaining glue to thoroughly clean the stainless steel sink.
Cut the Mat into Pieces
The second step is to make an accurate measurement. The safest way to do this is to position the mat over the sink to get appropriate sizes or dimensions. Then, you can start trimming the mat.
To avoid mistakes, I just cut the mat one small piece at a time until I found the perfect fit. Aside from this technique, you can also use a paper template that will serve as a prototype.
I always want to work on the areas around the drain hole. And then, from there, I will then work towards the larger areas of the stainless steel sink.
But before applying the mat, make sure that you cleaned the bottom portion of the sink with alcohol. This will ensure that the mat will be lying flat on the areas of the sink that you will want to soundproof. In addition, it will also ensure that the matter will adhere to the surface of the sink.
Apply the Mat
Now that you already have cleaned the surface of the sink, and cut the mat into exact sizes or pieces, you can now remove the backing of the mat. Then, adhere to the pieces of the mats to their respective places.
At this point, you can press the mat by your hand or by using a roller to make sure that the mat appropriately adheres to the surface of the stainless steel sink.
After you finished this step, the soundproofed stainless steel sink is ready to install. If you did it correctly, the sink should not be noisy every time you use it.
On How to Soundproof Stainless Steel Sink
A soundproofing stainless steel sink can be easy if it is not installed yet. Before installing a new sink, make sure to determine whether or not you have a quiet sink.
If you have an existing noisy stainless steel sink, your option is to soundproof it. There are many options on how you can do it.
The tips on how to soundproof the stainless steel sink shared in this post can be effective. But it is up to you if you follow them.
Nonetheless, I hope that the tips I shared here are useful to your own soundproofing projects too.
For more information about soundproofing, you can read my Soundproofing Guide.
