Sometimes the only thing you crave in your house is a moment of perfect silence, which you expect to find in the comfort of your home. Home is supposed to be the sanctuary where you get the much-needed rest after an exhausting day at work, but for some homeowners, it’s just not possible.
There’s always some disturbing sound which pierces through your ears; whether it’s the traffic taking place on the street below your window or the curse of having the noisiest neighbors in the building, the final outcome is still the same. You are sleep deprived and your agitation gets worse by the minute.
Fortunately, there are some alterations which can be done in your home in order to soundproof it from the outdoor noise, thus making your everyday life more bearable. This soundproofing project won’t take up plenty of your time and budget, as you simply need to employ certain cost-effective tricks to make your home a less noisy place.
In case you don’t have the vaguest idea on how to commence your soundproofing journey, you can always do research online and learn more from Soundproof Pros. The following tips will turn your home into the oasis you’ve always wished it to be.
Check your doors
Doors play a significant role in blocking sounds, so your first task would be to inspect their condition and replace the ones which have a very low soundproofing effect. If your interior doors are of the hollow core type, you should definitely consider purchasing solid core ones.
The former is more affordable, as their core is filled with paper and air which transmit the sounds easily, unlike the latter which are costlier as they’re filled with wood, which serves as a better noise blocker.
Nevertheless, if purchasing brand new doors wasn’t part of your plan, there’s another less expensive, but effective solution, named sealing doors. All you have to do is purchase weather strips and use them on all door frames to seal them completely.
Weatherstrips are highly efficient as sound travels around the door, not directly through it. Moreover, you won’t be just soundproofing your home, but also making it more energy-efficient as these stripes prevent the loss of heat or cold air out of the room.
The final thing to check would be your garage door if you have one. It’s most commonly serves as the entrance for all the street noise, which afterward travels through the whole house. Therefore, investing in a solid garage door filled with foam would be a smart solution.
Replace your windows
Windows are the main culprit when it comes to transferring noise from the outside. If you haven’t replaced your windows since you remember, now might be a good time to do it, as it’ll have a huge soundproofing impact.
The most effective solution is to purchase PVC windows, which are known as the best noise reducers. Nowadays, they’ve evolved into UPVC windows, which don’t use plastic as a component. Read more about UPVC window types and their advantages.
Apart from purchasing windows, another option would be to repair the frames of the wooden ones you already have. The noise reduction effect won’t be the same, but you’ll manage to feel a certain difference.
In addition, you can install glass windowpanes over the windows you have or purchase soundproofing curtains. The former is practical, reducing half of the noise coming from the outside.
The latter ones are the latest trend, as they are similar to regular curtains, except for their thickness, which enables their soundproofing features.
Fix your floor and holes in the wall
Your wooden floor certainly looks amazing, but it can disturb your peace and quiet by producing squeaky sounds whenever someone steps on it. In this case, inspect all of the wooden boards carefully and if you notice that one of them is loose, call a flooring specialist to fix it as soon as possible.
Your walls are another thing worth inspecting, as locating even the smallest holes can help in increasing the soundproofing effects. Minor holes and cracks can be fixed by yourself, as it doesn’t require plenty of expertise.
However, if you are dealing with major damage, it’s wiser to hire an expert who would finish the job in a faster and more efficient manner.
Use a bookcase
Perhaps the most interesting and creative way of reducing sound transmission, especially between room walls, is using a massive bookcase.
In case the walls separating your apartment from one of your neighbor are extremely thin, then installing a bookcase would be the perfect solution.
Make sure it covers the whole wall, from the ceiling to the floor. Fill the bookcase with as many books as possible, since books are known for absorbing sound.
The more massive your bookcase is, the less sound would be transmitted through it.
Click on the following link: https://www.familyhandyman.com/woodworking/bookcase/how-to-build-a-classic-floor-to-ceiling-bookcase/, to learn how to build your own bookcase in a couple of simple steps.
Wrap up
Whoever invented the saying ‘Silence is golden’ was completely right, as there are moments when silence is what you need the most.
If your home doesn’t associate you to a quiet atmosphere than it’s high time to do something about it. The above-mentioned tips can certainly help you in soundproofing your house or apartment.
Select the soundproofing solutions based on your preferences and naturally your budget!
We ask that every contributor and expert answer the Identity “Get All A’s” questions in keeping with our theme. Their answers can be random and in the moment or they can be aligned with the current article they have written. In that way, and as a team, we hope to encourage and motivate each other, thus inspiring you to Get All A’s.
1. What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally? Additionally, what are you still working on accepting? Now, we’re talking about resignation, rather stepping into, embraced, and owned.
That not all will enjoy my writing.
2. What have you learned to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally? On the other hand OR in contrast, are there elements of who you are that you’re still working on appreciating?
I appreciate my ability to be creative.
3. What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? Tell us not only what makes YOU most proud but also share the goals and dreams that you still have.
Proud to have a career in writing
