"Thicker panels can dampen sound noticeably."
Yeah, good call on panel thickness. Another thing I've noticed is insulation underneath the panels makes a big difference too—keeps things quiet and helps with temperature control. Worth considering if you're already upgrading...
Yeah, thicker panels and insulation can help, but honestly, don't expect miracles. When we replaced our roof a few years back, I went all-in on thicker panels and extra insulation thinking it'd turn our noisy attic bedroom into some peaceful retreat. It definitely helped with temperature swings—no more waking up freezing or sweating—but the sound dampening was... subtle at best.
Funny story: the first big rainstorm after installation, my wife and I sat there in silence, waiting to be amazed by how quiet it would be. Nope. Still sounded like a drum solo overhead. Maybe slightly muffled drums, but drums nonetheless.
So yeah, thicker panels and insulation are worth it for comfort and energy savings alone. Just keep your expectations realistic about noise reduction—especially if you're sensitive to sound like me.
"Just keep your expectations realistic about noise reduction—especially if you're sensitive to sound like me."
Fair point, but I think it really depends on the type of insulation used and how it's installed. When we redid our roof, we opted for dense cellulose insulation rather than the usual fiberglass batts or foam panels. I'm pretty skeptical by nature, but I was genuinely impressed with how much quieter it got during rainstorms—definitely more than just "subtle."
Of course, it's not total silence (nothing short of a bunker would achieve that), but it took the edge off enough that I stopped waking up during heavy rain. Maybe the difference is in the material or installation technique? I'd agree thicker panels alone aren't going to magically eliminate noise completely, but combining them with denser insulation can make a noticeable difference, at least from my experience.
Might be worth looking into different insulation options before you commit fully. Just my two cents...
That's interesting about the cellulose insulation—I haven't personally tried it, but I've heard mixed things. When we replaced our roof a couple years back, we went with spray foam insulation because the contractor recommended it for noise reduction. Honestly, I didn't notice a huge difference during storms. It was quieter, sure, but nothing dramatic enough to rave about.
Maybe it's not just the insulation type but also how well it's installed or even the roof structure itself? Our house is older and has some quirky framing issues, so that might've limited how effective the insulation could be. I'm guessing results probably vary quite a bit depending on your home's construction and layout.
Still, your experience makes me curious about cellulose now...might've been worth exploring more options before jumping in with foam. Too late for me now though!
Your experience sounds pretty typical, honestly. Older homes can be tricky—sometimes no matter what insulation you pick, the structure itself limits effectiveness. Still, spray foam isn't a bad choice...at least you tackled the leak issue head-on and improved things overall.
