Can I reduce sound from a road 100 yards behind a garden from spoiling our time outside? How?

Question

We have seen a lovely house to buy. Only problem is that it is near a road - and we can hear the traffic when we are in the garden. Is there a simple way to reduce traffic noise, e:g: sound proof fencing. Is this practical and cost effective, and easy to install? Or should we give up on this house because it is an unsolvable problem?

Answer 1

You will never find a practical solution to traffic noise. If you buy this house, you will have the same problem if you sell it-traffic noise.
I would pass.

Answer 2

I used a three pronged attack to my noise problem. Fountain, fence and plants. I have fountains that give a water sound that really drowns out most of the road noises. (Couldn't help the pun) I actually have three of them because my yard is U shaped and it keeps almost every area sounding like water instead of traffic. The fence I have buffers the sound, too. Then I have plantings in front of the fence that are dense, like cedars, boxwood, shrubs and in front of that another row of more colorful plants like sweet pea bushes, butterfly bush, bottle brush. The layering of plants also keeps the noise levels to a minimum. The only real time I can hear the road noise now is if a very loud truck or motorcycle speeds down the road.

Answer 3

How big is your yard? Like why do I need to find you? And why do you have random $100 bills sitting around in your yard? ok...let's say I find a 100 in your yard, and simultaneously can't locate you. I would put the $100 on your kitchen table, with a note that said...."I was here, found this floating about in the yard. Call me when you get home."

Answer 4

You can try putting up a privet hedge. It will also block the view of your garden from nosy neighbors. I don't think there's such a thing as a sound proof fence, as a fence doesn't have a roof or anything.

Answer 5

best idea is solid fence or a wall of some sort. soundwaves bounce so if you can block them then the sound will reflect and dissipat rather then travel into your garden. may be ugly but I'm sure there are some nice all wood fences available that you can do.

Answer 6

You can fence, expensive, plant which is equally expensive but good for the planet but either way you go a nice water feature babbling between you an the noise will mask it almost entirely.

Answer 7

If you really like the house and plan to spend the next years there, you could erect a solid fence and plant hemlock trees along it. Hemlock is natures sound barrier. The fence should do until the trees grow.

Answer 8

A "shadowbox" fence is one of the better ways, it has a honeycomb effect on the noise. That is what Indiana uses along the intersate to help.

Answer 9

well, you could buy evergreen shrubs (junipers, yews) that sort of thing. It will take a few years, but they do help reduce the noise, and make nice hedges too

Answer 10

ear plugs