Last updated on
Having problems with sounds coming into your house from the outside? Or perhaps you need to soundproof a room? These 14 ways to soundproof a door will help you do that.
Not all doors are equal and the level of noise they let through varies too. Some doors block most of the noise from the outside but others not so much. This is especially true about interior doors.
Moreover, doors can produce high noise when heavy winds strike them. Apart from that, doors may get damaged that require protection from potential threats. Nowadays, there are several ways to minimize the negative effects and ensure peace of mind.
Soundproofing is one such technique meant for reducing the sound that goes through the door. This involves sealing gaps, as well as thickening the door itself with special materials.
If you want to soundproof a door in your property should understand the process in detail. This will help a lot to make the doors quieter with minimal investment.
What are the Reasons to Soundproof a Door?
The doors in a property allow sound to penetrate easily that can result in several issues. They can have plenty of gaps and the sound travels through them quickly. In fact, the gap at the bottom of the door can lead to sound leaks that need special attention.
Here are some reasons why doors in a house require soundproofing.
- For voiceovers, video recording, sound recording or composition in a home or office.
- Enhancing high comfort levels in a property to reduce noise disturbance.
- It improves privacy in a home and other buildings.
- It helps to maintain a peaceful environment in a building that can relax the mind.
- It allows building owners to control noise penetrating a room.
- It enables property owners to customize soundproof doors with options.
DIY Soundproofing
Soundproofing a door is really a challenging job and one should know more about the details from different sources. Since each and every door is different, it is necessary to evaluate them in detail before starting the project.
Finding the Cracks and Gaps
The first step in soundproofing a door is to find the cracks and gaps properly because they enable you to seal them accordingly. However, it is really a difficult task to find the small cracks and gaps in a door.
You can search them by holding a light on the other side of a closed door after turning off the lights. You can then seal them with certain types of sealants which work as a great sound barrier.
Sealing a Door with Weather Stripping
You can try sealing the gap between a door and its frame with a simple weather-stripping technique that can help to prevent noises to some extent. It will act as a decent sound absorber. The weatherstripping product is usually available in adhesive tape form allowing you to apply them without any difficulties.
Another thing is that you can remove the tapes as soon as they are not needed. On the other hand, you should give more importance to compression while setting up the tape to make sure that it blocks the sound. Rubber and vinyl materials are also the best options for weather-stripping that can help to prevent noise with higher success rates.
Installing Door Gaskets
You can try installing door gaskets because they work similarly to the weather-stripping. Consider buying a pair of magnetic gaskets. They can be installed at the jambs and header of a door. They work better than weather stripping and can block everything including moisture.
You should consider using gaskets only when the doors have a metal plating. It is advisable to utilize adjustable gaskets or heavy-duty gaskets that can help to seal them depending on your needs.
Installing a Door Sweep
Check the Top 10 Best Door Sweeps for Soundproofing
A door sweep is an excellent choice for door soundproofing purposes because it contributes more to blocking the noise created by gaps and cracks. Furthermore, it will prevent insects and dust, besides blocking sound. Installing a door sweep also helps to reduce expenses on energy costs. It is a great way to cover a gap between the door and the threshold by working like a scarf. You should consider investing money in a door sweep that is lighter in weight. You have door sweep alternatives for consideration too.
Automatic Door Bottom
An automatic door bottom is an ideal option to prevent noise levels to a great extent. It allows you to ensure a tight seal at the bottom of a door.
The door bottom can be mounted flush, enabling a door to swing clearly. In fact, the bottom raises automatically when a door opens, and drops a seal while a door closes. Another thing is that the bottom helps to prevent a deal from dragging thereby ensuring a high level of protection of the floor.
An automatic door bottom can be installed in three ways allowing you to obtain optimal results – fully mortised, semi-mortised, and surface mounted.
Surface Mounted Bottom
You can screw a surface mounted bottom directly into a door surface. It makes for a very easy installation. However, it is only suitable for hardwood floors. If there’s carpeting, you will need to install a threshold too.
Semi Mortised Bottom
A semi-mortised bottom is installed by making a cut-out in a door’s face. It makes for a cleaner look and seamless installation.
Fully Mortised Automatic Bottom
A fully mortised automatic door bottom is a perfect choice for any floor and it is installed inside the door frame at the bottom. So it is fully concealed from the view.
The semi-mortised and fully mortised door bottoms will work better than surface mounted ones because they come with better seals. There are different types of seals meant for the automatic door bottoms allowing you to meet essential needs in the soundproofing process.
It is necessary to consider the gap and width of door bottoms to order the correct size. At the same time, automatic door bottoms require weather stripping or gaskets to get more soundproofing.
Soundproof Paints
You can apply a layer of soundproof paint on the door that can ultimately help you achieve much-needed changes. It offers a solution for blocking medium-pitch noises efficiently.
A soundproofing paint helps to reduce the penetration of noise into a property. The paint is a mix of fillers and ceramic microspheres which are sound dampening. It forms a thick layer of coating. Such a texture of the paint allows it to absorb sounds and reduce echoes in a room.
To get maximum results from soundproof paint you should apply at least three layers. It is necessary to know how soundproof paint works from several sources before buying it from the store. The paints also require some additional applications that can lead to additional expenses.
The soundproof paints are not the right choice for blocking louder noises in a property and you should make a well-thought decision before painting a door. You can apply layers of paint with a roller to ensure high thickness. On the other hand, soundproof paints have some disadvantages when compared to other techniques and you should determine whether they are the right option or not.
Soundproof Blankets
Soundproof blankets are an effective way to soundproof a door. Most of them are usually made of fiberglass that can help to reduce the noise considerably. However, it is necessary to make sure that they are dense enough in order to prevent the penetration of noise.
You can hang them at the back of a door on the hooks and remove it when you don’t want to use it. Moreover, they don’t provide a visual appeal and you should consider buying blankets with grommets. If you don’t care much about the decor of the doorways you can use them for creating a better environment.
Fiberglass Panels
Fiberglass panels work similarly to blankets but they are heavy in size. It is advised to select them with brass grommets on four sides allowing you to hang them anywhere based on your needs.
They serve as a sound barrier that will stop the sound. The panels are easy to install on a door at an affordable price.
Soundproof Foam
Soundproof foam provides a way to prevent sound waves bounce from ceilings and walls which can help to reduce the noise. It is usually made of acoustic materials thereby enabling the control of sound and echoes with a high success rate.
You can apply some adhesive and soundproof foam on the surface of the door to soundproof it. The acoustic foams are eco-friendly and offer solutions for noise problems at affordable rates.
You should learn more about acoustic foams in detail, including the installation, from a professional who can handle complicated projects. Since the placement of foams may vary with a door type, it is advisable to choose them with special attention.
Buying a New Solid Core Door
Most homes these days utilize hollow doors which are lighter in weight. However, buying a new solid core door will allow you to feel the difference. The solid core doors are thicker when compared to hollow doors and block the sounds that pass through them.
Investing money in a new solid core door can be the best option for soundproofing projects because it comes with acoustic insulation. However, installing a door is not an easy project and you should seek help from a reputed contractor.
Nowadays, there are various types of solid core doors available in the stores. You can choose the right one from them, which suits your budget. The solid core doors are a little bit expensive than other doors.
Mass Loaded Vinyl
Mass Loaded Vinyl (a.k.a. Limp Mass Barrier) is a great choice for soundproofing a door because it is a thick material that will block the noise significantly. Installing mass loaded vinyl is a simple process. You can cut it based on the door measurements after buying the product from the store. It is advisable to attach the vinyl to a door by using staples or a heavy-duty adhesive.
You can utilize double layers of mass loaded vinyl for getting better results. The downside of MLV is that it is highly expensive and not all property owners can afford the cost.
Soundproof Curtains
Soundproof curtains are another way to block noise that can help to maintain a peaceful environment. They are great sound absorbers and you can hang them on a door (as well as windows) that helps to keep sound away.
It is necessary to set up the curtain rods above a door frame to use the curtains like drapes. A soundproof curtain is an ideal option for interior decoration purposes because it comes in attractive colors and designs.
It consists of thick materials that can reduce the impacts of sound effectively. Installing soundproof curtains on the doorways will help to dampen the noise levels all around.
Soundproofing Rubber
The rubber material can absorb the sound variations in a home and it’s an ideal choice for many soundproofing uses. Although most doors are available with molding, sound leaks will appear due to the gap between a wall framing and the door frame. A soundproof rubber can help to fill the gaps with neoprene thereby helping to block the noise levels.
Strengthening the Door Panel
It is a known fact that sound waves can pass through the door panels that can lead to several problems. You should focus more on reinforcing a door by buying a piece of wood to fit the measurements of the door.
In most cases, experts recommend medium density fibreboard (MDF) for this purpose because it helps to apply a layer of green glue damping compound on the door for attaching it tightly. Furthermore, you can also install a handle of the same size on the MDF.
Recap
Liked this article? Here's what you can read next:
