Doors

We get many calls about soundproofing doors.   The first thing we tell our callers is that there really is no cure to blocking sound from bleeding through a door.   The energy transfer takes place around the door’s perimeter as much as it does straighit through the door.   Applying any kind of panel or barrier to the backside of the door ignores the leakage from the air gaps around the door’s perimeter.   In addiiton, the wall itself that hosts the door is also bleeding noise.   Soundwaves vibrate structurally through the common studs in the wall, as well as the floor and the ceiling.   The task of blocking noise through a door is a tall one.   There are no easy fixes, but there are some steps that can be taken.

First, be sure that your door is solid and not hollow.   Solid doors carry more density, which helps impede sound more than the dead air space will inside a hollow door.    Metal or wood, if your door is not heavy enough, get to a door supplier and look for a replacement door.

Yes, there are Soundproof Doors on the market, including the doors featured here on NetWell’s website.   But these are commercial grade doors, much like what you might see in a concert theater hall.   Yes, they work great, but they are very expensive, averaging $3000-4000 for a single door, and the installation of the door sealing it tight to the jamb is ensured at the factory, not at your location, which helps trigger greater STC values for blocking sound.

As for the perimeter around the door, look for gasketing at your local bulding supply center and weather strip the perimeter along the sides and top of the door.   At the base, install a shoe sweep to help seal up the air gap and be sure to raise the toe plate on the floor if there is one.

Beyond these common step approaches, depending on your door setup, you could also look at a double door installation, much like between adjoining rooms in a hotel.   For commercial/industrial spaces, you could also consider building a sound trap.   Erect a partial L-shaped wall infront of the door, and force the traffic to go left or right, while the partial wall can deaden the sound waves from entering into the room.

While there is no cure for controlling noise bleeding through a door, these steps can certainly help put more control over your environment.   For more information on soundproofing your door, call our help desk at 1-800-638-9355.