Learn How To Soundproof A Door

Most people fail to realize that learning how to soundproof a door with have a much more dramatic effect on your soundproofing efforts that if you just focus on soundproofing your walls.  Believe it or not, most standard interior walls in the home have an STC rating of over 40 without applying any soundproofing techniques. However, trouble areas in your home such as windows, doors, and receptacle outlets often leave wide open gaps in your walls that offer sound the least resistant path.  Before you start start soundproofing any room, you should first learn how to soundproof a door and window to see if that eliminates your problem.  If you are still not satisfied with the results, then move forward and use products like resilient channel, green glue, or soundproof drywall to increase the STC of your walls.

How To Soundproof A Door That Leaks

There are striking similarities between the process of making your door more energy efficient and soundproofing it.  All of the same gaps and holes that let cold air inside are the same gaps that will allow sound to pass freely.  Similarly, if you have a thin or hollow door, there may not be too much improvement is sound transmission even if you make it airtight.  There is no need to pay extra for any type of special door, it should just be solid wood.  Most doors with hollow centers have and STC rating of less than 20.  If you have a solid wood door and are still getting sound leaking thorough, the problem is likely the door frame surrounding the door, not the door itself.

1.  The first step in learning how to soundproof a door is removing the casing or trim around it.  This will reveal the where the drywall meets the door frame, and often times there will be an apparent gap.  If you can see light, or feel air coming through the gap then you want to make sure to seal the transition with silicone or an expanding foam insulation like Great Stuff.

2.  Next, make sure there is no gap below the door and flooring when it is shut.  Even a gap as small as ¼ inch can contribute to sound transmission.  If you find that there is room for improvement, apply a self adhesive door seal to the bottom of the door to make the door air tight.

3.  Apply a closed cell high density foam strip to the inside of where the door meets the jam.  This tape will not only make the door airtight in the jam, but it will also reduce vibrations in the door causing impact noises that are very hard to control.

If you are unable to replace the door in your home, perhaps if your lease or rent, there are less aesthetically pleasing alternatives.  Acoustic curtains can be hung over the door during peak hours of noise, or at night to decrease the disturbances.  It will be inconvenient and ugly, but for those who are desperate, it can be a relief.  If the idea of removing casing, and applying foam are over your head and you still don’t know how to soundproof a door, call a licensed contractor and explain you’d like to seal all air gaps in the frames of your doors and windows.