How to Soundproof a Door

If you plan to soundproof a room or two in your home, remember the doors are where the bulk of the sound leaks out. Below, we will discuss some benefits of soundproofing a door and offer some helpful tips when doing so.

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Why Soundproofing a Door Is Important

Doors often contribute the most to noise issues, making them an essential element in any acoustical treatment.

The largest gap in a wall — and weakest link for soundproofing — is a doorway. Often, the space around the door leaks noise. The space at the bottom of the door is often a much larger gap than the space around the sides, so it allows even more sound to leak through. Adding to the issue is that most interior doors have a hollow core. While this makes them more cost-effective, it causes more noise problems. Even the mechanism of the doorknob can allow sound to pass through.

Soundproofing your door helps address these issues. It also provides a helpful ancillary benefit — temperature insulation. Many of the tools and materials used for soundproofing also provide insulation from extreme temperatures. So, your newly acoustically treated room will likely also cost much less to heat and cool.

Soundproofing your door can also help improve the air quality, humidity and comfort in your room. Insulating the door helps keep out pollutants and moisture, making the room comfortable to work or relax in.

A soundproof door is essential in several situations:

• You work from home: A soundproof door can be a lifesaver if you work remotely and need to concentrate. If your work involves sound recordings or creating videos, an acoustically treated door is essential in maintaining a quiet environment.
• You have noisy neighbors: Nothing puts a damper on an otherwise ideal living environment like noisy neighbors. If you can hear your neighbors yelling, playing instruments, or blasting their music at all hours, a soundproof door can give you some much-needed quiet.

Ways to Soundproof a Door

Complete door soundproofing requires extensive alterations to the existing doorframe and labor-intensive construction. The weight of the door and its assembly can range from 300 to 500 pounds. Investing in a solid-core door or an acoustically rated door is also prohibitively expensive for many budgets.

Fortunately, you can treat a door without having a cow over expensive renovations. Below are some cost-effective alternative soundproofing methods that will save you time, money and energy.

Fundamental Door Soundproofing Methods

Noise-reduction products rely on these two key principles:

• Closing gaps: Noise travels in air. If you close the gaps in your doors where air passes through, you will reduce the amount of noise passing through the same gaps. Installing any type of soundproofing product without sealing these gaps can negate your soundproofing measures. There should be no gaps between the door and the frame, as well as the floor. The door unit itself should also not have any gaps.
• Increasing mass: Sound can travel through solid objects, and heavier and denser materials have more soundproofing qualities than light materials. Hollow doors are too slim to block noise from coming in, so you should replace the hollow core with a solid-core door. A cheaper fix is to hang a thick carpet or blanket on the door.

These two main principles are applied in all the soundproofing measures outlined below.

How to Soundproof Your Interior Door

To soundproof a door, you should first examine where and how the sound is entering the room. Then, choose the best method of blocking noise — this will be determined by your budget, home improvement experience and the source of your issue. To solve your problem, try some of these methods for soundproofing your door.

1. Add Perimeter Seals around the Door

This soundproofing method will be your go-to if extra space around your door is an issue.  Perimeter Seals consist of a dense neoprene, you can use it to soundproof the airgaps around the perimeter of your door. Follow these steps:

• Pry off any deteriorating molding around your door.
• Add the Perimeter seal around the door’s frame so the door closes into the Neoprene gasket.
• Add acoustical caulk or insulating sealant to fill in small gaps and cracks — this adds more protection. If you are wondering where the cracks are, turn off the room’s lights and see where light comes in from outside.

2. Add Weatherstripping to Your Door

If you are installing a Perimeter Seal, you will also want to fill in the gaps between double doors. One of the easiest ways to do this is with weatherstripping, which is commonly used to insulate doors and windows from the elements.

Basic weatherstripping tends to degrade over time, but you can buy higher-quality varieties for long-term soundproofing. When using weatherstripping around your door, remember to apply enough pressure. The pressure allows an airtight door seal to form and impede sound waves.

3. Add a Door Sweep to the Base of the Door

This step is crucial for closing the sizable gap at the bottom of many doors. You can add all the gaskets and paneling you want to your door, but if there is a gap at the bottom, enormous amounts of sound will still leak through.

To prevent this from happening, install a door sweep on the bottom of the door to close the door gap and impede sound waves. Door sweeps take some work to install — you will need a drill and screws — but the improvement in soundproofing is often worth it.

4. Add an Automatic Door Sweep

An automatic door sweep has a concealed flat-spring mechanism to control the sweep’s movement. The sweep stays above floor level while the door is open but drops down when the door is closed to form a tight, soundproof seal with the floor.

5. Use Acoustic Panels on the Door

If adding many soundproofing elements to your door seems like too much work, try adding an acoustic door panel.

They come in a range of materials, from the most popular — foam — to solid wood. They reduce the amplitude of the sound waves that pass through them, effectively soundproofing your door. You can nail them to the door or, to avoid damaging the door, use adhesive strips.

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How to Soundproof an Exterior Door

Sound can enter your space in several ways, but exterior doors are one of the most common sources of unwanted noise. Choosing a door made from a solid, dense material increases its overall mass and keeps the inside quiet. Sound will have a much harder time traveling through a solid material than a hollow door.

Similarly, even if your exterior door is made of a solid material, gaps or cracks around it can impact how much sound can enter and exit through it and infiltrate your space. Ensuring your door fits snugly and sealing extra space is essential for keeping as much noise out as possible.

Luckily, it is easy to ensure your door is securely and properly sealed, and if you see extra space, you can address it using a few products. Check out three practical and fast ways to soundproof your exterior door:

• Install soundproof weatherstripping: To help minimize the areas where sounds can enter your residential or commercial space, you can install some soundproof weatherstripping or door perimeter seals. Pay special attention to any gaps around the doorframe and its edges. Ensure the weatherstripping is cut to your door’s dimensions and applied using enough pressure to keep it in place and create a soundproof seal.
• Use soundproof foam: Similar to weatherstripping, soundproof foam offers a simple, effective way to seal gaps and cracks around your exterior door. The foam works by expanding inside those spaces, preventing noise from escaping and making its way inside your home.
• Install acoustic curtains: Another quick and simple way to reduce unwanted sound is to install acoustic curtains. By providing a barrier between the outdoors and indoors, you can absorb some of the sounds and block them from making their way inside.

How to Soundproof a Front Door

The easiest fix for a front door that lets a lot of noise in is to replace it with a solid-core front door with high noise cancellation characteristics. However, this is a pricey option. You can try several budget-friendly options to soundproof the door.

• Try weatherstripping: Weatherstripping is one of the best ways to protect your home from external noise. Use rubber or self-adhesive strips to seal the edges of your front door from noise, atmospheric influences and odors.
• Install a door gasket: To improve exterior door soundproofing, glue the door gasket around the perimeter of the doorway. Self-adhesive tapes, rubber and other adjustable gaskets can also be used as door gaskets.
• Use a door sweep: Door sweeps can seal and insulate the door from noise. They close the gaps between the floor and the bottom of the door.
• Seal the gaps: Apply sealing to eliminate gaps between the door leaf, frame and wall.
• Hang soundproof curtains: This is one of the most cost-effective methods for temporarily soundproofing your front door. You can buy these curtains in most hardware stores.

How to Soundproof a Bedroom Door

You can use the same soundproofing measures for a bedroom as any other door in your house. However, if you are keen on the aesthetics of your bedroom, you must be choosy about the methods and materials you use.

Although it might be a more expensive option, you may want to replace the door with a heavier one. You should choose a new door that complements the decor, color or theme of your bedroom while still reaping the soundproofing benefits. One option is to use a solid wood door because it is thicker and allows less sound to pass through than a typical hollow core door.

You can also use rubber weatherstripping similar to how you would use it to soundproof doors in other areas of your house. Other options for soundproofing a bedroom door include installing acoustic door sweeps, filling the cracks and gaps with acoustic expanding foams, weatherstripping and using panels.

How to Soundproof a Metal Door

Metal doors present a logistical challenge because drilling through them is harder. To soundproof a metal door, try these tips.

1. Add Door Thresholds

Door thresholds consist of neoprene with rubber protrusions that help fill gaps at the closed door’s bottom. Unlike door sweeps, thresholds attach to the floor of the doorway rather than the bottom of the door.

If you have a carpeted floor, a threshold at the bottom of the doorway is crucial, as even the best door sweep will not perfectly seal the door with carpet. Some thresholds are flat, whereas others extend upward to form a double seal with a door sweep for a closed door.

2. Use a Soundproof Blanket

Though they can be costly, soundproof blankets, which are typically fiberglass, absorb sound very well and are easy to install. Put some suction hooks on the back of your door and hang the soundproof blanket on them. If you are not necessarily looking for a permanent solution, soundproof blankets also work well because you can hang them when you need them and take them down when you do not.

3. Use Acoustic or Mass-Loaded Vinyl Panels

Vinyl is easy to use and install. You can buy a sheet of vinyl and cut it to the size of your door. To attach it, use construction adhesive and finishing nails. Mass-loaded vinyl panels do not enhance the aesthetic appeal of your door, but they are helpful in situations where utility is key.

Products From Soundproof Cow to Soundproof Your Door

Soundproof Cow offers a variety of soundproofing products for your door.

Seals and Sweeps

Consider the following seals and sweeps for quality door soundproofing:

• Quiet Door™ Perimeter Seal: The Quiet Door™ Perimeter Seal fits tightly around a door to keep unwanted sounds from passing in or out. They are manufactured from durable aluminum and silicone allowing for effective noise reduction. It is versatile enough for use with all kinds of doors — new or old, metal or wooden — and it is easy to install with just a few basic tools.
• Quiet Door™ Adjustable Perimeter Seal: The Quiet Door™ Adjustable Perimeter Seal offers all the benefits of the Quiet Door^TM Perimeter Seal, plus added adjustability. It features several screws that allow you to push the seal out farther from the frame, so you can get the perfect fit. If the seal wears down, you can push it out again to make the fit as good as new.
• Quiet Door™ Door Sweep: The Quiet Door™ Door Sweep forms a tight, secure seal at the bottom of the door to ensure there is no gap where sound can leak through. These door sweeps can fit old, new, wooden or metal doors. They are easy to install and durable enough to withstand years of use.
• Quiet Door™ Automatic Door Sweep: The Quiet Door™ Automatic Door Sweep offers the benefits of the Quiet Door^TM Door Sweep with the convenience of an automatic feature. The door sweep automatically rises when you open the door and lowers when you close it, eliminating drag on the floor and providing an even more snug, secure seal.

Soundproof Door Kits

For maximum convenience, Soundproof Cow offers a couple of all-in-one door kits as well:

• Quiet Door™ Commercial Soundproofing Kit: Why not get a variety of soundproofing tools in one convenient kit? The Quiet Door™ Commercial Soundproofing Kit is perfect for commercial applications where you need to keep sound in. Maybe you have a welding shop, for instance, and want to prevent too much noise from escaping to the outside world. This kit comes with a sheet of Quiet Barrier^TM LD Soundproofing Composite, a Quiet Door^TM Adjustable Perimeter Seal, a Quiet Door^TM Automatic Door Sweep, and a tube of acoustical sound sealant, so you can do just that.
• Quiet Door™ Residential Door Soundproofing Kit: Like the commercial soundproofing kit, the Quiet Door™ Residential Soundproofing Kit provides a variety of soundproofing tools in one convenient package. This kit includes a Quiet Door™ Adjustable Perimeter Seal, a Quiet Door™ Automatic Door Sweep, and a tube of acoustical sound sealant, so you have all the tools you need for soundproofing any door in your home.

Caulking

Soundproof Cow offers a type of caulking that we think stands out from the rest — the OSI® Pro-Series SC-175 Acoustical Sound Sealant, available in one tube or a case of 12. This acoustical water-based sealant is specifically designed to inhibit the transmission of sound waves. It will not crack, separate or harden over time, and it bonds securely to many materials, from metal to wood to drywall.

Contact Soundproof Cow for All Your Soundproofing Needs

Acoustics can be complicated, but finding the right products to soundproof your home or business should not be. At Soundproof Cow, we want to ensure you find what you need to get the job done, whether big or small. We can help you acoustically treat a door or an entire building. Our customers always come first, and you can consistently depend on our products.

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