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So, the noise coming through your door is getting into your nerves? Or probably, your music is causing disturbances in the neighborhood.
The truth is that 90% of the noises coming in and out of your premises passed through your door. Most of the doors in the house are hollow. Others are made with cardboard pieces which do not isolate sound well. Other doors often have large gaps which allow noise and air to pass through them.
This door structure makes the sound to move from one room to the other. The worst happens if the door is next to noisy appliances or neighbors.
But you don’t need to live with these noises. You can block all the noises that are passing through your door. Thanks to soundproofing.
- Soundproofing a Door: 11 Effective Ways We Have Tested
- 1. Thicken the Door
- 2. Seal the Door Gaps with A Dampening Door Seal
- 3. Install Draft Stopper Under Your Door
- 4. Place Rugs under the Door
- 5. Use Soundproofing Blankets
- 6. Use Soundproofing Curtains
- 7. Acoustic Foams
- 8. Mass Loaded Vinyl
- 9. Use Soundproofing Fiberglass Panels
- 10. Magnetic Door Gaskets Over Your Metallic Door Frame
- 11. Soundproofing Door Paint
- Final Words
Soundproofing a Door: 11 Effective Ways We Have Tested
This article, therefore, discusses the 11 effective ways to soundproof a door. Apply them today and enjoy living in your tranquility. No more noises.
1. Thicken the Door
The thickness of your door will determine it’s effectiveness. Therefore, before thinking of undertaking any huge soundproofing project, start by thickening your door.
Check the thickness and material used on your door.
When you knock, how does your door sound? Does it sound solid or hollow? If the door is hollow, that is the problem. Hollow doors are affordable but poor in soundproofing. They allow both airborne and structural noise to pass through them.
There are simple techniques for solving this problem. The simplest technique is to install sound dampening materials on the door. You can fix moving blankets or sound deadening foams. However, this technique could be simple but might not be effective.
The most effective technique is to remove your light door and replace it. This technique will cost a higher budget, but it will give higher results than applying dampening materials on the door.
However, if you live in a rented house or apartment, you might not take this method. If you must replace the door, talk to the property manager or Landlord. Some might allow you to change the door. Others might not agree with this idea. Other property managers might even take full responsibility for changing the door.
If you cannot be allowed to replace the door, install sound-deadening materials. It will help.
Choose a solid wood door for your doorway. Remove any metallic, plywood, or MDF door. Replace them with hard wood doors. Get a door made of a hardwood. This will be perfect in blocking all noises passing through the door.
2. Seal the Door Gaps with A Dampening Door Seal
Door gaps allow most of the noises to pass through them. Therefore, if there are any gaps on your door, seal them.
Buy weatherstrip seals on Amazon. They dampen and block all noises. Weatherstrips are waterproof making them durable and effective to seal on any part of the door.
This method is the cheapest but yet among the most effective for bathroom door soundproofing. You can buy the seal on Amazon and fix it on yourself. Below are systematic steps to install the dampening seal on the door.
- Measure the width and height of your bathroom door.
- Use a handsaw to cut the weather-stripping into correct sizes.
- Place the cut strips to seal the door.
- Cover the gaps from inside. Covering from outside will make your door look ugly.
Ensure that there are no gaps left in between the door. Despite the size of the gaps, air will pass through them. Therefore, seal your door completely.
This technique will reduce the noise passing through the door. However, if you don’t like it, other techniques can be used on dampening the door. Keep reading.
Buy the following seals on Amazon.
- Foam Adhesive Strips
- 2-Inch-Wide X 1/4 Inch Thick
- Total 13 Feet Long
- Seal, Doors,
- Waterproof,
- Sound Dampening
- Craft Tape (33 Ft- 1/8″ x 2″)
3. Install Draft Stopper Under Your Door
Every door is designed in a way it can open and close smoothly. As a result, a gap is left between the door and floor. However, the same gap allows sound from the bathroom to bring disturbance into the room.
The larger the gap, the more noise it’s going to allow through the door.
However, the noise passing through this door space can easily be blocked. All you need is to find anything that will cover the gap but at the same time, allow the door to open and close freely.
The best technique to cover this gap is by having a stopper or door sweep below the door itself.
Therefore, buy a door sweep fix it under the door. Different sizes and make of door sweeps are readily available on Amazon.
When installed under the door they slide nicely over carpets, wooden, and laminate floors. They leave no marks or scratches on the floor. At the same time, they block all air and noise passing through them.
Door sweeps absorb airborne noise. They also dampen the vibrations and impact sound passing through the door.
Check the following sweeps on Amazon
- Under Door Seal for Exterior/Interior Doors
- Soundproof Door Bottom
- Weather Stripping
- Double-Sided
- No cold
- 36 Inch Foam
4. Place Rugs under the Door
A rug will function well, just like the door sweeps. The only difference is that the rug is not fixed on the door.
Therefore, if the gap below your door is huge, get a thick rug. Place the carpet under the door. When your door is closed, the carpet will dampen the air space.
Heavy rugs absorb and deadens most of the noises passing through the floor even before they reach the door. That’s why it’s more effective in covering the space below the door.
However, ensure you get a rug that will allow your door to open and close smoothly. At the same time, buy a rug that will cover the door space.
One advantage of rugs is that you won’t be needed to buy a separate carpet for your house. When buying rugs at home, you can buy large ones that can be extended to where the doors are. As they soundproof your floor and other appliances in the house, they also soundproof your door.
Consider buying either of the following rugs from Amazon. Get one today. Place it under your door. You will be amazed by the results you will get from them.
Safavieh California Premium Shag
- Highly reviewed.
- Thick
- Easy maintenance
Safavieh Hudson Shag Collection SGH280B Grey
- Top-rated mat
- Thick
- Easy maintenance
5. Use Soundproofing Blankets
Air gaps are major culprit for allowing noise to pass through the door. Any strategy that can block the noise movement will do well in blocking the noise.
Apart from the air gaps, the size and thickness of the door matter a lot. The thicker the door, the efficient it is in soundproofing.
Soundproofing blankets, therefore, serves these two significant purposes. They block all air spaces and increase the thickness of the door.
Soundproofing blankets work efficiently. They are thick and do not allow sound or air to pass through them. Best soundproofing blankets are also readily available on Amazon. You can install them on yourself. So you don’t have to worry about anything when you think of soundproofing blankets.
Pin the blankets on the doors. Do this from the inside the bathroom. Alternatively, hang the blankets like you would hang curtains.
You can opt to glue or use nails to attach the blankets on the door.
Alternatively, you can buy soundproofing blankets with grommets. These blankets can be hanged over the door. Hang them on curtain rods or rails. Just like you would attach the standard curtains.
For effectiveness, buy the thick blankets. Also, install layers of soundproofing curtains.
Relevant Resources : Soundproofing Barn Door: 7 Effective Ways that Works
Soundproofing curtains can be used on all doorways where there is much noise coming from outside. It’s cheap to buy and easy to install them.
However, if you pin your blankets over the door, vacuum them regularly. Blankets absorb dust easily. But if you choose to hang them like curtains, remember to wash them time over time.
Buy any of the following blankets from Amazon and soundproof your doorway today.
Sure-Max 12 Moving & Packing Blankets
- Deluxe Pro
- Double-sided construction
- 80″ x 72″ (40 lb/dz Weight)
- Professional Quilted Shipping Furniture Pads Royal Blue
- Effective sound absorption.
- Measures 95″ x 54.
- Great for recording studios, drum rooms, rehearsal spaces, vocal booths, and more
- Installation hardware included
Deluxe Moving Blankets by Chean Cheap Moving Boxes
- Size: 72″ X 80″
- Double lock stitching and thick 1/4-inch material
- Ideal for preventing scratches and nicks to furniture
- Double lock stitching with four square finished corners
For more insights about using soundproofing blankets, read this article How to Soundproof a Room with Blankets: 9 Best Ways!
6. Use Soundproofing Curtains
Soundproofing curtains work the same way with blankets. The only difference is that the curtains are hanged. Blankets can be hanged or pinned on the wall.
However, soundproofing curtains are different from ordinary curtains. They are thick and dense. Their density does not allow sound to pass through them.
When hunged over the door, they dampen all noises coming or leaving your room. Technically, soundproofing curtains and blanket trap air in them. When the sound hits through the trapped air, it’s dampened.
It’s easy to use soundproofing curtains over the door than soundproofing blankets. All you need to do is buy your curtains and hang them over the door.
Use the curtains just like the normal curtains.
The other advantage of using curtains is that they come in different colors and designs. You can buy curtains that match your house and soundproof easily.
Therefore, whether you are soundproofing office or home door, curtains will serve you better. Buy them on Amazon and soundproof your doorway.
- Noise Reducing Thermal Insulated Solid Ring
- Top Blackout Window Curtains/Drapes
- Two Panels,42 x 84 Inch.
- Thermal Insulated
- Noise Reducing
- Size: 52W x 54L Inch
7. Acoustic Foams
Acoustic foams are designed to reduce noise and improve the acoustics of a music room. They are open-celled foams. They are resistant to air. As a result, they can reduce the amplitude of noise level.
Acoustic foams are also available in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Depending on the size and color of your door, you can find an acoustic foam to soundproof your door on Amazon.
The best part is that they don’t require special skills to install. They are self-adhesive. You only buy and fix them over your door. When used over the door, the foams blocks all air spaces.
Relevant Resources : Soundproofing Air Vents: 6 Most Effective Methods We Tested
Acoustic foams also block sound and noise passing through a light door. At the same time, they absorb all sounds bouncing over the door. As a result, they eliminate any echoes from the house. Eventually, the house acoustic is improved. If you are listening to music, you can hear it well without much noise.
Below are the best acoustic foams on Amazon. Buy any of them and soundproof you doorway today. Expect to reduce more than 50% of the noises passing through your door if you use either of these acoustic foams.
Foamily 12 Pack- Acoustic Panels
- 12 Pack covers 12 square feet
- Professional acoustic control
- Great for spot treating sound on walls
Mybecca 12 Pack- Acoustic Panels
- 12 pack means
- Professional acoustic control Acoustic
- Sound deadening material
8. Mass Loaded Vinyl
Mass loaded vinyl is mat-like sheet. They are built specifically for soundproofing. They absorb all noises passing through them.
They are perfect for reducing medium to high pitched noises.
Buy the mass loaded vinyl on amazon. Cut it according to the size of your door. Then peel off the adhesive part and fix the mat over the door.
This technique will be able to reduce and eliminate most of the noises passing through the door. Buy it today and say goodbye to all sounds passing through your door.
- 1lb – 4’x12.5′
- Soundproofing Barrier for Walls, Floors, Ceilings, and doors
- Self-adhesive
9. Use Soundproofing Fiberglass Panels
The soundproofing fiberglass panels work the same as blankets, curtains, and acoustic foams. Most of the fiberglass panels have grommets for hanging over the door like curtains or blankets. You can also choose to pin or glue them over your door.
Fiberglass panels absorb noises passing through the door. They prevent them from making echoes from the sounds hitting the door.
- 0mm 200x300mm
- 100% Carbon Fiber Sheet
- Laminate Plate Panel
10. Magnetic Door Gaskets Over Your Metallic Door Frame
We already know that any air space will allow noise to pass through the door. At the same time, you would like to open and close your door freely. This explains why sometimes it can be difficult to block all air spaces. This is especially the space between the door and frame.
But not anymore.
You can install the magnetic door gasket over your door. The gaskets work as the weather strips.
Door gaskets are the material used in freezers and fridges doors for an airtight seal.
The gasket works well on metallic doors. One side of the door gasket has a magnetic strip. The other side is equipped with a rubber material that blocks any air passing through the door.
You don’t need the entire door to be metallic — only the frame.
Therefore, if you have a metallic frame for your door, buy the door gasket and install it over your door. To install the gasket, consult with your contractor. They will help you in fixing it.
Trim-Lok Trim Seal with Side Bulb
- PVC Plastic Trim
- EPDM Rubber Bulb Seal
- Fits 1/16” Edge, 3/8” Bulb Seal Diameter, 25’ Length
- EPDM Foam Rubber Seal
- Pressure Sensitive
- Adhesive
11. Soundproofing Door Paint
Finally, check with your hardware. Most hardwares have soundproofing paints. Buy the paint and apply it over your door.
Soundproofing paints are normally thick. They have polymers compound that transforms sound to heat energy.
The paint can block medium to high-level noises. It works well with airborne noises. It’s also a cheap alternative for soundproofing your door.
Final Words
If you are experiencing much noise in your house, you might blame it on the door. To fix this problem, start by checking your door. If the door is thin, thicken it. Replace metallic, plywood, or MDF doors with solid hardwood doors.
Ensure that there are no gaps left on the door. Use different techniques that will block all air spaces on the door. For effectiveness, combine different techniques.
But most importantly, buy quality soundproofing materials. Pick any of the material we have recommended and buy them on Amazon. You will be amazed by the results of every technique discussed in this article.
