The city’s noise can be loud, from screeching garbage trucks, loud automobile stereos, or the general bustle of foot traffic outside your window. You’re not alone if you find that all the commotion frustrates life at home. Disturbing and unpleasant noise is an everyday reality for many apartment residents and one that frequently seems impossible to avoid. Consider soundproofing your doors, covering walls with acoustic panels and blankets, and blocking windows with practical window coverings to reduce noise. Continue reading for other suggestions on soundproofing a room or area so you can conduct your day or night uninterrupted.
Fortunately, soundproofing is an option regardless of where you reside or the type of space you have. While this can evoke thoughts of home renovations and emptying bank accounts, there are many other ways to reduce noise without blowing your money or having to redo your house completely. Soundproofing doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult, and even the most basic DIY techniques can have a significant impact. Simply knowing the materials to use to absorb or block sound from both inside and outside the space will do.
Think About Acoustic Panels
Boards or fabrics that hang on walls serve as acoustic panels. While most types are made to prevent noise from reflecting off hard surfaces, others are excellent at preventing noise from entering through a door or window. For instance, the Residential Acoustics AcousticDoor is a retractable panel that can cut the amount of noise that enters a room through a door by 30 decibels. Each panel has a substantial 25-pound core constructed of materials that absorb sound.
Make Your Front Door Weatherproof.
Your front door likely has significant air gaps if you can hear every discussion taking place in the building hallway from the comfort of your sofa. Stopping the sound from entering by plugging these leaks will stop the chatter. Since sound travels through the air, it will pass through any opening through which you can see the light.
Add a door sweep if your apartment door has a sizable gap underneath it. Use a commercial-grade sweep that is sealed against the threshold by a thick rubber strip. Along with the noise, this will also aid in blocking out dust, insects, and drafts. Seal around the sides and top of the door if the rest of it doesn’t close tightly against the door jambs, seal along the sides and top of the door with foam weatherstripping.
Cut Down On Reflected Noise
Hard surfaces like walls, floors, and ceilings reflect sound, raising the volume of noise inside a space. Cover bare walls and even ceilings with soft materials to lessen sound reflection so noises like conversations, dogs, or even the racket produced by a running vacuum cleaner won’t be reflected. The walls and ceiling are covered in rubber cloth mats, which absorb noise from the neighboring apartments and soften unpleasant noise inside the apartment.
Install Sound-Absorbing Drapes
Heavy-duty window coverings that block out sounds from the outside help you get a good night’s sleep. To block out sound and really reflect it back outside, an acoustic curtain for an average-sized window can weigh 15 pounds and sit flat against the wall or window trim. To make opening and closing the curtains simple, certain noise-canceling drapes glide along tracks.
Soundproof Your Windows
If you’re looking to block outside noise, consider window inserts. They’re clear of glass or acrylic. They’re designed to create an airtight seal that reduces outside noise by 50 percent. Some are designed to pop out when they aren’t needed.
Call The Experts At Moldings Plus
Suppose you have tried every single DIY method to get rid of noise and have been unsuccessful; the best thing you can do is give us a call at (909) 947-3310 and speak to one of our window experts. In that case, it may be time to invest in soundproof windows and achieve a quiet and peaceful environment throughout your home.
