Debunking Sound Masking Myths to Add Peace & Quiet to Your Business

Make Your Office More Private and Increase Focus and Productivity

It’s hard to ‘get in the zone’ at work when distracting phone calls and conversations surround your desk or office. Recently, many people have said they prefer working from home for this very reason, while others (who probably have busier households) find working remotely too distracting.

Nevertheless, in your office, you want your staff to feel comfortable and empowered to get their work done. No one likes feeling like they have no privacy while in meetings or that they can’t answer a phone call without the entire department listening in. On the flip side, those same coworkers perhaps don’t want to eavesdrop and would rather finish their work by five. 

The cure for incessant disruptions and noises? Sound masking. But what is sound masking? Many people think it’s something that it’s not—and end up installing solutions that do little to help. 

As a commercial integrator based in the Frisco, TX area, we’re here to break down those myths and share what will actually help your business. And to learn more about corporate technology solutions, subscribe to our monthly newsletter here.

SEE ALSO: 5 Ways Structured Cabling Saves Your Business Time & Headaches

Myth #1: Foam and Fabric Will Soundproof the Office 

Foam panels, fiberglass, tapestries, and carpeting are great for acoustic treatments—but not soundproofing. Think of it like the difference between something that’s water-resistant or water absorbent. Soft materials do absorb sound, but that won’t eliminate the sound completely; it will only reduce echoes and vibrations. Some rooms, like glass-walled conference rooms, can’t exactly use fabrics on the walls, either. 

Myth #2: Soundproof Wallpaper and Paint Do the Trick

There are soundproof paints and wallpapers on the market that promise they’ll improve the sound in your building. How do they work? Acoustic wallpaper includes a layer of insulation that dampens the wall against sound. Likewise, soundproof or acoustic paint is much thicker than standard paints with sound-absorbing fillers. 

Like acoustic foam treatments, this can help with reducing faint noises in other rooms and echoing, but it will be completely ineffective for open floor plans or louder activity. And again, those glass walls can’t be covered in acoustic wallpaper or paint, so that won’t work, either.

Myth #3: There’s Nothing We Can Do

Some business owners think there’s simply nothing they can do about voices carrying across the room or distracting noises. Even though we’ve debunked two methods, that is simply not true! 

To truly soundproof rooms, one approach is to use door and window seal kits to block out any noise. But what about noises carrying across hybrid and open floorplans? For that, we recommend a sound masking system that plays white noise over ceiling and wall speakers. We can install seamless in-ceiling speakers that play what sounds like constant blowing air. Voices are muffled into the sound, creating a pleasant, private environment. 

Get Started with Sound Masking 

Does your Texas business need assistance with sound masking? Contact Texadia Systems here or chat with us below to get started today. We can’t wait to hear from you!