The diverse varieties of curtains available in the market at present are quite impressive. Today, there are a slew of curtains among which individuals can choose the one that best suits their needs. Be it blinds, slides, valance, or drapes, there are plenty of such items that are used to serve individual purposes.
One such frequently used items involve soundproof curtains that eliminate noise. However, choosing the best among these curtains again becomes a hectic task because of their unclear technical nature. Hence, this guide aims to explain a few of those differences today. There are numerous aliases for the same kinds of curtains, but there are only two key variations. Keep an eye out for the important ratings, i.e., STC & NRC.
Sound-absorbing curtains vs regular curtains
In brief, the main distinction is that sound-absorbing curtains are fluffy and light whereas sound-proofing curtains are hefty and solid. Sound is always reflected by thick, heavy items and received by porous materials in acoustic applications.
Additionally, sound absorption curtains possess an NRC rating, or noise reduction coefficient rating. On the other hand, soundproofing curtains, commonly referred to as STC-rated curtains, feature an STC rating, or Sound Transmission Class rating.
While NRC describes the amount of noise a substance can absorb, STC describes the amount of sound a medium can prevent.
The fundamental distinction is that NRC-rated materials soak sound waves within a room to lower echo and noise levels in the same room, whereas sound blocking as well as other STC-rated materials prohibit sound from travelling between spaces.
Types of soundproofing with STC ratings
Sound-insulating, noise-reducing, sound-blocking, and soundproofing curtains
These are all actually the same item. The fundamental idea behind these curtains is that they bounce sound back towards its own origin of transmission.
In order to accomplish this, the noise curtain needs to be substantial and hefty enough to stop the sound wave from traveling. A curtain should also be lightweight in order to maintain flexibility and retract as needed.
A curtain must undergo comprehensive lab and field testing in order to receive the designation of “soundproof curtain” and receive an STC rating. The Sound Transmission Class, also known as the STC value, is determined by aggregating the transmission loss across a range of frequencies.
An STC of 20 or greater is the minimum standard for soundproofing curtains, and some particularly heavy versions can reach an STC of 26.
Acoustic or sound-absorbing curtains
These curtains work on a whole different concept. The curtains’ use of a soft, airy, and porous fabric enables sound to be soaked into the material as opposed to continuing to resonate or echo throughout the space. These will lessen echoes, which is crucial in some large homes. However, double s fold curtains won’t stop sound from entering your room. The sound waves are “trapped” inside the porous material where they finally break up into heat energy.
Sound drapes and curtains
The distinction between drapes and curtains still exists, regardless of whether they are sound-blocking or sound-absorbing: Drapes extend all the way down to the floor, but curtains stop somewhere beneath the window sill. Your soundproof curtain can be made to any height that works in your house
Additional Styles of Soundproof Window Treatments
Roman blinds: A certain kind of window treatment or coating that rolls up uniformly. Because the drawstring needs to go through the soundproofing fabric, this is challenging to accomplish with soundproofing curtains.
Cornice and Valance: These window coverings hide the curtain or drape’s top hardware from view. While cornices are stiff shapes, valances are soft and often constructed using the same fabric as the curtain.
Blinds
They are different from shades since they are made of horizontal slats, whereas shades are made of a specific piece of soft fabric.
Blackout curtains
And lastly, the ongoing discussion about blackout curtains! The industry uses a variety of blackout liners, most of which are generally efficient, to block light. The only noise-cancelling curtains, however, are those with an STC (Sound Transmission Classification) Rating that really muffles sound. When a curtain lacks this label, it will just absorb echoes or block off light and do nothing to stop sound from entering your room.
Selecting the Best Soundproofing Curtain For Your Home
When looking at curtains for your house, take into consideration the features you require the most. This is because each feature frequently entails additional expenditures.
The majority of blackout curtains available are good at obstructing light. Look for an STC rating when evaluating a soundproofing blackout curtain. This will indicate to you the level of sound you can anticipate it to suppress.
