Handy Resource For Planning Home Sound Control

(HIT)- The world is a noisy place and homeowners are constantly exposed to sounds that are not wanted. Noise from many interior and exterior sources, within a house, negatively impact people's hearing and diminish productivity, particularly in the home office.

Homeowners do not need to suffer the distracting and unhealthy consequences of noise. There are many practical and economical solutions to sound related problems to discuss with a builder when constructing or remodeling a home. Acoustical products and systems are readily available today, however, a basic understanding of noise control solutions is helpful. If you're looking for information to improve the sound control of your home, check out the Soundchek website www.mysoundchek.com.

Information on the basics of sound control, sound control room by room, sound control products, acoustical terms and helpful hints are all offered.

In the Sound Control Room by Room section at the site, you'll see a spinning three-dimensional home which indicates rooms where sound should be controlled. When the room is clicked on, all areas within that particular room that relate to sound control pop up with a pointing arrow. For instance, in the bedroom areas where sound needs to be controlled include the exterior walls, windows, ducts, floors, interior walls, doors and electrical outlets. In the bathroom, the tubs/showers, plumbing, floors, electrical outlets, interior walls and doors pop up. Then, when you click on each arrow, advice pops up for ways to control sound.

In the Sound Control Products section, various products and design systems are listed that can help minimize sound transmission. By clicking on each, you can learn more about their relevance in maximizing sound control. Some examples of the products include insulation, ducts, flooring materials, windows and plumbing, among others.

Another area on the SoundChek site is a Helpful Hints section which offers practical soundproofing tips such as adding thicker padding and carpeting to control noise between floors.

There's also a Where To Buy section featuring various sound control products and locations where to buy them. A Frequently Asked Questions section is also included. Sample questions include: "What is the best type of siding to control sound?" and, "What are the best windows to control sound," among others. The last section is an Ask The Expert area where you can leave a question to be answered by sound control experts.

To visit the site simply key in www.mySoundChek.com. For additional information, call 1-800-782-8777 for the free brochure "Putting A Check on Sound Control in Your New Home" or write to the CertainTeed Home Institute, P.O. Box 860, Valley Forge, PA 19482. Also, visit us at www.certainteed.com.