Home is a place where you relax and unwind, so the noise from outside the door can sometimes be very disturbing. Eliminate these distractions by making the doors in your home soundproof. You can even use simple solutions, such as placing a rug in front of the door. If you want to make the exterior door of your house soundproof, try changing the weatherproof coating. Keep trying different ways until you find the one that works best for you.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Changing the Surface of the Door
Step 1. Install acoustic curtains on the door
Install curtains and short hanging rods at the back of the door. Buy heavy fabric curtains and hang them on the rod. You can buy curtains made of sound-absorbing fabric. When you are indoors, simply slide the curtains to reduce outside noise.
- This is a good option for people who are renting out and can't change door surfaces or hardware at home with ease.
- Open and close the door several times after installing the curtains to ensure that they do not interfere with the door's functionality. Open the door quickly to see how the curtains will affect the door in an emergency and you need to get out of the house immediately.
Step 2. Coat the door with soundproofing paint
Visit the nearest material store and look for various variants of soundproofing paint products. Choose paint that is close to the original color of your door. Follow the instructions on the packaging to use it. The paint is usually similar to paint in general, only a little thicker.
- A coat of sound-absorbing paint can reduce external noise by almost 30 percent. The paint will also muffle the sound from inside the room so it doesn't sound outside.
- Remove the door from its hinges and apply paint outdoors to create multiple layers at once.
Step 3. Install the foam tiles
Purchase stacked acoustic tiles at a materials store or musical instrument supply store. Depending on the type of tile, you will need to attach it to the door using screws, staples, or glue. Make sure the tiles are securely in place so they don't fall off when the door is opened. Acoustic tiles are available in different levels of soundproofing. So, choose a product with the highest level of attenuation to get better protection from noise.
- As another option, you can purchase and install rubber tiles on the back of the door. This product may be easier to find, but it does not provide an effective sound suppression effect.
- If you live in a rental property, apply adhesive velcro backing on the back of the foam tiles and on the walls.
Step 4. Hang the solid vinyl (MLV) barrier
This thing is a roll of thick vinyl that is sold at music stores or acoustic stores. Measure your door and use a utility knife to cut the vinyl to that size. Attach the vinyl to the door with construction adhesive, which can be purchased at a hardware store. Wait for the adhesive to dry to allow the door to muffle the sound.
- MLV is a great sound suppressor, but it costs more. You are likely to spend a minimum of IDR 200,000 per square meter to buy low-quality MLV. This cost will add up if you wear a thicker barrier.
- MLVs can be purchased from 1.5mm to 5.3mm thick. Thicker products are certainly more expensive and heavier when hung on the door. However, this product can provide the best protection.
Method 2 of 3: Repairing Partial Cracks in Doors
Step 1. Check for gaps in the door with a flashlight
Turn off all the lights in the two rooms separated by the door. Ask a friend to stand on the other side of the door while closing the door. Instruct your friend to turn on the flashlight on the edge of the door and on its surface. Make a note of where the light penetrates the most, as that is where sound enters.
Don't expect you to be able to block all the light coming in from the gap in the door. However, target only a few points and observe how they affect the sound-canceling effect
Step 2. Cover the gap with putty
Get a putty gun and fill it with a tube of fresh wood putty. Feel the entire door frame for cracks or small holes. If so, place the end of the tube of putty in front of the spot and lightly spray the putty. Wipe off the excess with a putty knife. The product will help absorb the sound and prevent it from passing through the door.
Apply clear silicone all around the glass on the door. This will help reduce noise and prevent cold air from entering
Step 3. Install the door mat
Check that the base between the door and the floor is sturdy enough to cover the entire space. You must wear door mats that are not cracked. The object should only touch smoothly when the door opens and closes. To replace the door base, first remove the old base. After that, install the new rubber door base by securing it using the screws at the bottom of the door frame.
Automatic door mats are another option you can try. This tool will go down when the door is closed and up when the door is opened. The mechanism uses a spring so most people need professional help during the installation process
Step 4. Place a rug at the entrance
If the door is installed on a tile or wood floor, sound is more likely to bounce through the space and into the room. Limit this by placing a rug at the entrance. The cloth will help to moisten and absorb the sound coming from under the door.
Step 5. Replace the glass with triple panes
Glass is known to easily channel sound from one room to another. If your door has large glass, it's most likely not designed to muffle sound. To minimize noise, contact a glazier and have him or her replace it with thick triple pane glass.
Keep in mind that triple pane glass does not provide good visibility to the outdoors. Ask the person who installed the glass to find out the final result before you agree to replace the glass on the door
Step 6. Use a door with a more solid material
Most of the doors in the room are made of thin wood or particleboard. These doors are usually hollow, either partially or completely. In other words, the door can transmit sound easily. If you are interested in dampening the sound on the door, you should buy a door made of thick or solid doors.
Method 3 of 3: Installing a Weather Protection Coating on the Door
Step 1. Remove the old layer
You'll usually find a weatherproof coating on exterior doors between the frame and the frame. This layer can cover the entire door frame or only part of it. Use a putty knife to peel away the old vinyl adhesive that acts as a weather shield. For metal enclosures, you will usually need to unscrew a few screws before removing the coating from the door.
Before removing the old protective film, make sure you plan to replace it. Without a protective coating, exterior doors not only struggle to muffle sound, they are also unable to prevent dust from entering the house
Step 2. Choose a new metal or vinyl protective coating
In general, metal finishes are much more expensive, but can last up to 30 years on a door. This thing is also more difficult to install. Meanwhile, vinyl covers are usually cheaper and have adhesive backing for easy installation.
- Weather guards are usually sold in a variety of colors so you can look for a color that matches the door frame.
- You can also use a compression layer to effectively dampen the sound on the door.
Step 3. Install the new weather shield
Read the instructions on the sales package for the weatherproof coating carefully. Measure the door frame first. Cut the protective layer into pieces of the appropriate length. Lay the strips over the wood and attach them by applying adhesive backing or using small screws or nails. Make sure the coating is positioned flat on the wood when installed.
- You can cut the protective layer of vinyl with a utility knife. You will need a lead cutting tool to cut the metallic protective film.
- Metal guards are usually equipped with holes for attaching screws or nails to the wooden frame on the door.
Step 4. Test the protective film to make sure it fits
After installing the weatherproof coating, close the door to make sure it doesn't get stuck. The door should be able to close easily and tightly. If there is a problem, open the door again. Check the protective film for peeling or scratching. Pay attention to the damaged area to make sure it fits properly into the frame.
Tips
- After completing several sound suppression methods, test the results with a decibel meter or a decibel meter app on your phone. This tool will show the intensity of the sound passing through the door. Ideally, this tool only shows readings in the range of 10 to 20 decibels.
- Be patient when doing sound suppression. You may have to try several methods before finding the solution that works best for your door.
- If you are trying to muffle the sound on a metal door, spray a rubber-based automotive protective coating on both sides. After that, you can paint it with an oil-based paint.
