by Jennifer Porterfield |
Last Updated: August 14, 2023 Almost everyone will have felt the frustration of being kept up at night by ambient noise or noisy neighbors.
While you may be able to drown the sounds out with headphones or earplugs, it’s not a very comfortable or reliable long-term solution to noise pollution, and often won’t help in really noisy situations.
If you’re struggling with getting to sleep because of noise, or want to be able to relax in peace and quiet during the day, it may be time to consider soundproofing your home or apartment.
While many people find soundproofing daunting, it’s actually a very effective and useful way to reduce noise pollution in your home and help you get the rest and relaxation you deserve.
One of the big things people forget about when soundproofing is just how much noise can enter through doorways, even when they’ve fully closed.
Like windows, doors are a vulnerable spot because they naturally leave some sort of gap, or are made of materials that aren’t able to absorb sound as effectively as solid walls or floors.
This means that no matter how hard you try, you can still find yourself dealing with a lot of noise and disturbance due to your door, especially if it’s positioned on a busy hallway or street where a lot of noise is created.
Thankfully however there are several solutions to this problem, by soundproofing your door and helping to make it a true bulwark against further frustration.
In this guide, we’re going to look at some of the best ways to help soundproof your door to enable you to take back control of your home and make it as peaceful as you need it to be, while also adding some useful additional benefits also.
But let’s take a look at the solutions themselves.
Table of Contents
Install Soundproofing Rubber
Soundproofing rubber is one of the best cheap and simple solutions you can use to help increase the sound insulation of your door, and this can be used on both exterior and interior doors very easily making it incredibly convenient.
This is also a great option if your door has always been a little crooked or not properly fitted to your doorframe, and can help keep out drafts and insulate your home better as well as keeping sound out, which is a great additional benefit.
Typically, soundproofing rubber seals are made of neoprene and are somewhat similar to more expensive and high-quality gaskets.
To add this solution, simply check for existing deals around the door and remove them if there are any to make space for your new ones. This will help improve the final seal around your doorframe and improve the insulation immensely.
Add the soundproof rubber around the doorframe, then finish by caulking or using insulating sealant to make sure there are no gaps and that the seal is firmly held in place.
To help find gaps you can turn out the lights inside your home and look for areas where light may be entering around the doorframe to ensure you plug every gap you can.
Install A Door Sweep
The underside of doors are a particularly difficult area to deal with, as this area needs to be kept clear to allow the door to move easily. However, this also allows in a lot of sounds.
The solution to this is to use a door sweep, which is a brush like strip attached to your door which can help keep sound and heat from escaping or entering beneath your door.
Often this technique is best used on interior doors as exterior doors will often use a gasket system which doesn’t allow for a door sweep to be used.
Door sweeps can be screwed into the base of the door, however, there are many different designs so it’s best to follow instructions or the particular door sweep you’re using.
Install A Door Gasket
Door gaskets are one of the more expensive and high-quality options and are most popular on exterior doors as the seals here need to be of the highest quality and provide the best insulation.
They are a permanent and long-lasting solution similar to soundproofing rubber or weatherstripping but are much more effective generally.
Gaskets also need to be fitted by professionals to ensure that the seal is aligned and properly fitted, so this may be more expensive but is an excellent solution for soundproofing your door.
Use Acoustic Panels
Acoustic panels are often used for a simple and effective soundproofing setup and are popular in recording studios or even content creation setups, as they can be easily installed by total beginners and offer a quick boost to your soundproofing.
Generally, acoustic panels can be bought in varying sizes and cut into whatever shapes you need, then they can be mounted to walls or doors with adhesive strips or glue, or even nails depending on your preference.
Most acoustic panels are foam, however, you can use other material such as plywood which is cheaper but naturally much less effective at soundproofing than foam.
Use A Soundproof Blanket
Soundproof blankets are also a very convenient way to add soundproofing to your door or doorway and can be mounted very easily.
They are also convenient as they are easier to remove and can add a surprising amount of insulation to your home.
Soundproof blankets can be expensive as the best options are made of fiberglass which absorbs sound very effectively.
You can consider using a soundproof curtain or other heavy material as a budget option too, although this may be less effective.
Should You DIY Or Use A Soundproofing Kit?
Some people who aren’t sure about what to use may want to consider using a soundproofing kit, and these are often very effective, however, they can also be expensive.
DIY options are often very convenient and can be cheaper and sometimes even offer better insulation depending on the materials you use.
This method can also be more customized to your needs, however, it can be awkward and time-consuming, and results may vary.
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