Sometimes a good laugh with friends and family or nice music might just be what cheers you up or brings warmth to your home. But what if too much of it becomes a bother? Perhaps you want to call in a plumber or move your furniture around during the weekend. All you need is soundproofing to block that inside noise or the ones coming from outside. If you moved into a new place where the neighbor next door is constantly doing weird stuff when you are trying to sleep, this is for you.
It is no news that some houses have no soundproofing, and as a resident that is entirely on the property owner. Such companies as Neighbor Report will help you identify some neighborhoods to avoid if you are home hunting. Soundproofing your house or apartment could be the best thing you ever invest in as a homeowner. You can get a quieter home in the following simple ways.
1. Replacing windows and doors with soundproof ones
Doing a replacement of windows and doors of a rental unit can take a huge chunk off your pockets. Not to mention a written permission one has to make to the landlord if it involves irreversible altercations. However, once the owner is onboard, it could be a life changer. You can install storm doors with solid ones of great quality. Replace your windows with double or triple-paned PVC frames for a better result.
2. Seal door and window openings
Those little spaces on the door and the window frames not only sip in cold from the exterior but welcomes the noise as well. Investing in weathering strips on both doors and windows will serve you well. As much as doors with glass panels increase a home’s curb appeal, they don’t block noise. Moreover, if you can see any light coming through the door, chances are it’s also letting in bugs and dust.
3. Take care of any holes and cracks
Check out around the house for any gaps and cracks in places such as sockets, windows, and doors. Thoroughly inspecting for any holes will enable you to easily detect where the noise is coming through. Use caulk or putty to reduce all the noise.
4. Consider buying a large wooden bookshelf
Buying or building a spacious wooden bookcase and filling it up with books dramatically reduces noise pollution. You will find that books are great noise absorbers. When you place a wooden bookshelf filled with books near that shared wall, the neighbor blasts music from it to absorb any noise. If you are a book lover, then it’s a plus. But you could also do it for aesthetic appeal.
5. Put up heavy curtains and carpets
Investing in rugs and heavy carpets will keep your floors warm while blocking those annoying sounds. They will block any noise coming from above and below the rooms, especially if you add a thick rug pad. If you don’t like installed carpets you can opt for rugs. Thick curtains and drapes also limit the sounds coming from the streets while giving your house an extra effect.
6. Make good use of the space with heavy furniture
If you have moved to a furnished house with a bigger space, you can consider moving around the bigger furniture near the walls. Placing heavy furniture strategically in your houses, like the piano or TV.
7. Absorb or reflect light through walls
Since noise also reflects off hard surfaces like walls and ceilings, you can cover them up to reduce sound reflection. If you live by the road or in a neighborhood with dogs, it will absorb and reflect the sound of the ongoing activities. You could add rugs to the ceilings, install acoustic tiles or fiberglass on the ceiling, or use plasterboards.
Benefits of soundproofing your home
As much as sound is a normal thing in life, when it gets annoying, especially if it’s too much, it can limit your joy and comfort and even affect your health. You can decide to soundproof your house for various reasons, depending on where you live and the kind of neighbors you have. Some common reasons you can opt to soundproof your home include getting better sleep, privacy, and meeting the set regulations. Sometimes you can also block that unwanted outside noise for your own health and wellbeing.