What's the best way to soundproof my bedroom door in my university dorm?

Question

I tried to block the left, top, and right cracks with foam weaterstrippers, but it didn't decrease the sound passing through the door by that much. I'm thinking maybe I should hang a carpet on the outside of my door so that it would absorb sound before it passed through my door? I tried putting a carpet on the inside of my door but it didn't really help all that much, but it might be more effective to put it on the outside?

Any other methods to soundproof my door are helpful! :)

I also would like to mention that I'm soundproofing my door so that the sound that my roommates make doesn't bother me when I'm trying to sleep; them listening to music, etc. is somewhat okay, but the irritation primarily stems from when my roommates talk in sharp tones, or something that escapes from a typical talking tone, such as an excited one.

Answer 1

acoustical foam

Answer 2

Soundproofing Door Sweep

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What's the best way to soundproof my bedroom door in my university dorm?
I tried to block the left, top, and right cracks with foam weaterstrippers, but it didn't decrease the sound passing through the door by that much. I'm thinking maybe I should hang a carpet on the outside of my door so that it would absorb sound before it passed through my door? I tried...

Answer 4

Go to a building supply like Lowes or Home Depot, buy a sheet of foam insulation-foam with foil on both sides. Get the foam type, not the styrofoam as it will shed those damn little beads. Sheet should cost $10 or less. Cut the foam to fit the inside of your door. Cut and Tape together with aluminum tape so you have at least a double layer--also you can get the tape at the building supply. You can tape or tack the foam to the door, should help quite a bit. Also can use as a tack board. You can paint the foil exposed, or maybe wrap an old sheet over it when you tape it to the door. By the way, you may be getting just as much sound through the adjoining walls on either side of the door, guess you could foam over that as well. The foam will absorb a lot more sound than carpet.

Answer 5

egg crates (the ones that hold 2.5 dozen eggs and are flat) made a great sound barrier for a basement my friends and I used to play LOUD music in without bothering the parents.
The egg crates are pretty easy to attach - use a stapler or glue.
However, they may not let you attach things like that in a dorm.
In that case, cut a piece of cardboard and glue the egg crates to THAT. Then attach some over-the-door hangers (hardware store) and hang the whole assembly from the door. You want the egg crates on the side where the noise is as their irregular surface breaks up sound waves - hence the outside of the door.
I would really suggest you sound proof your ears rather than the room. Use old-fashioned cotton or (better) get some professional ear plugs.
Stores that sell shooting supplies should help you with this. When in doubt, go to WalMart (their hunting department).

Answer 6

In tinnitus, the sounds a person hears are actually perceptions. Since there's no actual source, they are often referred to as "phantom noises". I read that about 8% of all people in the US suffer from tinnitus so you are not the only one who hears these strange noises.

Tinnitus is actually not a disease. It is actually a symptom of a problem that is rooted deep, somewhere within your body. The problem could be a simple one like an infection in the ear, or even simpler, such as ear wax. Just clear the wax and get the infection treated, and the noises could go away. In some people, it could even be the result of a side-effect of a drug they took. Or it could be more complicated.

If you want to know more about this condition and wnat to learn how to solve naturally your problems with these annoying noises you should read this ebook: http://tinnitus.toptips.org

It helped me a lot.

Answer 7

Foam is what is used for professional soundproofing. Not covered with foil, the porous surface of the foam is needed to dampen the sound.

Did you try rolling up a towel and placing it along the bottom crack of the door?

Answer 8

Eggcrate foam (also called a mattress pad that looks exactly like an eggcrate when unrolled) can be bought at any linen store or Wal-Mart, and is essentially acoustic foam used in studios. The foam cells absorb the noise. It can be stapled to the door.

Answer 9

I think I would try cork board panels that you can get with the self adhesive backing. They are 12" X 12". I would do both sides of the door and then get the weather stripping that you can put on the bottom of the door. They are metal with rubber on the bottom and they can be screwed in and adjusted to how much space there is from the bottom of the door and the floor. Just think- you can use the cork to post notes!

Answer 10

These suggestions may be helpful, but the most effective remedy for you might be earplugs. Another remedy when you're awake and trying to study could be the kind of ear protection earmuffs traesmen use to block out the ear deafening roar of their equipment.

Answer 11

A friend of mine who is a broadcasting professional uses a VERY LARGE piece of styloform propped up against the door.