Do you want your noisy Toyota car to sound more like a Lexus when your driving on the open road? I’m sure you would. Most budget vehicles have to keep cost low, and in doing so, they need to compromise in some areas. One thing they tend to do is only to put as much noise dampening material that is necessary. In this article, we will show you the best ways on How To Soundproof Your Car to Make Your Vehicle Quieter On The Road!
Back in the day cars and trucks were meant to be more practical and we treated them as such. These days more of us don’t always drive because we have to but because we love to drive; And when we do go for a long road trip, we want our ride to be quiet and comfortable making the sound deadening material more popular as a DIY project.
Sound deadening a vehicle does not have to be expensive. There are a few products on the market that can get the job done and should only take a few hours to accomplish.
The Number One Way to Reduce Road Noise
The number one way to reduce road noise is the product application called Dynamat. Dynamat is a simple DIY fix, but it is relatively expensive comparing it to other similar products on Amazon. It creates a foam shield that you place under the floor mats of your vehicle. It will then soak up a significant amount of noise coming from the tire and entering the interior of the car.
Black Self-Adhesive Butyl MegaMat with Install Kit Consisting of Easy Instructions, Roller, Knife, and FatMat Sound Control Decal
As I specified, there are cheaper alternatives that have the same effect on the vehicles noise reduction. One of these products that I recommend is FatMat Self-Adhesive Butyl Sound Deadener with Install Kit from Amazon. Fatmat is half the cost of Dynamat, and it is an excellent product if the reviews are any indication of the quality as a sound deadener for a car.
Installing this product under the floor carpet of your vehicle should take you less than an hour, and it is easily considered a DIY product. You don’t need to be an expert in this type of field to be able to install this type of material. The bigger plus about a Butyl product is that you do not need a heat gun to make it stick.
In the past, you would have needed a heat gun because the sound deadeners for vehicles were asphalt base. Newer Butyl products have an adhesive coating on one side to make the process reasonably easy without causing any headaches.
Fatmat Self-Adhesive BLACK Butyl MegaMat Sound Deadener
The amount of sound deadening material you have to get for your vehicle depends on how much road and engine noise comes into the cabin. That will determine how much area you will have to cover. Also, do not hesitate to add a second layer on top of the first one if your vehicle is still noisy after the first layer.
You should also consider the trunk because a lot of noise comes from the back tires. It’s also good to make your trunk feel more solid when closing it and will also stop vibration from the radio. If the seats in your vehicle extend almost to the back, applying foam in the trunk won’t make much difference.
Auto Sound Deadening While Keeping Your Vehicle Cool
The primary function of a heat shield is, of course, preventing too much heat coming from the floor into the cabin. When heat transfers from underneath the vehicle it creates condensation. By using reflective insulation, heat transfer from under your car will block up to 98% of that heat.
When I was reading the reviews, I notice some people saying that it also works wonders as a sound deadener, on top of shielding heat transfer.
As I suggest, laying EZ-Cool insulation kit underneath the foam if you want the best results in the end. You can watch the video below to see how someone installed a product very similar to the EZ-Cool Insulation.
For this particular product, you will need to buy 3M General Trim Adhesive to apply on the bare floor of your vehicle. This type of adhesive is made explicitly to bond the material to metal. Place the reflective insulation directly on the 3M adhesive and after it dries up, apply the FatMat foam as the second layer for maximum soundproofing.
ESP Low-E® EZ-Cool Car Insulation Kit(Includes 100 Sq. Ft Insulation, 25′ Foil Tape): Heat and Sound Automotive Insulation For Your Car Restoration Projects
Where is the Best Place to Apply Sound Deadening Product In a Vehicle?
If you’re on a smaller budget and you only want to buy one package of sound deadening material; the best place to install it would be directly under the driver and passenger seats. Directly under you is where most of the road noise comes from and will block most of that noise coming from the tires into the cabin.
The second most important area to install sound deadening in your car is in the trunk directly on top of the rear tires. The noise of the tires rolling on the road travels throughout the vehicle.
The Third vital area to install the soundproofing insulation is on the back seat floor. This is especially important in older model SUV’s but will also do an excellent job regarding noise control in any vehicle.
The final area I would focus on is the doors. Some vehicles are better than others in this aspect, but you can find out how your car is insulated by shutting the door. If the sound of shutting the car door is like a tin can then it might need some insulation. It will stop the vibration and make the door sound better when you close it.
When applying the soundproofing insulation in your car, make sure to apply it everywhere in the area you’re working on. If you’re applying the insulation on the car floor, you will have to make sure there are no cracks; because that would defeat the purpose of the entire project.
Think of your patio door, if you open it just a crack you will hear everything that’s going on outdoors. It is the same thing in the case of soundproofing your car. I would suggest adding an inch of insulation on the sides to make sure you apply it to all areas.
Take your time; there’s no rush in doing this because the last thing you want to do is have to redo the entire process.
What Should you Expect after Soundproofing your Vehicle?
There are no scientific studies on this because every single car will have different results. That’s also true with the various products and application process. If you have an older car, you should expect a big difference since they were much less insulated regarding noise reduction than vehicles today.
If you drive a luxury vehicle, you shouldn’t even need to soundproof because manufacturers usually add extra insulation to make the car quieter. You should hear a considerable difference in older trucks, but the rule of thumb is the older and cheaper the vehicle is the more you’ll notice the results. I’m not going to throw in numbers because there is no way of knowing, Id just be guessing.
Importance of a Quiet Vehicle
You might not think that driving in a quiet vehicle is essential, but if you think about it for a minute, you will realize how much better your commute would be in a quiet car. For example, your driving at highway speeds and you want to turn the volume up on your radio, but you can’t because someone is trying to sleep or read in the back seat.
I listen to a lot of podcasts when driving, and I always need to crank the volume to make out what they are saying.
I’m a truck guy mind you so it might be a bit louder than your typical vehicle but you get my point. I sometimes find it more comfortable to wear headphones if I want to listen to a podcast or an audiobook. I did install sound deadening material on my truck floor a few years ago and found that it helps immensely in making my commute more peaceful.
The Future of Silent Vehicles
Many years from now we probably won’t be thinking of soundproofing our cars much because of the evolution of the electrification of vehicles. Electric vehicles are much quieter than the typical internal combustion engine. The only thing that would make an electric vehicle noisy would be on highways with wind noise and road noise. If you’re driving in the city at low speeds, the engine noise will be a thing of the past.
Conclusion
Please leave us a comment if you have any questions about this type of process and let us know if you had success in sound deadening your vehicle.
If you’re in the process of soundproofing a room, you might be in a little pickle if you have to deal with an above door air pathway transfer grill, most commonly referred to as an above door air vent. You can completely block them off, but then you’re left with a room that lacks the proper amount of return air coming in from the hallway or the adjacent room. Your next option is to try to reduce the noise coming from an overhead door air vent. This article will show you just that, with a few options as to how to soundproof an above door air vent.
What is an Above Door Air Transfer Grill (Above Door Air Vent) and What Does It Do?
Before we begin ripping an air transfer grill apart, here is an explanation of its precise use.
“An air transfer grille provides an opening from the bedroom to the hallway for air to return back to the air conditioning air handler or furnace when the supply register (vent) in the ceiling of the bedroom is blowing conditioned air into the room. If it wasn’t there and the bedroom door was closed, the only way for air to return to the air handler would be through the narrow undercut slot below the door. The door undercut does not provide a sufficient opening, so the room would become somewhat pressurized and would not receive as much conditioned air as rooms that had an open return air flow.” Mcgarryandmadsen.com
How to Instal an Above Door Return Air Grill (Above Door Air Vent) With a Noise Reducing Hunnycomb Insert
In this section, I will explain how to install an above door air vent with a noise reducing honeycomb insert. Some of you might never even consider installing an above door air transfer grill because of the noise transfer between rooms. Rest assured, there are a few ways to reduce the noise transfer.
Tamarack technologies have a product called an interior baffle. An interior baffle is a honeycomb-shaped section you insert between the two grills to reduce light and noise transfer between rooms.
This is a simple installation, but there are a few considerations.
Make sure you’re not cutting into the wiring.
Avoid cutting through studs.
What Tools You Will Need.
Tape Measure
Ladder
Pencil
Stud Finder
Level
Safety Glasses
Dry Wall Saw
Supplied Screws (If purchasing the installation kit)
Drill
Begin by selecting a space over a doorway and measure the metal frame. Transfer those measurements to where you want to install the vent. Use your stud finder and level to map out the exact location where you’re going to cut through the wallboard. Cut the wallboard using your drywall saw and set the metal frame in place.
Draw the same dimensions on the facing wallboard and cut through the other wall. Insert the noise reducing honeycomb unit and place both return air grills over the metal frame and fasten it.
There are Three soundproofing solutions to chose from. The first one is the honeycomb insert mentioned above. The second choice is to block the air vent altogether completely. Do this only if you know for a fact that it is no longer needed. Blocking off the air vent would give a full proof sound reduction. It would, however, deprive you of the heating and cooling of your room through air circulation.
The third alternative is by creating a sound maze. Like the honeycomb insert, the sound maze will not give you full sound reduction it would still reduce enough noise for you to concentrate or have a better nights sleep.
2nd Soundproofing Solution – Blocking Out the Air Vent Method
GREAT STUFF Big Gap Filler
You can hire a professional to block off the above door air vent, but that will cost a bit more than you would probably want to spend. That method would also be permanent. I have a blocking off process that is NOT permanent. This process can be reversed if there is a future need for the vent.
The none-permanent DIY vent blocking method only requires one product, Great Stuff Big Gap Filler Insulating Foam Sealant. I recommend this product because I’ve used it and know for a fact that it works.
At least with this method, if you need to reopen the vent you can simply cut out the foam insulation with a drywall saw and reattach the vents.
Another way to block the vent would be to glue a piece of plywood directly on the back of both vents. After the plywood is glued to the vent, make sure to lay a strip of sealant on all four sides of the plywood. The sealant should be a soundproofing sealant such as Green Glue (Amazon Link) because this is precisely made, so it never hardens and cracks.
3rd Soundproofing Solution – Creating a Sound Maze
This third door return air vent soundproofing method takes a bit more DIY work. But this method will provide you some sound reduction and will not compromise the air flow into the room.
This is the only method that I’ve never personally used. I have however heard people getting good results from a noise reduction sound maze. The way this method work is by making a miniature maze inside the vent space using pieces of thin wood with acoustic foam taped directly to the plywood. This way, the sound has to zig-zag around several layers before entering either the room, which will significantly deaden most sounds.
Materials you will need to build an air duct sound maze
The downside to this method is that it isn’t as effective at blocking noise as drywalling off the above door air duct. However, it should dramatically cut the amount of noise compared to leaving the vent untouched. Check out the picture below to see how this method works. The red lines are your pieces of plywood with acoustic foam attached on both sides using green glue noise-proofing sealant. The air duct sound maze is a pretty simple build.
Air vent maze for over door transfer air
Conclusion
Soundproofing an above door air vent is not a complicated task when adequately informed. I hope you found this information useful. Please let me know in the comments below if you used any of these methods or if you have a new approach I never thought of in this article.
One of my colleagues runs a recording studio in his home for podcasting. He needs the studio to be as soundproof as possible. He contacted me to see if I could help him soundproof a window. There are many different ways to go about soundproofing windows. In this article, I will explain different ways how to soundproof a window in your home as a cost-effective DIY project.
Typically when soundproofing anything, you would need to place thick and dense materials that can block sound from coming through a window. On top of that, you should also place sound absorption panels on the walls. Even furniture and rugs help to make a room sound better by reducing the echo within.
Many homeowners make the mistake of thinking that acoustic foam panels (like you’d see in a recording studio for acoustic treatment) is an excellent soundproofing product. Foam panels are inexpensive and seem professional. However, that’s for absorbing echo and NOT for soundproofing a room, door, or window. Click here for our acoustic treatment vs. soundproofing article.
Here are the quick ways you can soundproof a window in your home the DIY way! This article has been updated to include a few more ways to do it right!
The first step should be to determine if you even need to have a window in the room you’re soundproofing. If you don’t need a window at all then you can simply remove it and block it completely. Removing and blocking a window would be the best soundproofing method because you replace the window with thick, dense material where noise has more difficulty going through.
If you can NOT block the window, there are a few other ways to go about it. I always recommend not permanently blocking a window for soundproofing. You might want to sell the house someday and the majority of people would not want a windowless room. Blocking a window could be the reason your home sits on the market when trying to sell.
Here are our 7 Best options for how to soundproof a window.
1. Install a DIY Window Block
I have never built a temporary soundproof window blocker, but I did find this great video on Youtube of a guy that made one for his recording studio. While watching the video, I was impressed with how easy and functional this type of soundproofing treatment could be. I will explain the process he used, or you can watch the video below.
For convenience, I included some Amazon links for the products you will need to get this DIY window soundproofing block done.
First, you need to measure the window. Make sure to have the exact measurements because you do not want to go through building one of these and not have it fit. If there are cracks on the sides, it renders the soundproof window block useless.
Measure the interior of the window frame you want your soundproof box to fit into. Cut a 1″x4″ piece of plywood accurately from the measurements you gathered.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to attach some diagonals on at least two corners to keep the box frame securely square.
Attach a piece of plywood to enclose the back of the box. (See video)
Place a 1/2″ sheet of cement board the size of the interior of the box frame over the insulation. You can also use a super-dense acoustic foam cut to size like this one (Amazon link). Hold the sheet down with your body weight and securely screw it in place and then throw some acoustic sealant around the edge of the sheet.
Finally, place the back of the box in place and seal it shut with some green glue sealant and securely screw it down.
Screw down some heavy-duty chest handles to insert and extract the soundproof box from your window easily.
This method is a bit unusual for soundproofing a window, but it does work very well actually. Singer Safety Double Faced Quilted Fiberglass Panel (Click here for current Amazon price); can be used for window soundproofing with a few modifications that will make this item work even better.
This particular fiberglass panel is 4 feet wide, 8 feet tall, and 2 inches thick weighing a whopping 12.4 pounds! This panel reminds me of moving blankets but thicker and heavier. Which is what you need for soundproofing, the denser, the better. These types of fiberglass window panels cost a bit more than just regular soundproofing blankets but the quality is there, and the best thing is you can soundproof two windows by cutting the panel in half.
I would suggest not hanging the window panel with the hooks that come inside the box. Instead, you should use double-sided velcro tape (Amazon Link) and stick it on the window frame. Tape the full length of each four sides and do the same on the panel. By doing this, you avoid having cracks on the sides letting the noise into the room.
3. Thick Material Blind For Window Soundproofing
If you don’t want to block your window permanently and you’re in the market for blinds, I have a suggestion. Honeycomb sound absorption blinds will help absorb some of the outside noise and help in soundproofing your window.
Of course, blinds will not give you the same effect as sound deadening curtains, but if you’re buying blinds anyway, these blinds will help. I actually have these blinds (Calyx Interiors Cordless Honeycomb Blinds Amazon Link) for our master bedroom. They were in our soundproof nursery when the kids were babies, and we find they work OK knowing full well of their limitations.
4. Sound Deadening Curtains
Sound blocking curtains do an excellent job of cutting some of the outside noise from coming in through the window area. You certainly shouldn’t buy sound deadening curtains thinking they are 100% soundproof because they are not. One thing it does, however, is spruce up a room with lovely thick, high-quality curtains and help block sound.
Another advantage of installing sound deadening curtains is that they do a great job of reducing the echo effect. See, I just saved you some money on acoustic panels! Acoustic panels help minimize echo by absorbing the sound inside the room. Sound blocking curtains have the same effect. And that is how you kill two birds with one stone!
If you install noise-blocking blinds in conjunction with noise blocking curtains, you’re well on your way to making your window more soundproof. Remember that for sound-absorbing curtains to be effective; you need to get a higher number of panels than usual so that they thickly cover the window area.
The curtains should also extend at least 4 inches beyond all edges of the window. Usually, these types of curtains are longer than average and go up all the way from floor to ceiling. Any gaps in the curtain will lessen its soundproofing effect. These are the sound blocking curtains I recommend from Amazon. Also, click here to check out my article on sound blocking curtains.
5. Indow Window Insert Soundproofing
The Indow window soundproofing inserts are very impressive. I’ve never tried these and I also don’t know anyone that has, but by looking at the video below, it seems interesting.
Below is the description is taken from the Indow website.
“Indow window inserts use our patented Compression Tube to press inside your window frame and seal out noise. Our Standard Grade inserts block sound by 50% and our Acoustic Grade inserts block sound by more than 70% when placed over operable single-pane windows. When placed over operable double-pane windows, Acoustic Grade inserts reduce noise by up to 12 dBA, equivalent to more than a 50% reduction in noise and an STC rating of 42 to 45.”
The video below is a “before and after” demonstration for the Indow window insert. I found an actual review from a customer since I find them more reliable than the companies demonstrations. To my surprise, this review and the companies review had the same results. You can buy a SAMPLE KIT from Amazon.
The money you spent on a sample kit will go towards purchasing the full product if you decide on pursuing this route. I’d rather spend 25 dollars on a sample kit vs. buying the full version and not liking it.
6. Replace the Window
If you have a few hundred dollars to spare, you can hire a professional to replace your window with a soundproof window. This option can be expensive because of parts and labor. Most of the other options are DIY unless you’re handy with these types of projects then this might be the best choice for you!
This expensive fix can run upwards of 800 dollars from my experience. If you hire a professional, make sure they have soundproofing experience. If you hire from a big contracting company, you could most likely get someone that knows what they are doing regarding soundproofing.
An expert in soundproofing will not only install and seal the soundproof window, but they will seal around the window with an actual soundproof sealant. Soundproofing sealants around a window will make a world of difference since these types of acoustic sealants will never crack; And will always stay flexible for the life of the window! After window sealants begin to crack, the outside noise will come through rendering the expensive project a FAIL!
7. Remove Window
What can I say, If you don’t really care about light entering the room or a summer breeze flowing inside, you may just as well block the window permanently. This option would probably be the most expensive one. Blocking a window means making the inside and outside of the home look like there never was a window there, to begin with.
Of course, you could do a cheap job if the outside and inside the aesthetics of your house mean little to you. But if it does, then you should hire a professional contractor. The contractors will block the window with soundproof insulation. Drywall on the inside and siding that matches the rest of the house on the exterior. That is how it’s done in the video below.
There are also many videos on Youtube about how to block a window using bricks and cement. That might appeal to you if the window is under a deck and not visible.
8. Add an Extra Layer Over the Glass
This method is less expensive than completely replacing the windows. All you need to do is add a layer of acrylic over the window. This option will reduce the amount of noise that passes through the window.
Firstly, you’ll have to install a metal frame around the existing window. Magnets are then used to connect the acrylic to the existing windows. You also have to assure that you secure an airtight seal as well.
What’s nice with using acrylic, since it’s transparent, you will not lose any daylight coming through the window. An acrylic layer, however, will only work for minor noise problems. If you are looking to deal with some deafening noises, then this option may not be the best for you.
9. Seal the Gaps
I’ve already stated that even the smallest gaps or cracks will let sound inside the room. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that all the gaps around the window are sealed. Depending on how or when the window installation was done, there could very well be gaps, especially around the edges due to aging or poor installation.
You may decide to seal these first and see if it solves the noise issue. There are a couple of ways you can go about this. The easiest way is by using noise proofing caulk around the window to reseal it. This type of caulking is very pliable, so it won’t crack over time and let noise through.
You can also use adhesive tape around the window. It is a self-adhesive seal strip that is very easy to install. I like how it can endure just about any weather and you can simply cut it to fit whatever dimensions you need.
If this option does not do it for you, you can also get a window insulator kit. The kit is a variety of materials you would use to insulate between 3 to 5 windows. Just like the adhesive tape and caulking, these are also simple to install, and the rolls come in an assortment of sizes.
10. Install A Barrier Panel
A barrier panel is basically an acoustic foam panel that helps in absorbing unwanted noise and also sound echoes in the room.
If all other options are not really what you’re looking for, you can easily install a barrier panel over your window to make it much more soundproof.
You can quickly find barrier panels on Amazon. I will recommend one in the description that I found quite effective for the price and ease of install.
These panels are made in a variety of sizes. Make sure to buy one that is a few inches taller and wider than your window so you can secure it to the window frame without leaving any gaps where sound could come in.
If you’re willing to spend a fair amount of your money on this soundproof windows project, then you should go with this option. Apart from blocking out the windows, it is another guaranteed way of keeping all the noise in or out.
Double pane windows reduce the amount of noise significantly (by up to 60 %). Other than sound dampening, double pane windows reduce heat transmission. Read more about STC ratings for windows here.
They will keep the room cooler during summer and warmer during winter. With these windows, you will end up saving a lot on the energy bills.
You may also decide to get specialist soundproofed windows in place of the double-pane windows. Replacing your windows entirely could be a risky move. Most window installers may not be familiar with installing soundproofed windows.
You will need to make sure that whoever installs the windows does it correctly. There should be no gaps or cracks left all around the edges of the windows. Poorly installed soundproof windows will simply be a waste as even the smallest gap can still let sound in and out of the room.
11. Rearrange Furniture
This might seem like the most obvious thing in the world to help out with soundproofing, but it actually works better than most people think of initially when they give it a try.
When moving furniture around, it can help reduce noise and work in many of the same ways as soundproofing material out there.
One of the best things about rearranging furniture is that it takes a little bit of effort to get everything situated the right way.
No one has to spend a lot of money to go out and buy new material, and then get things up and going at a fast rate.
Try to look for soft pieces of furniture if thinking about soundproofing only. It helps to have uneven surfaces as well, as this will do the best job of absorbing noise and reducing echo coming from all different angles.
Most people are wanting this one trying to control sound, but others just want to block Sam from entering the room in the first place. If that’s the case, hard and flat pieces are the best way to go.
The two best ways to go about soundproofing a room with existing furniture is to block any vulnerable areas with material completely, or to just have them near the tough areas.
Blocking an area completely will in essence, make the window worthless, but some won’t care about the window. Others still want to see outside, so covering up areas around it makes sense.
12. Moving Blankets For Quick Solutions
Moving blankets (Amazon) are a very versatile option when it comes to soundproofing. Believe it or not, there are people who will use them for an extended period of time with windows.
It’s because it feels like that’s a pretty simple solution, and they aren’t certain that they will keep it up long-term.
Another reason why is that it is very cheap to put them up, and can come down in just a matter of seconds.
Eventually, most people are going to go ahead and graduate to something a little bit more classy than moving blankets to soundproof a window.
However, it doesn’t hurt to always have a few different options around in case that they are actually needed.
Some people believe that they provide some of the best soundproofing they can possibly find when using moving blankets.
They work in a lot of similar ways to soundproofing curtains, but it doesn’t take nearly the same time to get everything setup.
Conclusion
There you have it, seven options on how to soundproof a window. Soundproofing a window can cost you $50 like it can cost you $1000.
Please let us know in the comment section below what option you chose; and how it’s working for you. Let us also know if you have an option 8, 9, or even 10! We would love to hear any new ideas that could potentially get the job done easier and cheaper.
What is the first thing you must know about acoustic treatment and noise absorption? This should be easy, but it’s not your fault if no one ever took the time to explain it to you. We will also explain what the difference between soundproofing and sound deadening is.
The first thing you’ve got to know about acoustics is the difference between soundproofing and acoustic treatment. If you want less noise, that’s soundproofing. If you want better sound, that’s sound treatment.
What is Acoustic in a Room?
Acoustics is basicaly how sound works in rooms. The majority of rooms in a house have flat walls and flat ceilings that sound bounces off of, and that affects how the sound is transmitted to your ears.
There is direct sound and reflected sound. Direct sound arrives at you faster than reflected sound because the reflected sound had to bounce off a flat surface to get to you; while direct; it would be something like a speaker pointing directly at you.
There are at least six flat surfaces in the average room, and that’s a lot reflected sound bouncing all over the place. The problem is that later arriving reflections distort the original soundwave coming out of a speaker. Also, sound travels fast at approximately 1130 feet per second.
A sound wave will bounce between two standard room walls about sixty times per second. Sound travels so fast that it fills a room almost instantly. That was just one bounce angle, and a typical room would have thousands of them.
Acoustical Absorber
The first of two acoustical tools is an acoustic absorber. Acoustic absorbers are to reduce the strength of sound bounces. To a sound wave, an absorber looks a little like a hole in the wall, so some of the energy never come back.
An absorber works by reducing the strength of reflective sound that would otherwise cause more destructive interference. But if we use only absorbers in a room, it makes it sound dull and unnatural. An acoustic absorber is also called an acoustic panel. Click here for our recommendation and the current price on Amazon.
Acoustical curved surface diffuser
So now we will talk about the second acoustical tool to complement the sound absorbers. An acoustical diffuser also reduces the strength of sound bounces, but the primary function of a diffuser is to scatter sound reflections in different directions. The diffuser smooths out the destructive interference throughout the room.
How do we make a room sound better with acoustic treatment?
Acoustic treatment is to install the two acoustical tools we just explained. Noise absorbing acoustic panels and acoustic diffusers. Placing these two acoustical tools on the walls around a room will make a room sound a lot more natural.
An excellent way to know where to place the panels and diffusers is by determining where the majority of the sound bounces; by strategically placing the panels and diffusers in those areas.
What is Soundproofing?
Soundproofing is very similar to weatherproofing. Weatherproofing keeps the adverse weather from entering your house and will prevent your heating and cooling inside your home from leaking outdoors. You have to seal up all the holes and make sure everything is stable, it’s the same for soundproofing.
Soundproofing keeps noise out and music and movie sound inside. You can’t do weatherproofing by hanging pictures on the walls. Likewise, you can’t do soundproofing by attaching acoustic panels the walls. To achieve maximum soundproofing, you first need to plug the leaks and solidify everything. That way, noise stays out, and the sound stays inside the soundproofed room.
How to Soundproof a Room?
Some sound leaks are easy fixes like door and windows. You can soundproof a door by applying a soundproofing door seal kit and installing a solid core door. You can also soundproof a door and window by installing studio soundproof doors and studio soundproof windows in the room. There are many ways to soundproof doors and windows with many different price tags and effectiveness.
What about soundproofing air duct vibrations, lightweight walls, thin floors, light fixture holes and electrical outlet cracks. Soundproofing means increasing isolation by filling in every gap and crack inside a room. You also receive soundproofing by increasing mass with denser walls, ceilings, and floors, and isolation from the rest of the building.
Conclusion
Remember, less noise means soundproofing and better sound implies acoustic room treatments. Fortunately, you can find a large variety of both types of treatment material on Amazon at reasonable prices.
The Acoustic Geometry door seal kit is a great way to make your door more soundproof without spending thousands of dollars by installing a soundproof door. What a soundproof door seal kit does is it seals all the air gaps around solid core doors. You need to make sure you have a solid core door for optimum soundproofing results.
Before even getting into door sealing kits, I wanted to find out if these things actually work. Amazon’s review sections have one person saying that this DIY door seal kit works perfectly and then another says the complete opposite giving door sealing kits a one-star rating.
I had to find out why it works for one person and not for the other. I proceeded to contact these two individuals and found out that the person that gave it a one-star rating used a door sealing kit on a hollow core door. There was my answer since the other guy told me they had installed a solid re door before using a door seal kit product.
In this article, I will show you a step by step method as to how to install a door sealing kit from Acoustic Geometry around a solid core door.
Measuring and Cutting the Soundproof Door Sealing Kit
Measuring Soundproof Door before Installing Door Sealing Kit
The first thing you need to do is to measure the door frame before cutting the seals accurately.
Measure the hinge side of the door jamb from the threshold to the inside of the upper doorstop. Repeat with the latch side door jamb. It’s a good idea to write down the measurements because it is very important to have the pieces accurately cut.
Carefully measure out the first seal on the aluminum channel, not the rubber gasket.
Mark a cutting line perpendicular to the channel and set the rubber seal side against the saw backstop. Use a sharp carbide-tip saw blade and make sure the saw blade is set for a 90-degree cut.
Cut the door end piece slowly and carefully. The cut end piece can fly so wear the proper eye protection.
Carefully measure the second jamb seal and mark the cutting line perpendicular to the aluminum channel.
Place the seal with the rubber gasket side against the saw backstop. And again, slowly and carefully cut the seal. Remember, measure twice, cut one unless you’d like to buy another door seal kit.
Pull the rubber on the non-cut end back into the channel.
Accurately measure the space between the inside of the jamb seal channels and carefully cut the top door stop seal.
How to Install the Door Seal Kit Cut Pieces
Now that you’ve been able to accurately measure the door and cut the door seal kit metal channel and gasket, it’s now time for the installation.
Place the hinge-side door seal with the cut end down against the door stop and check to make sure it fits properly.
Make sure the door opens and closes without binding the rubber gasket.
Drill the center mounting hole into the door stop and carefully screw in the seal.
Drill and screw the remaining door seal holes and repeat the same process on the latch side.
The top seal should fit tightly between the two side door seals. Drill the holes and carefully tighten the screws.
How to adjust the Door Seal Gaskets
How to adjust the Door Seal Gaskets
Now we need to adjust the side and top door seal gaskets by following these following steps.
You will need to use a regular sheet of paper to find where you will need to tighten the seal gasket.
Counter-clockwise turns on the adjusting screws. Push the gasket toward the door.
Continue until all the seals are lightly seated against the door with no binding when opening and closing.
Now we measure between the inside of the jamb seals for the automatic bottom seal. The door threshold MUST be smooth – no carpet or uneven thresholds.
Measure and mark the cutting line on the end without the actuator screw.
Gently pull back the rubber gasket on the end without the actuator screw and place the aluminum channel side against the saw backstop. Carefully holding the rubber gasket away from the saw blade and make sure your hand is well clear of the blade.
Install the actuator screw end toward the hinge-side of the door.
With a pair of sharp scissors perpendicular to the aluminum channel, carefully trim the rubber gasket to leave a 1/8″ reveal beyond the channel end. Then repeat on the other end, keeping the cut straight on both ends.
Installing the Bottom Door Seal Gasket
Installing the Bottom Door Seal Gasket.
Now it is time to focus on the very bottom of your solid core door and get rid of that open space. Follow the steps below.
The bottom seal MUST clear the floor covering (carpet, tile, etc.)
Place appropriate hight spacers at the sides to hold the bottom seal level with the door threshold.
Place the bottom seal on the spacers with the actuator screw toward the hinge-side, checking the fit.
Starting at the center, drill and screw down the bottom seal. Make sure to not over-tighten the mounting screws. The automatic gasket will not drop or self-level correctly if the mounting screws are too tight.
Adjust the actuator screw, so the gasket drops entirely to the threshold when the door is closed.
A strong light source will help you in checking your adjustments. If you see light coming through the door the sound will also travel through those cracks. You will need to readjust accordingly if that’s the case.
If you followed all these steps you should now have a soundproof door that will keep the noise from entering your office or the room you want to soundproof. Like I mentioned earlier, make sure to invest and install a solid core door before even thinking of installing a soundproofing door sealing kit because a hollow core door will just not cut it.
One of my friends was asking me about soundproofing since he considers me an expert compared to him. I don’t believe myself an expert in anything because Im always learning new things, especially regarding soundproofing. My friend lives on a noisy street and is asking me if he could soundproof his window with soundproofing curtains. He simply asked me “Do soundproof curtains work to block outside noise?”
My answer to his question was yes and also no. you see, the best way to soundproof a window is to completely bock it. The thing is, he doesn’t want to add anything permanent because he uses an in-window air conditioner in the summer.
In reality, soundproof curtains are more useful for sound deadening applications; But they lack proper soundproofing from the noise coming in from outside. What I’m saying is that you should not expect your window to become soundproof by just adding a simple soundproofing curtain. Or should I say, sound deadening curtain? Soundproof curtains are inexpensive, easy to hang up, but they really work?
Soundproof curtains are useful for reducing echo in a room, but will not reduce the decibel level of sounds entering the room from the outside world. However, just because curtains won’t do much to reduce the decibel level doesn’t mean that soundproof curtains won’t help your room to feel quieter. How is that possible?
Let’s say that you are in your bathroom, and you’re listening to music on your cell phone. If it’s anything like my bathroom, you will notice how annoying the sound is due to the reverb that bounces off the walls – you will hear an echo.
Take the same cell phone and play the same music in a closet full of clothes. What do you hear? You should hear the music is much quieter, and there’s an excellent reason for this. It’s because the hanging clothes act as a sound deadener by absorbing the music and efficiently deadening the echo.
Well, Do Soundproof Curtains Work?
Yes!And they are a cost-effective way by which you can begin to soundproof a room in your house.
If exterior noise keeps you awake, such as regular traffic or transport trucks, noisy bars and clubs, and even loud neighbors playing music – then soundproof curtains indeed won’t be as good as a soundproof window.
They might not be the ultimate solution, but they will undoubtedly help and provide a bit of relief regarding your efforts in reducing external noise from coming inside.
Choosing the Best Soundproof Curtains
Firstly, when you’re shopping online, you will see many companies advertising curtains as being “soundproof”; but in reality, many online vendors will give that label to any thicker than usual curtains. Don’t let this fool you into buying non-authentic or cheap curtains! So it can sometimes be a tad difficult to find out what is the best soundproof curtains.
The best soundproof curtains to buy are ones that go from floor to ceiling, are heavy duty, with a tight weave. It is also important to note to measure the curtain correctly to ensure that it passes at least three inches past the sides of the window – this is essential to help avoid outside noise to bleed into your room from either side of the window.
To prevent noise from bleeding into your room, you will want as much coverage as possible. The key here is that it covers as much area around the window so that the folds in the curtains can create as much of a seal around the sides as possible.
The two soundproof curtains I recommend are the Nicetown soundproof curtains, and I also like the Best Home Fashion soundproof curtains. I have worked on homes that have both of these curtains installed, and the homeowners are very pleased with them. These two soundproofing curtain companies are seen as market leaders and again have some of the top online reviews. Here is my impression regarding these two noise-proofing curtains.
Nicetown Soundproof Curtains
Nicetown Soundproof Curtains.
As you will see, there is a reason why these soundproof curtains is an “Amazon Choice” product, because they are as advertised. These curtains are soft and fairly heavy. The rings at the top are great quality with no stitching issues. There will still be a faint amount of light that shines through. To be fair, the description does say that it “Impedes 85%-99% of light and UV ray (Dark color curtains work better)” so it is indeed not a deception from Nicetown.
The Nicetown soundproof curtains I’ve seen were black. The reason why my friend chose black is that the lighter the curtain, the more light that will pass through. He wanted the curtains in gray but since the primary reason for buying them was to block the outside noise and also to block as much light as possible, he chose black.
On top of soundproofing, I want to warn you that these curtains will not be a substantial blackout; but it will reduce the light by approx 90%.
These soundproof curtains come with two panels per package. Each soundproofing Curtain measures 52″ wide x 84″ long.
The material is super heavy. Besides, 85%-99% light blocking, thermal insulated, soundproof, Fade-resistant, energy efficient. Thread trimmed and wrinkle-free, both sides are the same color/pattern.
More than soundproofing benefits, it also protects your furniture and floor when they are being exposed to the sun; while still helping you save money on heating and cooling your home.
Good quality finishing will withstand many years of use. The Nicetown are machine washable with water temperature below 86℉. Use a mild detergent without bleaching.
Best Home Fashion Soundproof Curtains blocks 100% of light. I’ve had blackout curtains before, but it was shocking how effective these curtains are.
They also keep the warmth in during the winter. I’ve noticed if I leave these open in the daytime, it’s about 5-10 degrees colder in my room. The price is reasonable for the high-quality build and material which are a triple weave. They have grommeted rings instead of a sown bar hole, and it’s easier to pull the curtains open and closed.
The one thing I don’t like about these noise-proofing curtains is that they have a dull sateen shine to them that I wasn’t expecting. It’s not overly shiny though, and as the wrinkles work themselves out, the shine will be considerably less noticeable as you only see it next to creases. If you do decide to iron these curtains make sure you set your iron at low heat Click here for current Amazon price for the Best Home Fashion Soundproof Curtains.
Five tips for getting the best sound reduction from your curtains:
Get side curtain hooks so even if you don’t want to pull them back, you can tuck the sides of the curtains into the wedge between the hook and the wall, so noise doesn’t come in from the sides.Levolor 5872379 Classic Drapery Holdback, Brushed Sienna, One Pair. I do recommend hanging them directly from the ceiling for maximum noise-proofing.
As I just mentioned, buy ceiling mount brackets (Amazon Link) instead of relying on regular standard wall brackets. By doing so, you can have the curtains hang closer to the ceiling, which will give you superior soundproofing coverage.
If you haven’t already invested in a steam cleaner, you should because they’re amazing. When you get these curtains though, they’ll have many, many wrinkles in them. You should probably avoid putting these in the wash, I steam clean them, which also takes out the wrinkles. I use the Dirt Devil Steam Cleaner I bought on Amazon, but I’m sure any with a long cord and hose will do just fine.
I would definitely Buy four panels for each window instead of only two! To be effective, more thickness you can put between the room and the window, the more effective the soundproofing will become.
Buy the longest curtains possible, and then cut them to avoid them dragging on the floor. You want the soundproofing curtains to cover as much of an area as possible from floor to ceiling.
Bigger Budget Acoustic Curtains From Residential Acoustic
Bigger Budget Acoustic Curtains From Residential Acoustic.
They are a bit more expensive, and they will not make your room completely silent, but you will notice a significant noise reduction. If you just want to buy one thing that is simple and won’t cost you a thousand dollars like installing a soundproof window. In my opinion, the soundproof curtains from Residential Acoustic is an excellent choice for people working with a bigger budget.
Conclusion
Putting up some soundproof curtains in your bedroom or home office may not give you as much soundproofing as a soundproof window would provide you. However, they are an easy way to provide you with some sound reduction for a low cost.
Thank you for checking out my article. What do you think? Do soundproof curtains work? Please leave us a comment below and let us know if you have success with noise proofing curtains.
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There is direct sound and reflected sound. Direct sound arrives at you faster than reflected sound because the reflected sound had to bounce off a flat surface to get to you; while direct; it would be something like a speaker pointing directly at you.
So now we will talk about the second acoustical tool to complement the sound absorbers. 
The best soundproof curtains to buy are ones that go from floor to ceiling, are heavy duty, with a tight weave. It is also important to note to measure the curtain correctly to ensure that it passes at least three inches past the sides of the window – this is essential to help avoid outside noise to bleed into your room from either side of the window.
As I just mentioned, buy 