Early morning garbage trucks, car stereos serving up steroid bass beats, or the annoying squealing kids next door, right? For almost apartment dwellers, never ending and undeserved noise is a fact of life. *sigh*
But there is good news to be had; you can bring back the quiet inside your residence. Really, it is doable to drown out and perhaps even silence pesky intrusions. It doesn’t matter whether you own or rent your space and it can be done on a budget.
Read on for the best ways to soundproof doors, rooms, and windows, without extensive and expensive remodeling.
Decorate for Insulation Value.
If you find yourself in the group of people that believe “less is more” then you are probably missing a potent weapon in your sound reduction arsenal.
You might recall that hard surfaces reflect sounds and not only amplifies the racket but they also prolongs it. These surfaces include ceilings, floors, and walls, just to name a few. This is true in both empty and lightly furnished areas.
Consider that padded furniture that is strategically placed softens the noise created as it enters your space and then minimizes its reflection. Tile, hardwood, and laminate floors also are notorious for creating echoes. Some well-placed rugs will take care of that.
When walls are an issue, some things you might consider to muffle the sound are paintings, book cases, and tapestries.
When Your Front Door is an Issue.
Although your front door provides protection for you and your family, it can be the transmitter of external sound. When a solid or hollow core door transmits sound, it can benefit from a narrow wall hanging.
Is the bottom of your door more than 3/16s of an inch off the floor? Try installing a sound proofing bottom edge door sweep. While you are at it, consider adding or replacing your top and side weatherstripping.
Not all noise comes from outdoors; interior doors can allow sound from adjoining rooms to enter your home office, for example. In this case you might want to try a twin under door draft stopper. It will stop noise transmission while allowing the door to swing unfettered.
For both interior and exterior doors, acoustic fabric panels are available. They are used mostly in commercial settings but do a great job in homes and apartments as well.
Soundproofing Your Windows.
You can custom order matching acoustic fabric panels for your windows as well. For something a bit more transparent, install acoustic-grade window inserts. These are framed panels of acrylic or glass. Budget ones can block up to 75% of while higher-end ones can block up to 95% noise.
These are just a few ideas to get you moving towards a calmer, more tranquil home. Do you have some tried-and-true suggestions for soundproofing rooms, windows, and doors? Share them with other readers in the comment section below.
. While you are at it, consider adding or replacing your top and side weatherstripping.
. It will stop noise transmission while allowing the door to swing unfettered.
