When you are looking to purchase a house, take a close look at the doors in the home. Make sure that they are solid and functioning properly. In most cases, newer homes have hollow doors attached to the bedroom entry or the pantry closet. They are cheaper and easy to install for any homeowner or building contractor. Also, there are some pros and cons to this investment. One of those cons would be the doors inability to block sound from traveling from room to room. How to soundproof a hollow door? You can add mass to it, insulate it with curtains or blankets, or even replace it altogether.
Let’s take a look below at the various options you have regarding soundproofing a hollow door.
How Many Door Types Are There
Believe it or not, there are three main door types. Most homes will use a combination of those door types. The doors for your closet could be very different than your front door. Make sure you understand the difference. They are:
- Hollow core door – cheap and easy to install. They are air-filled cores rather than full mass-filled cores.
- Solid wood door – better than a hollow-core door as the interior is all solid wood. The doors sound deflection varies based on the wood chosen to make the door. Thicker types of wood be better at keeping the sound.
- Solid core door – heavier than solid wood doors and contain an internal core of various solid composite materials. These materials make it more likely to be soundproofed.
How Can I Soundproof It
Luckily there are a variety of ways that you can soundproof a hollow door. Some of those ways are specific to hollow core doors, while other ways are specific to doors in general. Let’s take a look at the soundproofing material options homeowners have to soundproof a hollow-core door.
- Add Mass – mass loaded vinyl, acoustic panelling, or acoustic foam panels are all options. They can be affixed to a door by using soundproofing adhesive and peel and stick the panels onto the door. This creates an added barrier in which the materials of these products can deflect sound as it travels.
- Soundproof the Door Frame – there are aluminum and silicone based frames that can create a vacuum seal around your door frame. The aluminum base attaches to the door frame and the silicone filling is put into the door and then this creates a tight seal.
- Door sweep or draft stopper – self adhesive or screw in versions are available. This item is installed at the bottom of the door and is meant to close the gap between the door and the floor.
- Soundproofing blanket – hang a sound blanket across the front of the door. This could prove difficult as the blankets are usually cumbersome and very difficult to create a complete seal. Also, get creative with hanging this type of soundproofing.
- Soundproofing curtains – not only do they block out noise, but they are light blockers as well. Some use these curtains for windows, while others use them for their room doors. They can be fit over your door and come in various color choices to match your needs.
- Acoustic foam – panels that can be attached with a self adhesive backing. Also, these panels are often used in the music industry for a recording studio. They create a sound barrier and significantly reduce sound travel.
- Door rug – a cheap way to reduce noise travel is by placing a rug against the door. This might not be the most perfect solution, but it will work for the momentary needs.
- Change your door – if the area of the room requires a better soundproof scenario, you might prefer to just replace the door. Various doors can be more expensive, however, you want to get the best results and not rely on gimmicks to complete your soundproofing needs.
How Much Do They Cost
The reason why builders or contractors will tend to use a hollow core door for their construction needs, is they are cheaper! On average, a hollow-core door costs $50 to $150 each. You could probably install a new door yourself, but if you need assistance, you will have to add an hourly wage to your calculations of cost. The hourly labor charge varies by your handyman and your local area.
Other Recommended Maintenance
While you are in the business of fixing the annoying parts inside of your house, make sure to inspect the annoying parts outside of your house. Check your squeaky outdoor faucet to make sure it is functioning properly and you aren’t losing water.
Next, check your sprinkler system. It might be time to complete some regular maintenance on your sprinklers. Make sure that the timers are set properly and that you are watering your landscaping as needed. Check for leaks and other issues with your sprinkler system as you are completing the maintenance schedule.
Lastly, if you are experiencing a noise issue in your home, it might not be just hollow core doors allowing the noise to penetrate the room. You could have a bigger issue such as squeaky floors. Now would be a great time to inspect your floors to make sure that you don’t have further structural damage.
When Do I Call A Professional
Calling a professional to assist you with soundproofing your hollow door is a smart move. In many cases, you might not have the tools needed to soundproof the door, or the time to complete this project. First, reach out to your local home inspection team. They can complete a full home inspection and let you know what types of doors are installed in all of your doorways.
If soundproofing is needed or a door needs replacing, they will recommend the most reputable door installation/repair company in your area. Before spending money on soundproofing, also consider reaching out to your local real estate agent. Your home value might not change much by soundproofing a door or doors in your home.
Conclusion
When it comes to soundproofing a hollow door you have many options. Before going out and doing what works for the temporary, make sure you do your research. When selling your home, the soundproofing that you completed might not be desirable to your future home buyer. Always reach out and get some advice regarding the doors of your home. Call on All Coast Home Inspections for a home inspection in Houston, TX.
