Can You Soundproof Your Front Door?

Let’s face it—noise pollution is a problem for a lot of people.

Whether the outside world is keeping you up while you’re trying to sleep or distracting you when you’re working from home, there’s no doubt unwanted noise can be frustrating. This conclusion has led many to wonder about the possibilities of soundproofing.

So, can you soundproof your front door? Let’s find out!

How Noise Affects Your Quality of Life

Noise pollution contributes to a wide range of negative health effects, such as sleep disturbance, hearing loss, stress, and cardiovascular problems. Research has directly correlated it to negative metabolic health outcomes, too.

Meanwhile, children who were exposed to sound pollution from aircrafts were found to have impaired long-term memory, as well as reduced reading and speech comprehension. While not everyone leaves near an airport, the sentiment is there.

It’s also common knowledge that persistent sleep disturbances have a negative impact on mental and physical health. Increased stress levels, mood imbalances, emotional distress, reduced quality of life—the list goes on.

Do Front Doors Let That Much Sound In?

Your windows and doors are areas of your home where noise can easily travel. What’s also worth noting is that these features fill up most of the solid spaces in your house, such as walls and ceilings. Therefore, a poorly sealed window or gaps around the door frame will allow unwanted sound to pass through.

The good news is that anything that completely blocks sound from coming into your home can also improve energy efficiency. So, sealing the gap underneath your front door impacts insulation and ventilation to reduce energy usage, resulting in lower energy costs.

As you look to negate the impact of harmful noise pollution, soundproofing your door is one of the best things you can do. With that being said, you won’t experience the full benefits of it if you get it done improperly.

Two Choices For Reducing Noise Pollution

Sound travels throughout our home by vibration.

For instance, when you knock on a door, the particles inside the wood vibrate and create sound waves that travel through it. However, as you may have guessed, sound travels less through denser, thicker objects.

This means that if you have a solid steel entry door, less sound is going to pass through it than a thinner wooden door. So, you have two options: increase the mass of your door or close the gaps to reduce the sound that travels through it.

1. Increasing the Density of Your Front Door

As mentioned, the heavier a material is, the better it performs against noise pollution. Standard doors (especially interior doors) tend to have hollowed cores. This makes them easier to open and operate, but unfortunately also makes them more transparent.

Consider investing in a solid wood or steel exterior door to limit your exposure to sound pollution. These types of doors can last a lifetime if cared for properly—plus, they’re aesthetically appealing and extremely durable!

You get what you pay for when it comes to high-quality exterior doors. However, you may be better off looking to plug the gaps surrounding your existing door if you’re on a tight budget or looking to soundproof a front door in an apartment.

2. Close the Gaps

Believe it or not, you can effectively soundproof a door using a number of DIY methods. The following methods can be done on your own, just be sure that you have all the necessary tools ready before you begin and that your unit is sealed.

Installing A Door Sweep

A door sweep is fitted into the base of your front door and seals the gap to stop drafts and sound from coming in. But unlike their standard counterparts, door sweeps are designed to create a sound barrier and be the best door sound blocker.

Expect that the door sweep will brush against your floor as the door is used. If you’d like to protect your floor, consider placing a mat or rug by your front door.

Installing Soundproof Weatherstripping

If you’ve dealt with the bottom of your door and feel confident that noise won’t pass through it, it’s time to seal the rest of the gaps. One way to do this is by installing soundproof weatherstripping around the frame to reduce noise pollution.

This will help to muffle sound from outside and also stop sound waves from travelling through the door. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to reduce outside sound coming in.

Using Acoustic Caulk

This is a method of using a non-hardening sealant to create a barrier around your door frame. Not only does this prevent sound from entering your home, but it also prevents water from seeping into your door frame, reducing the chance of wood rot.

Acoustic caulk is designed to lessen sound transmission, making it a foolproof way of stopping noise pollution. Expanding foam works the same way and is another inexpensive tool that can be used to reduce sound exposure.

Get An (Almost) Soundproof Front Door From Burano

Here us out: While there is no such thing as a “soundproof exterior door,” investing in a new front door will do more than any DIY strategy ever could. You’ll also get the benefits of improved aesthetics, increased energy efficiency, and better safety features.

When it comes to high-quality replacement, Burano Doors has got you covered. We have been the trusted manufacturer of modern doors for Ontario homeowners for over 40 years now, offering premium products at factory-direct prices.

Get in touch today and receive a free home estimate!