In the world today we are all bustling and hustling going about our daily lives and performing our daily tasks.
When we get home, all we want to do is to block out the world and simply relax.
Oftentimes this is hard to do especially if you live in a busy area, apartment building, or complex.
To gain a little quiet, you may look into soundproofing your walls and windows.
While there is a wide array of materials you can choose from, Green Glue Noiseproofing sealant or compound seems the most popular.
However, it is pricey and may not fit into your budget.
Don’t despair because there is a solution.
There are many Green Glue alternatives on the market today that will be as effective as Green Glue to block out sounds.
Today, we’ll take a look at the best substitute for green glue on the market.
Green Glue Alternative
Features
Price
Best Green Glue Alternative Noiseproofing Compounds
Whether you are looking to reduce noise filtering in or filtering out of your home, here are a few Green Glue alternatives. They can be used all around the house to soundproof your rooms, even your bathroom.
QuietGlue pro is a noiseproofing compound that works fast, is easy to use, and best of all, very affordable.
This viscoelastic compound dampens sounds and dissipates about 90 percent of sounds.
It can also block out low-frequency sounds that come from home theater and entertainment systems.
The QuietGlue Pro can be used just about anywhere and can be applied quite easily.
Measure and cut your drywall to your specifications.
A standard quart-sized caulking gun can help you to apply this glue to the drywall.
Next, connect to the existing wall or new drywall.
It’s as simple as that and you’re done.
Auralex Stopgap is an acoustical water-based sealant that is used to prevent noise transfer around walls and electrical boxes.
It is highly elastic and meets ASTM C-834 standards for flame retardancy.
This acoustical glue dries to a tough white surface but remains pliable and flexible for a long time
You can paint the glue once it dries so it blends in no matter where you use it.
To use the Stopgap sealant you will need a caulking gun that is bigger than the normal-sized ones.
There is no residual run off but there is going to be a slight smell that goes away once the glue cures.
if you follow ASTM C-919 directions on how to use the sealant, you can achieve an STC of 53.
For best results, use two 3/8” beads of sealant at the top, bottom on all edges of the wall.
Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) is a dense and heavy vinyl extruded from virgin material only and has no recycled materials.
Though dense and heavy at ⅛ of an inch thick, it is also flexible which helps it block sounds effectively.
This MLV contains calcium carbonate or barium sulfate thrown in to increase its mass.
With an STC of 27 when hanging by itself, the TMS MLV is the choice of most professionals whether it’s for residential or commercial use.
This is because when placed between studs, drywall, sandwiched between 2 gypsum layers or between floor layers, the vinyl’s STC rate goes up.
Additionally, it can be used around plumbing, ducts, and even on windows as curtains if applicable.
MLV is very heavy to block out sound vibrations and has no odor with a surface that can be painted if need be.
Soundsulate MLV combines 1 pound ⅛ thick MLV with a 1 inch fiberglass decoupler and reflective foil.
This type of MLV kicks things up a notch from the normal MLV by having fiberglass to further help the blocking out of sounds.
The combination offers exceptional thermal and vibration insulation by creating a thin, lightweight barrier for superior sound blocking properties.
The way it works is that sounds coming from a sound source get absorbed by the fiberglass and then blocked by the MLV.
Any sound that bounces back from the MLV gets absorbed by the fiberglass again and so the process continues.
The outer foil layer works as a fire protectant and has a fire rating of Class 1 or A per ASTM E84.
Soundsulate MLV can be used anywhere you want to absorb and block sounds and achieves an STC rating up to 29.
Tremco sealant is a single component non-skinning synthetic rubber sealant that does not harden.
It is designed for use on drywall partitions, curtain walls, corridor, and party walls.
In addition, it can work as a lap joint and perimeter sealant.
It creates a polyethylene vapor barrier over fiberglass batt or other insulations and may be used in contact with polystyrene
Due to its flexible nature, this sealant greatly increases the STC of a room by reducing the decibel level when one or more beads are applied to a joint.
For example, if the STC rating is 19, it can go up to 54 depending on where you place the beads or the number of beads you apply.
Liquid Nails AS-825 is a permanently flexible sealant that reduces sound transmission.
The sealant is made up of durable elastic latex material.
Liquid nails sealant has been tested and is non-flammable as per ASTM E 84 for flame spread and smoke generation.
It is a low odor, VOC compliant, water-soluble, and meets ASTM E 90 standards for acoustic properties.
While the sealant adheres to most building materials, it is not recommended for use on non-porous surfaces, around PVC pipes, plastic or wet areas.
Before application, make sure that your surfaces are dry and free of dust for the sealant to work effectively.
OSI SC175 is a latex-based sealant with the ability to reduce draft and sound transmission in all types of wall settings where the reduction of sound is needed.
The sealant is for use in well-ventilated areas even though it is VOC compliant.
It is very easy to apply and clean up just as easy in case of any incidents.
The OSI sealant is tack free in just 30 minutes and takes 2 to 7 days to cure.
With the ability to stick to most building materials, the sealant remains permanently flexible and decreases sound transfer and sounds.
This particular sealant should not be used on non-porous surfaces, cement board, polypropylene, polyethylene, or other nylon materials nor corrosive metals.
What is Green Glue?
If you find yourself asking what is green glue and how does it work, then continue reading for some answers.
According to the manufacturer of Green Glue, there are 2 types. One is a compound and the other a sealant.
Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound is a viscoelastic compound that converts sound waves into heat energy.
It can be used on walls, ceilings, and anywhere you want to block sounds by increasing the STC rating of the room.
It is easy to work with and in the event of spills can be cleaned up with soap and water before it dries.
On the other hand, we have Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant which is used to acoustically seal any gaps around to improve acoustics in a room.
They are designed to remain flexible over time, do not crack, and improve STC ratings as well.
The polymer sealant fills gaps that range from ⅝ to ¼ of an inch.
The sealant works by expanding after you apply it thus creating a barrier that stops sound waves from passing through.
Both these products have been independently tested and are fire and environmentally safe.
Application
You can get Green Glue compound in single tubes of 29 ounces or a 5-gallon pail. The compound in the tube can be applied using a caulking gun while a trowel is best if it’s in a pail.
Spread it on drywall, plywood, or OSB and sandwich it against another solid panel in just about any pattern. You do not have to apply it evenly for it to work.
The sealant comes in a 29oz tube and is applied using a normal-sized caulking gun. You will have to cut the nozzle to the size that you need although a ¼ inch hole is best. Use it to fill joints and gaps around utility boxes, between walls, floors, and ceilings.
Performance
It takes 30 days for the water in Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound to evaporate. It is temperature-sensitive so try to keep the room between 65°F and 85°F.
The sealant and the compound offer effective sound damp noise transfer between rooms. They work even better if they are used in the same room in their respective ways to further block sounds.
Limitations
Green glue is not an adhesive glue and it shouldn’t be used as such. Both the Compound and Sealant are not best suited for exterior use since they are affected by temperature fluctuations.
The Compound cannot be used on porous materials while the Sealant cannot be used to seal around pipes, plumbing, or in damp or wet areas.
Green Glue vs regular caulking for sound dampening
You may be wondering how Green Glue is different from the regular caulk.
Let us look at the differences and see if Green Glue is indeed better than regular caulk.
As you know any space where air passes through so can sounds.
This is the main reason you need to seal every crack or gap to ensure no sounds can pass through.
Green Glue is a type of acoustic sealant rather than a caulk or even acoustic caulk.
What is an acoustic sealant?
The acoustic sealant is primarily designed to dampen sounds.
They are designed to remain pliable and flexible over time, unlike regular caulk that dries out, hardens, cracks, and shrinks quickly.
With a hardened or cracked caulk, sound passes through easily which is the opposite of what you want.
Another major difference is that Green Glue adheres to almost every building material out there.
It keeps whatever material you applied it to connected since it does not harden, shrink, or crack.
Green Glue is a fire retardant sealant that is latex based to maintain flexibility for a long time.
It also acts as a vapor barrier as well.
To wrap up, the winner in the battle of green glue vs regular caulking for sound dampening is Green Glue.
The main advantages of Green Glue over regular caulk are:
- It can reduce draft and dampen sounds.
- Easy to apply and clean up is a breeze.
- Remains pliable and flexible over time.
- Does not change shape or harden.
Some acoustical glue comes in tubes of various sizes.
Green Glue alternatives that DON’T work
You may find some other products that market themselves as an alternative to Green Glue.
However, don’t be fooled as some of these products do not work.
Here is a list of Green Glue alternatives that do not work.
Sealant silicone
Although sealant silicone does not shrink or crack, they are more suited for use as water sealant or as draft stoppers.
They do maintain a bit of pliability and flexibility but not in the same way as an acoustic sealant.
Over the years regular silicone sealants may shrink, crack or harden.
When this happens, sound waves are allowed to pass through.
Acoustic sealants are more durable, flexible and would never harden which offers a better solution to stop sounds from passing through.
DynaFlex 230
Dyna Flex works on most building materials and fills gaps and cracks up to an inch wide.
It is said to be crackproof and flexible but not as flexible as an acoustic sealant.
As a matter of fact, it cures harder than acoustic sealants which enhances sound vibration transfers.
SMT Red Glue
SMT Red Glue is a type of paste that is temperature-sensitive.
If the glue is exposed to heat, it will harden.
The poly dilute-paste-like compound is usually used to glue components to PCB boards before soldering.
Since hard surfaces make sound waves travel faster, this glue is not going to work to cancel noise.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane is very versatile and comes in many forms.
The plastic-like polymer can be hard, soft, flexible, rubbery, or sticky.
Soft Polyurethane may be used to absorb sound energy in a room but it won’t be able to stop noises from coming in or going out of the room.
Even spray foam polyurethane that is used to fill wall cavities harden.
So it is best to not use any form of Polyurethane.