We live in an old house that has been converted into apartments and there is a door that has locks on each side of it that separates our apartments. On my side it is at the end of a long hallway that has all the doors into every room in my apartment. On his side is his bedroom. I am just looking to give each of us some privacy...
2007-06-09 16:43:37 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Get approval from the landlord with any improvement first.
Build out the wall around the door by adding soundproofing material on top of existing wall. Buy a solid door.
Or.
Soundproof over the door and wall for complete privacy
2007-06-09 16:55:16 · answer #1 · answered by Omega F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Boy, tough problem. I lived in these "converted" (as you so politely put it) things for 20+ years...lemme think.....
Got it. Get a foam rubber mattress, (this'll be the "cheap, to hell with how it looks it, solves the problem" solution) four bungee cords and eight, one inch, eye screws. You can see what I'm talking about. Put the eye screws into the SIDES of the door trim (so the holes won't show when you move) and bungee the mattress to the door. Butcher a hole in the mattres for the door knob (or remove the knob) and stuff a rolled up towel into the space under the door, then install your mattress.
This contrivance will stop the door from vibrating (like a stereo speaker does) and absorb and deaden any sound that hits it.
Beyond that, you might put a sound deflecting bookcase (full of 'goodwill' books) or clothes rack in front of it to hide it.
It won't stop the sound like a brick wall but, it will cut the noise an easy 60%.
Try making friends with your neighbors too. People that know and respect you are a hell of a lot more likely to think about what might inconvenience you than complete strangers would.
Good luck
2007-06-10 00:24:02 · answer #2 · answered by Number6 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adding a weatherstrip to the top and sides and a door sweep to the bottom will give you a significant improvement without any major changes or expense. Shouldn't look too bad, either. It will not completely block the sound, but it will be better.
A better solution would be to remove the door completely and build in the wall. This, of course would cost a bit more money and not be easily reversible.
2007-06-10 00:27:13 · answer #3 · answered by be_a_lert 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try seeing if there is any way you both can open the door to put some felt stripping or tape around the edges of the doors since sound, light , air passes through the cracks.
Might suggest putting a rod above the door if you don't use it and place some heavy drapes over it to insulate as well create a sound barrier.
You can take a piece of insulating foam and tack it to the door for the sound. The curtains will hide it.
If you have a tall heavy piece of furniture, place it in front of the door/curtains to block even more out + hide the barriers.. Good luck!
2007-06-10 00:24:22 · answer #4 · answered by donna D 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Put up sheet of foam board over the door; Just glue it on;
You can also paint the foam or cover it with fabric and use it as a giant bulletin board. Or you can get some cork squares at Wal Mart and glue them on the door.
I think the foam would be less work and less expensive.
2007-06-10 17:31:38 · answer #5 · answered by llittle mama 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This may sound weird but here is a cheap way to soundproof that door.
Find a store that sells refridgerators and ask for 2 of their packing boxes. Haul home and cut 1 of the boxes into a piece to fit door. Lay ths piece on floor and tape seams if you must. Put other box aside for now.
Now, you will have collected bunches of cardboard egg containers from friends, so cut lids from them and keep the parts where eggs were held. Use gorilla glue and glue all these egg crates, face side down to cardboard on floor.
Call your friends over to help and have a egg crate gluing party. When all egg crates glued down(remember now, crate point should be touching cardboard . Glue will be put on these points and then stuck to cardboard) Allow time to dry, maybe overnight. Put in safe palce out of way and get on with your party.
Next day, have several friends come over to help you finish door. One person holds crate/ cardboard against door, cardboard side down, while another person pounds small nails or brads into cardboard and into the door.
Measure outline of door, including door frame and put measurements on paper.
Lay down other box on floor and peice, if you must and tape together. Using a square, draw outline of door on this cardboard and the add the depth of frame from front of frame to where it meets the wall around the outline of door measurement.
Cut carefully using sharp box cutters.
You will need someone to hold cardboard steady, by sitting on it. Do this cutting outside on cement. (or similar)
Gently slice on line in from end but not all way thru, this is your bend line.
Flat piec now a 3 sided box. Put this piece next to door and bend down ends to form a cover around door frame. Tape corners and tack as needed.
A sound-proof door fixture and it cost nothing but time and lots of fun.
2007-06-10 01:19:30 · answer #6 · answered by grannygoose 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
2 X 4 or better yet 2 X 2 ceiling tiles for a suspended ceiling, you can use duct tape on the back of them to hold them in place, if put on correctly can also be decorative, and can be removed easily, without damage in the event you move
2007-06-10 12:29:52 · answer #7 · answered by Pengy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
cork helps
2007-06-10 15:44:10 · answer #8 · answered by si_kleeg 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
egg cartons
2007-06-10 08:01:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
stik a pin n da dur & watchh et burnr
2007-06-09 23:46:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋