The Acoustics of Rain

The coming of spring means more rain for many parts of our country. Those April showers could be anything from a gentle mist to a torrential downpour. There is something so comforting about the sound of steady rain – no wonder it’s reproduced by white noise machines and meditation apps!

Rain sounds are made up of thousands of rain droplets hitting a surface, such as a roof. The impact causes each water droplet to create a vibration that travels through the roof, building structure, and air around us until it reaches our ears as sound. Of course, the roofing materials and construction make a big difference in the sound heard below a roof. For instance, listening to heavy rain under a skylight or a “tin roof” produces a significantly louder sound. One of our founders, Bob Coffeen, loved to research rain noise, testing different rates of rainfall on different roofing assemblies to see how loud the sound in the room below would be.

This time of year, is when rain noise would be disruptive to the use of a multitude of spaces– a recital hall, auditorium, recording studio, or video conferencing room, among others. When that is the case, our consultants can help detail roof assemblies to minimize rain noise in the spaces below. So, whether you are listening to the comforting sounds of spring rain or enjoying the silence in a well-isolated space away from the noise, we hope you will enjoy the May flowers that these April showers bring.