Car Soundproofing: What It Does and What It Costs in Tbilisi
Road, tyre and rain noise can be heard inside almost any car. Here's which areas make the most noticeable difference, what layers soundproofing consists of, and how much it costs.
Cabin noise is more tiring than it seems. After an hour on the highway to Batumi or Kakheti your head aches, you have to turn the music up, and it’s harder to talk to a passenger in the back seat. Car soundproofing removes most of this noise. But the effect depends heavily on which areas are insulated.
Where the noise comes from and which areas to insulate
Wheel arch soundproofing
Tyre noise on asphalt, stones, water from puddles. The arches generate the most noise, so we insulate them in three layers. It costs 650 ₾.
Door soundproofing
From the factory, the inside of a door is often just thin metal and an empty space, and road noise passes straight into the cabin. Doors cost 500 ₾.
Floor and trunk soundproofing
Rumble from the road and the exhaust. In hatchbacks and estates the trunk isn’t separated from the cabin, and noise comes straight through from there. The cabin floor costs 830 ₾, the trunk floor 490 ₾.
Roof soundproofing
You hear it in the rain: drops tapping on thin metal. From 430 ₾.
About 40% of driving noise comes through the wheel arches and doors. That’s why it’s best to start with them.
Shumoff materials: which layers and why
It’s not one material, but several layers:
- Vibration damping. A bitumen layer with foil. It dampens the vibration of the metal so the panel doesn’t “ring.”
- Sound-absorbing layer. A soft material that absorbs sound waves.
Wheel arches get three layers, since the noise there is the strongest.
It’s easy to see why there are several layers. The metal body vibrates and makes sound itself, like a drum. Vibration damping makes it heavier and suppresses the vibration. But the sound from outside still gets through, and then it’s caught by the soft sound absorber. One layer without the other gives only half the effect.
We work with premium-class Shumoff materials, from the Elite and Practik lines. Our technicians have been trained by the manufacturer and hold a certificate. We follow the factory technology strictly and don’t cut corners on layers.
This is where corners are often cut. One layer is put where two are needed, or cheap material is used that peels off the metal after a couple of years. From the outside there’s no visible difference until the car starts making noise again.
Which area to choose
Doors + arches, 600 ₾. The best balance of price and effect. Puddle water noise disappears.
Hatchback package, 900 ₾. Doors, arches and the luggage compartment. In a hatchback without trunk insulation, the noise remains even if everything else is done.
Whole car, from 3,000 ₾. Arches, doors, floor, roof and trunk. For those who drive a lot on the highway.
Prices by area
Prices include Shumoff materials:
| Area | Price |
|---|---|
| Wheel arches (3 layers) | 650 ₾ |
| Doors | 500 ₾ |
| Cabin floor | 830 ₾ |
| Trunk floor | 490 ₾ |
| Arches in the trunk | from 250 ₾ |
| Roof | from 430 ₾ |
| Tailgate | 100 ₾ |
The difficulty of disassembly depends on the class of the car, so the labour price may vary. We quote the exact amount after an inspection.
How much quieter it gets
We promise to reduce cabin noise by 3 times. Clients measure the result themselves: one client, after full soundproofing, measured 6 decibels less on the highway than before. Another had only the doors done and wrote that it felt like half the noise was gone.
According to our measurements, a Hyundai Tucson after full soundproofing is quieter than a BMW 5 Series without it. Another client only did the trunk: the sports exhaust was hammering on his ears on the road to Batumi, and after the work the cabin became much quieter.
The most noticeable difference is in the rain and on wet roads. The noise of water thrown up from under the wheels almost disappears.
How the work is done
- Interior disassembly. We remove the floor, ceiling and trim using a catalogue with fixing diagrams for your model. That way the clips don’t break.
- Preparation. The metal is washed with degreaser, otherwise the material won’t stick.
- Vibration damping. A bitumen layer with foil directly onto the metal.
- Soundproofing. Sound absorber on top of the foil.
- Reassembly and testing. We fit the parts so nothing squeaks, and check the electronics.
Our technicians have more than 5 years of experience.
The work takes from 1 to 3 days, depending on the areas.
Can you do car soundproofing yourself?
The materials are sold freely, and there are plenty of videos online. But most problems start not with the material, but with the disassembly.
- Trim panels are held by clips, which break if removed incorrectly. Then the panels squeak over every bump.
- Behind the trim there’s wiring, sensors and connectors. If something gets damaged, error messages appear on the dashboard.
- Material stuck to dirty metal peels off over time.
If you want to try, start with the tailgate: it’s the easiest. Leave the doors, floor and arches to those who have fixing diagrams for your car.
Is it worth it on an inexpensive car?
Yes, and the effect is even more noticeable there. Budget cars are insulated worse from the factory, so the difference before and after is felt more strongly.
Come for an inspection: we’ll listen to the car, suggest which areas will give results in your particular case, and quote the price. Details are on the car soundproofing in Tbilisi page. You can calculate the other services in the calculator, and compare detailing prices in the article how much car detailing costs in Tbilisi.
