You can soundproof your door to prevent outside noises from entering your home.
It may seem difficult to learn how to soundproof doors. This is not the case. You should feel confident about your ability to soundproof your doors after reading this guide.
What You’ll Need
You can do whatever you like soundproofing a door. You can simply add rigid foam insulation to the back of your door or mass-loaded vinyl. You can also add weatherstripping and door sweeps to make your home soundproof.
If you are only trying to soundproof the door, the most important materials will be listed at the top.
- Long nails
- Mass-loaded vinyl sheet, MDF, rigid foam insulation
- Hole saw
- Green glue
- Acoustical caulk (standard wooden caulk also works in a pinch).
- Door gasket
- Door sweep
Step 1: Remove The Hardware & Door
To get the project started, you will first need to take down your door.
You will need a long nail and a hammer to push the hinge pins out of their hinges. You should be able pull the hinge pins out with your hands once they are out of the hinge. You can then pull the door up and take it out of the frame.
Next, remove the lockset by using a screwdriver.
Step II: Soundproofing Your Door
You have the option of using rigid foam insulation, MDF, or a mass-loaded vinyl sheet depending on your imagination. You can purchase the latter at music and home theatre stores. It will provide the best soundproofing.
No matter what material you use, green glue is the best way to attach it to your door. Because it dampens sound better than glueing or tacking the material to the doors, green glue is a viscoelastic glue.
If you want a temporary solution, double-stick tape or tacks can be used to attach the material.
Apply a good amount of green glue to the entire door surface using a caulking gun. Attach the foam, MDF, or mass-loaded vinyl to your door, and let it dry.
Step 3: Soundproofing
You will need to trim the material around your door edges and create a hole in it to fit the lockset.
You can trim the perimeter of your door if you used rigid insulation or mass loaded vinyl. You can use a saw to trim excess MDF material if you chose.
If you want the door to close correctly, make sure the material is cut flush with the frame. To cut the circle of the material for the lockset, use a hole saw.
Step IV: Rehang The Door
Bring the door back to its original frame and then attach the hinges. You can use your hammer for resetting the hinge pins.
You should ensure that the door opens and closes easily. You will need to find the area where the door is caught and trim it back to allow it to close.
Optional Step V: Apply More Soundproofing
You can then either call it quits or add more soundproofing. It is possible to stop the job and check if you have done enough soundproofing. There are some simple ways to soundproof your door.
Start with the top and bottom edges of your door if you want to soundproof it further. Your hammer will be used to attach a door gasket to the top of the door. Next, attach a door sweep to the bottom. If necessary, trim the door sweep and gasket with your utility knife.
Close the door and make sure to check for leaks. You can also fill them with regular wood caulk or acoustic caulk to soundproof the door. Your door should now be soundproofed. This will eliminate the possibility of sound entering your room.
The Final Word
Anyone who works in a noisy environment needs to know how to soundproof their doors. This can be useful if the loud noise is coming from you and you want to prevent it from getting into your home.
Follow these tips to soundproof your home with just a few tools, patience, and ingenuity.
