Description
Heavy Duty Mass Loaded Vinyl with a Fused Scrim
Wall Blokker Pro is two materials fused into one roll: a 1 lb/sf mass loaded vinyl core carrying the weight, and a polyethylene scrim bonded to its face, 1.1 lb/sf finished. The vinyl blocks; the scrim decouples the vinyl from whatever is pressed against it.
That second layer is what separates Pro from a plain barrier:
- It breaks the rigid path. Sandwich a bare sheet between two layers of drywall and the boards are effectively coupled through it. The scrim keeps them apart, so the assembly damps as well as blocks – it is specified for IIC and structure-borne noise, not just airborne.
- It takes a fastener. Staples and nails bite into the scrim rather than tearing the vinyl, which is what makes a 1.1 lb/sf roll practical to hang vertically off studs.
- 1.1 lb/sf at 3/16″ thick over a 1 lb/sf vinyl core, against standard 1/8″ MLV. Minimum STC 26 to ASTM E90, and 3 to 5 STC points more than a standard barrier on the same assembly.
- Approved for UL U300, U400 and V400 series assemblies, so it can go into a rated wall without a separate submittal fight.
- Non-PVC and EVA-based – no off-gassing, will not degrade over time, mold and mildew resistant, and 100% recyclable at end of life from post-industrial recycled content.
Soundproofing an Existing Wall Without Tearing It Out
The retrofit is where Pro is worth its price. You are not opening the wall, so you get one attempt at adding mass and you want the most you can get per layer:
- Over existing drywall. Fasten Pro through the board into the studs, then a new layer of drywall over it. The scrim sits between the two boards and keeps them from acting as one stiff panel.
- Wood stud party walls. A wood stud is rigid and passes vibration straight across, so it wants the most mass and the most decoupling you can put on it.
- Home theaters and studios. Low frequency is the hard part and it is a mass problem. This is the roll for the wall between the theater and a bedroom.
- Pipe and duct chases. Flexible enough to cover mechanical runs where the noise is a rumble rather than speech.
If the framing is steel rather than wood, you usually do not need this much – steel already flexes, and Wall Blokker Lite or standard Wall Blokker is the better value.
Which Wall Blokker Do You Need?
All three come as a 4′ x 25′ roll covering 100 square feet. The difference is how much mass you need, and that is decided by what you are fixing it to:
| Material | Thickness | STC Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Blokker Lite 0.6 lb |
1/16″ | STC 21 min | Cost-effective metal-stud walls |
| Wall Blokker 1.0 lb |
1/8″ | STC 26 min | Standard residential & commercial |
| Wall Blokker Pro 1.1 lb, scrim |
3/16″ | STC 26 + scrim | Wood-stud walls, +3–5 STC bonus |
For the material rather than the brand, mass loaded vinyl sound barrier explains how MLV works and what STC actually buys you.
How to Install Wall Blokker Pro
- Hang it vertically, scrim to the studs. Nails or staples straight into the framing – the scrim is what holds the fastener, so it faces the surface you are fixing to.
- Plan for the weight. A 100 square foot roll is around 110 lb. Two people, and cut it down before you lift it rather than after. Figure roughly 1,000 square feet per man-day.
- Seal every seam. An unsealed gap passes sound as though the barrier were not there, and that is true no matter how heavy the sheet is. Overlap and tape with MLV seam seal tape, then caulk the perimeter with acoustical caulk.
- Cut penetrations tight. It cuts with a utility knife like the lighter rolls; an Outlet Blokker handles the boxes.
- Cover it. Drywall over the top, finished as normal.
- Coverage: one roll is 100 square feet – 12’6″ of an 8′ high wall. Add roughly 10% on longer runs for overlap.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes Wall Blokker Pro different from standard mass loaded vinyl?
- The fused polyethylene scrim. Plain MLV is a single dense sheet; Pro bonds a scrim layer to it, which decouples the rigid layers either side, improves impact and structure-borne performance, and gives staples and nails something to bite into. It is 1.1 lb/sf at 3/16″ thick against 1 lb/sf at 1/8″, and worth 3 to 5 STC points more on the same wall.
- What does the STC rating mean?
- Sound Transmission Class is how much sound an assembly blocks, and roughly every 10 points halves perceived loudness. Pro carries a minimum STC of 26 tested to ASTM E90. What it is worth to you is the lift it gives the finished wall – 3 to 5 points more than a standard barrier on the same assembly – which is why the scrim matters as much as the raw number.
- Which way round does it go?
- Scrim against the framing or against the existing drywall – the fibrous side faces the surface you are fastening to, so the fasteners hold in the scrim and the vinyl is not torn.
- Do I need Pro or will standard Wall Blokker do?
- Wall Blokker covers most walls. Choose Pro when the framing is wood, when it is a party wall or a theater, or when you are going over an existing wall and only get one shot at adding mass. On steel studs the extra weight is usually not worth paying for.
- How much do I need?
- One 4′ x 25′ roll covers 100 square feet, which is a 12’6″ length of an 8′ high wall. Add roughly 10% for seam overlap, and cover the whole surface – a wall that is 90% covered performs like the 10% you left uncovered.
- Will it stop echo in the room?
- No. A barrier stops sound crossing the wall; echo is sound bouncing around inside the room and needs an absorber. That is sound absorbing wall panels or acoustic ceiling clouds.
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