Can you actually soundproof a doorway? One of my readers asked me this question. In this post, I will share with you a couple of things you can do to eliminate noise in your doorways.
As you know, the doorway is one of the spots in the house that lets the noise pass through. I can tell you that if your room is not properly sealed, you’ll be annoyed by the noise.
Fortunately, there are quick and simple ways you can implement to soundproof a doorway. As promised, I will share with you a few tips on how you can do it.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the list.
Table of Contents
1. Use Weatherstripping or Door Gaskets
The door is one of the weak areas in the house in terms of blocking the sound. But it does not mean that you cannot fix it. Weatherstripping (click here to check my recommended weatherstripping on Amazon) is a great material that provides a defense system against noise.
What you can do is apply this material firmly to the door frame. What it does is that it creates compression which will in turn tightly seal the gap between the door and the door frame.
The best thing about weatherstripping is that it is cheap and super easy to use. You don’t have to have a special skill to apply this material. If you want a more effective strategy, you can use door gaskets.
Door gaskets do a better job of sealing the gaps between the door and the door frame. However, depending on your capability, you might want to find someone to do the project. This is because installing a door gasket may require a little skill to make everything correct.
2. Use a Door Sweep
Although weatherstripping does a very good job of sealing the small gaps between the door and the frame, it will not be able to seal the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor. But don’t worry, there is another strategy that works well for this issue.
What you can do in this case is to install a door sweep (click here to check my recommended door sweep on Amazon). The door sweep does a very good job of sealing the bigger gap at the bottom of the door.
The good thing about this material is that it comes with varieties. The cheaper ones may not give you the output that you want. For a better result, I suggest that you go for a high-tech door sweep (click here to check my recommended high-tech door sweep on Amazon). This one comes with mechanisms that will automatically seal the bottom of the door once it is closed.
The only drawback that I see with this material is its price. Compared to regular weatherstripping, high-tec door sweeps are a little bit pricy. But undoubtedly, they offer the best result you could imagine.
3. Add Soundproof Blanket
The other thing you can do is add a soundproof blanket (click here to view my recommended soundproof blanket on Amazon). This material will definitely make a difference.
However, if you are considering the aesthetic feature of your room, then a soundproof blanket might not be your best option. This material is not design for decoration purposes but for sound absorption.
The best thing you can do if you think that this material is the only remedy, you can install the blanket in such a way it could easily be taken down. You can do this by using heavy-duty hooks with anchors (check my recommendation on Amazon). This way you can easily hang the blanket when you need it and take it away when you don’t need it. A set up like this offers you flexibility.
4. Install Soundproofing Foam Panels
Another great way to solve the noise problem is soundproofing foam panel (click here to check my favorite one on Amazon). This material does a really good job of fixing the noise problem for you.
The best way to hang foam panels is by using command strips (check my recommendation on Amazon). Command strips prevent any damages on the door. The best part of it is that it is super easy to use and super safe.
You might not want the look of the common soundproofing foam panels. If that is the case, you can install the single large acoustic panel instead.
The good thing about these materials is that they have cool textured fabric features that could somehow add aesthetic value to the back of the door. But of course, the main function of these materials is sound absorption.
5. Apply Sound Dampening Materials on the Other Side of the Door
The doorway often accommodates the outside noise which then is spread throughout all parts of the house. Anyone can tell you that there is not one ultimate solution to this problem.
But this does not mean that there is nothing you can do to fix it. One of the best strategies you can apply is using sound dampening materials. And one of the most affordable and accessible materials is a rug.
Adding a rug will not totally eliminate the noise but it will certainly contribute to the process. The reason why the outside noise penetrates and spreads inside the house is because of the hard floor.
There are high-quality rugs (check my recommended rugs on Amazon) you can use for this purpose. The best thing about these rugs is that they are affordable and good looking.
Aside from rugs, you can also add furniture and bookshelves in the doorway. These things do a very good job of absorbing sound. If you already have these materials in your house, the only thing you need to do is to place them in the right spot.
What I learned is that putting the soundproofing materials in the right place can determine between success and failure of the soundproofing process. Sometimes, moving the things you have in your house will do a great impact.
6. Install a New Door
If all the strategies did not work the way you want, then maybe the last resort is to install a new door. This is not an easy option. But if your current door is hollow, it is one of the causes why you heard the annoying noise.
Changing that hollow door with a solid one will definitely make a big difference. If you want to go with this route, I suggest that you pick a door that has more mass. In most cases, a door like this will do a better job of reducing the sound that has been going through the door.
If you don’t want to spend money on the new door, you can just add mass to your existing door instead. You can attach a piece of wood to it. Just make sure that you attached the wood with the same size as the door.
This whole process will be a little bit arduous though. But it worth it. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, you can just hire someone to do the job. It will still be a lot cheaper than buying and installing a new door.
Final thoughts on How to Soundproof a Doorway
Soundproofing a doorway may not be easy as you might think it is. However, this does not mean that there is nothing you can do to minimize the noise inside your home.
There are simple and effective ways you can implement to solve this problem. Just don’t afraid to try strategies. The steps mentioned in this post can effectively lessen the noise.
You don’t have to apply all the six tips I shared here. Just combine one or two strategies and you’ll be okay. I hope this helps. Thank you for reading.
