When people ask about gym soundproofing, they're almost always referring to gym acoustics. The acoustics inside a gym are naturally terrible due to the size of the room and the number of reflective surfaces. By adding acoustical materials, you’ll accomplish two goals: reducing reverb/echo and improving sound quality.

Steps to Soundproof a Gym

There are three steps to take to soundproof a gymnasium. Here is what we recommend:

1. Complete an acoustic analysis for the gym. Before deciding between the huge number of options we offer to reduce reverb and echo, we need to do an analysis to quantify the sound problem. We'll need some measurements and some pictures from you to complete the analysis. We can then present some options to solve your acoustics issue!
2. Decide the best acoustic treatment option for your space. We have a huge variety of treatment options to improve sound quality, ranging from extremely budget friendly ceiling treatments to acoustic baffles to acoustic wall panels. Whatever your budget and whatever your goals, we will help you get the best possible results in your gym.
3. Install the acoustic treatment in your gym. The installation process is arranged locally. We provide install guides and as much support as needed by your contractor or maintenance staff. We can't wait to help you fix the sound quality issues in your gymnasium!

Step One: acoustical analysis for your gym

To put it plainly: help us help you. By completing an acoustical analysis, we can get our hands around the problem before giving you the best solution.

The first thing we'll want to understand is what the source of the noise is. In the case of your gymnasium, is the noise static or is it moving? In a gymnasium, we need to treat the entire space because you have moving noise sources—i.e. kids running from one side of a court to another, calling for a pass, or dribbling down court. If there is a stationary sound system, it may make sense to focus on that area.

The next nuance is the type of noise from the source. If it's music, you'll want to treat for lower frequencies, meaning the materials you use will need to be thicker to absorb those longer soundwaves. If the noise problem is due to screaming fans (and/or coaches), a 1" thick acoustical material may be all you need.

After we have an understanding of the source of the noise, we want to understand how the room is used. Is your gym used for assemblies or even school dances? Does the theater department also utilize the space for theatrical performances with a stage area? Maybe that same stage is used as a platform for a live band or speaker. The gym usage heavily affects what kind of end-goal you would have in treating the room. While we recommend reducing your reverberation time down to the 1.5-2 second range, you may want to achieve a 1 second reverb time. At the end of the day, though, ANY acoustic material added to your gym is going to reduce the reverb time and improve sound quality.

Next, we need to know the dimensions of the gym. The gym's length, width, and height are key variables in the acoustic analysis. Generally, length and width are easy enough to measure. If you don't know the exact height, getting close will be good enough.

Lastly, what are your surfaces made of? These are more key variables, so we'll just want to confirm that you have hardwood floors, concrete walls, and a metal deck ceiling—or some variation of that. We always request photos of the space from a variety of angles, as well, because we factor aesthetics into our recommendation.

Contact us or call us at 1-800-679-8511 to complete a complimentary acoustic analysis with one of our experts.

Step Two: Choosing the best acoustical solution for your gym

Once we've done an acoustic analysis, we have a variety of treatment options, driven by your needs and budget. As we've mentioned, the goal for your gymnasium is to get the reverberation time down (and the sound quality up). If you can still hear yesterday's friendly trash-talk bouncing off the walls, then a proper acoustics treatment is in order. Everyone walking into your gym will notice a HUGE difference. Here are our top three gym acoustical solutions:

Recommendation #1: Hang Acoustic Ceiling Baffles or Clouds

Now, the main factors here are performance and aesthetics, but one of our acoustic ceiling products will surely fit your needs.

Baffles are a very common solution because they are highly absorptive and out of the way up in the rafters. We have a variety of baffle options, whether you're looking for budget-friendly or decorative. Our EcoVerb™ Acoustic Baffles are high-performing, budget-friendly acoustic baffles that give you the most absorption per square foot. The no-itch, recycled jute material made into a panel comes in six different colors, and if one of those colors works for you, you won't find a better price. Our PolyZorbe™ baffles are a decorative polyester product that works well in gymnasiums. PolyZorbe™ Vivid baffles comes in 12 color options if you're trying to match school colors or have a specific look in mind.

Hanging acoustic clouds from the ceiling is a great way to reduce echo and reverb in a gymnasium too! Similar to our baffles, PolyZorbe™ comes in acoustic clouds, and we have an acoustic cloud in the Vivid line for 12 colors, too!

We highly recommend reaching out to us for a quote and our expert will help determine the best for you. We're only one short call away at 1-800-679-8511!

Recommendation #2: Hang Acoustic Wall Panels

If you'd prefer to treat the wall in your gymnasium, we also have options to install acoustic materials on the walls. The key here is to hang acoustic panels high enough so that they are out of the way from the day-to-day fun happening in the gym. You don’t have to be a teacher to know that if all of your panels are 5 feet off the ground, every kid on the planet is going to want to pick at and poke them. Let’s take care of our acoustic panel friends and put them out of reach.

BlocknZorbe™ is a PEPP panel that is very durable, impact resistant panel. The BlocknZorbe panels come in charcoal and white, which you can mix-and-match to create cool patterns or install as a long stripe of a singular color. We also have BlocknZorbe™ as acoustic baffles and as acoustic clouds. We always recommend BlocknZorbe™ for gyms that double as indoor pools for its water-resistant properties. For more on soundproofing an indoor pool, check out our article on the topic.

We have polyester panels (PolyZorbe), recycled jute panels (EcoVerb), and fabric wrapped panels (Acoustic Pro), depending on your goals for aesthetic and price point. We also have wood wool acoustic panels for those that want a wood-look in their gym. If you’re not sure which acoustic panel is right for your gym’s walls, give us a call at 1-800-679-8511 for help.

Recommendation #3: Cover your ceiling with EcoVerb™ Roll

We prefer ceiling treatments in gymnasiums because the ceiling is completely out of the way and (mostly) parallel to the floor. So, you won’t experience any points in the gym where the sound quality is better than others. If you're looking for the absolute most cost-effective way to solve an echo and reverb issue in a gymnasium, the EcoVerb™ Roll is the answer for you.

The EcoVerb™ Roll is our affordable, Class A fire rated, made-in-USA acoustic material made of recycled cotton fiber with a black, protective face adhered to one side. It's offered in three thicknesses, but for a gymnasium you should go with the 2” thick version as it's the best bang for your buck. The acoustical cotton is extremely absorptive, and you won’t even notice it after it’s there. Simply install it with the black side facing out to create a “blackout” look that will reduce echo and reverb in your gym, and you cannot beat the price per square foot. Reach out to a Second Skin soundproofing professional to learn more, 1-800-679-8511!

Step three: Install your acoustic Treatment

You didn't think we'd leave you hanging like a ceiling baffle, did you? Here is an overview on how to install each of the three treatment methods:

Ceiling Baffles

With different gymnasium constructions come different ways to install ceiling baffles that fit best for you. Some of the most common installation methods involve hanging them from the bar joist, either directly or with a cable attached to the bar joist. The latter might be a method you use, for instance, to keep them in-line with one another. We provide an install guide for your installers (if needed) and are happy to help with any installation questions!

Acoustic Wall Panels

There are a few ways you can install acoustic wall panels. For gymnasiums, the easiest install is using a permanent spray adhesive or construction adhesive. There are also options that involve drilling into the concrete wall (Rotofast Anchors). For more detailed install instructions on Rotofast, see our guide on how to install acoustic wall panels.

Acoustic Ceiling Treatment

With the 2" thick version of the EcoVerb™ Roll, you can apply the material with a permanent spray adhesive or construction adhesive. Always apply the liner with the black finish facing down to create that blackout look. Our preferred install option involves using stick pins to install the roll. Again, if you have any questions, let us know!

There are many reasons that a gymnasium might be noisy. That’s just the nature of how the room is constructed and used. The best solution is to attack the problem head-on with quality acoustical materials. Remember: treating the ceiling is the first priority, but we can do the walls if needed. If you need soundproofing materials like our recommended gym flooring material, Stomp Mat!

As always, we want to hear about your unique acoustical challenges and projects and help you solve them. Whether you are trying to soundproof a dog crate or soundproofing a warehouse, we are here to help. At Second Skin, we have the materials and expertise to get your problem solved! Give us a call or send us a message to get started on solving your noise issue!