Our homes are sanctuaries, but unwanted sounds (think noisy neighbours, tv noise and airborne noise from traffic) can disrupt that sense of tranquillity. Thankfully, a simple upgrade like installing solid core interior doors can make a significant difference.
In this blog, discover the benefits of a calm and peaceful home. Learn how to soundproof a room and install acoustic insulation. Plus, explore the acoustic and thermal benefits solid core doors offer.
How to Soundproof a Room
Soundproofing a room effectively involves a two-pronged approach: addressing airborne sound and vibration transfer. This is important because a quiet home environment offers a multitude of benefits for your physical and mental wellbeing.
Address Airborne Sound
Add Mass
Sound waves travel more easily through light materials. Adding mass to walls with materials like soundproof drywall, mass-loaded vinyl (MLV), or acoustic blankets can significantly dampen sound transmission.
Absorption is Key
Soundproofing materials like acoustic panels, drapes, and rugs absorb sound waves and convert them into heat energy, reducing echoes and overall noise levels. Strategically placing these around the room can make a big difference.
Seal the Leaks
Airborne sound can sneak through gaps around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. Use acoustic seal kits or acoustic caulk to seal these gaps and prevent sound leakage.
Deal With Sound Vibrations
Wall Decoupling
Sound travels efficiently through vibrations. Decoupling involves creating a separate structure for your new soundproofed wall, isolating it from the existing wall studs. This minimises vibration transfer and enhances soundproofing.
Window Treatments
Regular windows are weak points for soundproofing. Adding soundproof curtains or secondary window glazing significantly reduces noise entering the room.
Additional Noise Reduction Tips
Focus on Weaker Points
Identify areas where airborne and impact noise leaks the most, such as thin party walls or poorly sealed windows, and prioritise soundproofing efforts in those areas.
Combine Approaches
For optimal results, use a combination of the methods mentioned above. This layered approach effectively tackles both airborne sound and vibration transfer.
Professional Help
For extensive soundproofing needs or complex room layouts, consider consulting a professional. They can assess your specific situation and recommend the most effective soundproofing measures.
Don’t forget about your outdoor space. Learn how to add privacy to a garden area and find out which window treatments are best for patio doors.
Why is a Quiet Home Environment Important?
Improved Sleep Quality
Constant noise disrupts sleep patterns, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. A quiet environment allows for deeper, more restorative sleep, leaving you feeling more energised and focused throughout the day.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Noise pollution is a major stressor. Constant background noise can elevate cortisol levels, the stress hormone, leading to feelings of anxiety and tension. A soundproofed home provides a sanctuary from the daily hustle, allowing your body and mind to relax and de-stress.
Enhanced Concentration and Focus
Whether you’re working remotely, studying for a test, or trying to relax with a good book, excessive noise or open plan living can hinder your ability to concentrate. The peacefulness of a quiet environment allows you to focus more intently on the task at hand. This improves productivity and overall cognitive function.
Maximum Creativity
Studies suggest that quiet environments can stimulate creative thinking. The absence of distractions allows your mind to wander and make unexpected connections, fostering a more creative state of mind.
Improved Communication
In a noisy environment, it’s easy to misunderstand conversations or miss important details. A quieter space facilitates clearer communication, promoting better relationships with family members and housemates.
Overall Wellness
Peace and quiet contribute significantly to a sense of calm and wellbeing. A quiet home environment provides a refuge from the outside world, allowing you to unwind, recharge, and feel more centred.
Does Soundproofing Add Value?
Generally, yes. If prospective buyers work remotely or have home-based hobbies, experiencing a quiet environment during a house viewing could be effective. That’s because it could help them visualise everyday routines. This, in turn, could lead them to imagine what it might be like to live in the property long term.
Is it Worth it to Soundproof a Room?
It’s definitely a sensible investment that can appeal to potential buyers. Possible wellness benefits include: protecting occupants’ hearing, boosting their work performance and helping them relax without added stress.
And because location matters, it’s also a good idea to soundproof rooms if your property is near a busy road, within a lively neighbourhood or close to a bustling urban area. A proactive approach that helps to neutralise potential issues before they’re brought up.
How Much Does Soundproofing Cost UK?
According to the experts at Checkatrade, you can expect to pay around £300 per day for soundproofing in 2024. However, the simple addition of solid core doors could be a cost effective alternative. Or at least a step in the right direction.
Find out more ways to increase property value and explore affordable alternatives to a full home renovation.
What Is The Best Soundproofing Solution?
Hollow core interior doors, commonly found in homes, do little to block sound transmission. This is where solid core doors can help reduce noise for good. So, is a solid door more soundproof than a hollow door? Yes.
Solid core doors are filled with a dense material which effectively absorbs sound waves.
Hollow core doors are lightweight and cost effective but they do have a less robust core, often made of cardboard or honeycomb paper. They offer little soundproofing capabilities as sound waves easily travel through the empty space.
Denser Material, Less Noise
What type of door is most soundproof? Solid core doors, as the name suggests, are filled with a solid material, typically wood or mineral composite. This dense construction acts as a barrier, significantly reducing the amount of sound that travels through the door.
Privacy for Everyone
Whether you need quiet for work, movie nights, or study time, soundproof doors help create a more secluded environment within each room. This is especially beneficial for bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
What Are Acoustic Seals for Doors?
Acoustic door seals are specialised seals designed to be installed around the perimeter of a door to block sound transmission. They’re essential components for creating quieter environments in both residential and commercial settings.
Even the best door can’t completely reduce sound transmission if there are gaps around the frame. That’s why pairing solid doors with acoustic door seals creates the ultimate barrier to stop noise. Why? Because it absorbs soundwaves and further minimises sound leakage.
This is the best soundproofing technique for busier or noisier areas of the home (think: utility rooms and kitchens). It’s also ideal if you’ve already chosen hollow doors for your home.
Buy Lorient Intumescent Fire, Smoke and Acoustic Seal Kits online.
Beyond the Quiet
Thermal Advantages of Solid Core Doors
What type of door is most energy-efficient?
Well, solid core doors aren’t just about a superior acoustic performance that creates a peaceful soundscape; they also contribute to a more comfortable temperature within your home.
That’s because the same dense core that enhances noise reduction also acts as a thermal insulator.
Improved Insulation
The ultra dense core helps maintain consistent temperatures within each room, reducing the need to crank up the air conditioning or heating in specific areas.
Energy Efficiency
By minimising heat transfer between rooms, solid core doors can contribute to improved energy efficiency, potentially leading to lower energy bills.
Climate Control
Whether you’re battling the summer heat or the winter chill, solid core doors can help maintain a more comfortable temperature in each room, offering year-round comfort.
Investing in Solid Doors: A Sound Decision
While they do come in at a slightly higher price point compared to hollow core options, the benefits of solid core doors make them a worthwhile investment. Improved noise control, increased thermal comfort, and potential energy savings are all possible outcomes when you buy soundproof doors online.
For a peaceful home (and a safe and secure soundproof room) solid core internal doors are a sound choice – literally and figuratively.
Wondering how to soundproof a home? Buy solid doors and acoustic door seal kits with added fire protection. Ideal for creating a calming environment. Enjoy great prices and fast shipping when you order today with Vibrant Doors.
