Within the walls of our new home, there are two basic types of noises.

The first is a home's structural related noise. These sounds come from within the structure or bones of a home and as these structural sounds travel through our home's structure, they produce vibrations. When sound waves hit one side of a wall, it causes the drywall on that side to vibrate. The drywall is connected to the stud frame, causing the vibration to be transmitted right through the studwork to the drywall on the other side. Noise travels easily through the home's structure because there is almost nothing to cushion and absorb the sound waves. While some of these structural vibrations will be absorbed by the structure itself, other sound vibrations or waves will travel through the home.

Think of knocking pipes or footsteps heard from the rooms above or the sound of a door shutting in another area of the home. Our goal when building a home should be to absorb as much of this sound as possible at the source of the noise.

The second types of noises are airborne noises. Music, the family dog barking, voices, music lessons and street traffic sounds are examples of airborne noises. The walls, floors and ceilings absorb some of this noise, while some will escape to another space through the windows and walls or any air vents. Some will simply be bounced back toward the source of the noise. Our goal to minimize the amount of undesirable airborne noises will be successful if we eliminate air inlets and select surface materials that reflect and absorb sound waves.

Minimizing noise pollution within a home is achieved by preventing sound from entering and exiting from rooms or areas of the home where peace and quiet is desired.

Windows and doors are the biggest source of noise pollution, up to 90 per cent of all the exterior noise comes in through your doors and windows. Windows, not the walls are usually the problem. By buying superior-grade windows, we can directly affect the volume of noise transmission that comes from the street, traffic, a barking dog, the kids playing in the back yard and our neighbour's Friday night socials. Check with your window supplier with respect to the amount of sound proofing a particular type of window will provide. Generally, the heavier the glass the more effective the window will be at preventing sound transfer. The same is true for the window framing material. It is especially important to consider better quality and sound proof windows in bedrooms and home offices.

Doors, like windows, are weak links in the soundproofing system of a home. Many new homes use hollow doors, which allow noise to travel through them quite easily. Solid doors are much more effective for reducing noise levels.

In an effort to reduce noise from traveling through the walls of your home, speak with your builder regarding your concerns. Rooms such as home theatres and bedrooms may require a little TLC in order to reduce noise transfer. Your builder may suggest doubling a wall, or using a staggered stud or floating wall approach. You may also want to consider acoustical wool, cellulous or acoustical batts be installed between wall studs and between the ceiling joists. Other options include installing acoustical panels or barrier PVC vinyl between two layers of drywall.

Your builder may also suggest that you install a soundproofing membrane before installing the floor covering. There are several different types of membrane available, including options made of rubber particles, cork and synthetic materials. These membranes are designed to reduce the level of impact noises and prevent them from traveling from one space to another.

When selecting exterior finishing materials, be aware that the heavier the covering material, the better the soundproofing.

For example, a home finished with brick has a greater protection from "sound violations" than a home finished with stucco. Discuss your noise concerns with your builder. He will undoubtedly have many resources and ideas to help effectively manage sound and control noise.

Cheryll Gillespie is a nationally syndicated Design and Décor columnist.