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Soundproofing Doors at Home Depot

The walls of my listening room are pretty solid, but a fair bit of noize seems to leak out underneath the door, which then echoes into the hallway which is acoustically bright and reflective.

Consulting websites which are devoted to soundproofing, I have found some impressive but very expensive solutions: seals which move up and down, lead lined recording studio doors, door sized covers etc etc.

For my purposes, I would greatly appreciate any advice on how I might install a simple, inexpensive solution for this old wooden door which has a gap of at least an inch.

Would home depot have a seal that you would recommend? A heavy rubber flap for the door jam?

Has anyone had success doing this yourself?

cheers

cwlondon
cwlondon
crna39's avatar
crna39
145 posts
 
I am actually building a Rives designed studio right now. Though I do everything in overkill mode, I can share some light on your situation.
Yes, use solid core exterior doors. Also perimeter gaskets/seals by Pemko and Zero International should be the minimum. You can add mass by applying drywall to each side of the door with a layer of Green Glue. Communicating doors will add the air space that is needed. I am doing that to an exterior door. Doors by Overly and other's are a bit pricey. You can do just as good, or even higher STC ratings by the methods described above.

Regards,
Bruce
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Lowest tech solution which doesn't require rediculous dollars to solve a simple problem - a long pillow/beanbag to lay at the foot of the door to block the air/sound flow. It could be filled with beans, etc. something not too heavy but dense enough to block sound. Any seamstress worth her salt could easily sew it for cheap using the exact dimensions necessary for your door. You can have the fun of entering "no man's land" the fabric store to pursue the proper fabric...

You could compliment this system with a rubber seal on the floor, if you wish - something economical from home building center ie. Home Despot.

There, I just saved you hundreds.
rcprince
3,070 posts
 
Douglas_schroeder's suggestion was going to be mine. There are also various sand-filled fabric tubes/socks that people use to keep the cold from coming under their doors that you can probably find in a Miles Kimball catalog or the like and would be quite effective, if you don't want to support your local seamstress.
cwlondon OP
1,210 posts
 
Thank you everyone - wow this topic seems to be of greater interest than I expected.

Advice along the lines of the sand filled sock and the gasket is what I have been hoping to find.

I cannot change the door to this room - it is already a heavy, exterior type door with panels and moldings. Nor can I change the decoration or surfaces in the hallway.

The main issue is the gap underneath the door, and I was hoping to avoid the mechanical gap sealing device that I have seen for studio doors.

So please keep the suggestions coming and I will hope for a greater than "middling" solution for less than a middling price.

cheers
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Well yeah, if that's all you can do, the first thought into my head before I posted originally was simply to stuff a bath towel up under the door and maybe install a gasket -- but after perhaps experimenting with a towel, I like Russ' sandtube suggestion as being a bit more elegant. However, for more efficacious results I still think you also need to consider treating the listening room side of the door with some kind of sound-blocking/absorbing material, which your list of prohibitions doesn't seem to rule out.
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