8 Ways to Keep Your Doors and Windows Soundproof
Soundproofing a house is essential to prevent the entry of external noises and keep the internal environment calm. The external sounds enter through the doors and windows of a home. There are other entry points from where noises can come like ventilators, but door and windows are the primary gateways.
So, insulating the doors and windows makes perfect sense while soundproofing a house or any other property. There are many ways to keep your doors and windows soundproof, but let us check some professional ideas to soundproof these primary entry points for quiet and peaceful interiors.
1. Rigid foam
The rigid foam insulation is easy to work and offer excellent deadening of sound. It comes in sheets, and most soundproofing professionals use it for insulation of doors and windows.
To start insulating a door, remove the doorknob and place the foam along the top bottom and sides of the door using a utility knife. Drill a hole for the doorknob and reinstall the same. Rigid foam is available with thickness upto 2 inches, and its lightweight so doesn’t add weight to the door.
2. Add-on windows
Add another window to the existing window if you have some room on its frame. Dead air is a sure-fire way to deaden sound between the new and existing windows. If you don’t have enough space in the frame, remove the trim and add another framed window to overlay the existing window.
To create dead air space, add windows to both sides. Buy double-paned windows or replace the existing window with a double-paned window if you’re serious about it. This type of window has built-in dead air and promotes the best available sound deadening.
3. Spray foam
It is possible to obtain sound-proofing as you can fill the door using spray foam. Most of the internal doors are hollow with inside baffles. Drill and fill a sequence of half inch holes on the top, bottom, and sides of the door by inserting the tip of the foam tube into the door. You’ll need to drill several holes due to internal baffles, but it’s a smart way to help soundproof doors.
4. Gaps and stripping
If you have gaps around the door or window perimeter, they’re part of the problem. Apply for thicker weather protection, and sweep at the bottom of the door a new or different form of screen. You can also tackle the holes in a pinch on a carpet. Weatherstripping works well on doors and windows to deaden air.
5. Add a layer of acrylic
Similar to the soundproof window plug, the use of acrylic on the windows works. This alternative is much cheaper than to replace the windows completely. All you need to do is add over the window an extra layer of acrylic. It reduces the amount of noise coming in.
You will need to first install a metal frame on your existing window for this to work. The acrylic is then attached to the existing windows with magnets. You also need to make sure you’re still making an airtight seal. It can also be used as a soundproofing idea for cheap windows, so if you’re low on the budget, you may find it as well.
6. Install barrier panels
A barrier panel is primarily an acoustic foam sheet that helps block unwanted sound reflections and unwanted sound reflections. If all the solutions above don’t work well, you can choose to add barrier panel on your windows. The panels are available in various sizes.
You should make sure you buy one that goes past the surface and gives the air a good grip. You can decide to install double panels on, particularly troubled windows for even better window noise reduction.
7. Close the gaps
Even the smallest gaps in the room will make it sound. Therefore, ensuring that all the gaps in the windows of the room are sealed is essential. There are gaps around the edges, depending on how the window installation was done. You can first seal them and see if it will solve your problem. The most basic way to close any holes is to use adhesive.
It’s also the cheapest one. It is often known as sliding window noise reduction, as it helps to reduce noise from the moving parts of the window that are often very difficult to cover. This self adhesive seal strip can withstand almost any weather, and you can cut it easily to match any dimension.
8. Make DIY soundproofing window inserts
A window insert for soundproofing is just a simple frame built to be airtight to your window space. Sometimes known as a window cover, it usually consists of foam or sponge. You can make removable soundproofing inserts for your windows that may temporarily block some natural light-but they can be removed as soon as the sound is gone.
Noise reduction window inserts are useful because when they are not required, you can simply plug them in and remove them. You can use this soundproof matting and acoustic foam for smaller windows to make the window plug.
It’s easy to make the plugs. Simply cut the foam material about 1 inch above the window. This will allow you to move the foam into the frame to fit snugly. You will first have to measure the size of your window when you make a soundproof window insert.
A-frame may not be required for smaller windows as the foam will stick easily into the window without popping out. But it is easier to use a frame irrespective of the size of your windows.
Final Words
These are the methods homeowners can use to make doors and windows soundproof. In addition to these methods, double glazing glasses are also a soundproofing solution for doors and windows. People can install double glazed windows in their homes to prevent the entry of external noises. Using the methods in this post can help homeowners to soundproof doors and windows in their houses.
Salman Zafar is an ecopreneur, consultant, advisor, speaker and journalist with expertise in waste management, waste-to-energy, renewable energy, environment protection, conservation and sustainable development. His geographical areas of focus include Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. Salman is the Founder of EcoMENA, a popular voluntary organization based in Qatar. He is also the Founder and CEO of BioEnergy Consult, a reputed consulting firm active in biomass, waste-to-energy and waste management segments.
Salman is a professional environmental writer with more than 350 popular articles to his credit. He is proactively engaged in creating mass environmental awareness in different parts of the world.
Salman Zafar can be reached at salman@ecomena.org or salman@bioenergyconsult.com
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