How to Make Your Apartment Soundproof
By: ROS Team
It doesn’t matter if you are a pet lover or not, hearing your neighbor’s dog bark can get annoying. Moving into a new building can present a unique set of problems, especially when you’re sharing a wall with virtual strangers. If you’re tired of hearing everything that’s going on next door (including Fido’s barking), here are some ways to deal.
Talk with Your Neighbor
We’ve heard of neighbors from hell-they’re the ones playing their music so loud on weekends or the ones with a dog that barks non-stop. Over time, it takes a toll on you and your sanity. The most cost-effective solution is to have a talk with your neighbors. Let them know your concerns and, if possible, share your work and rest schedule so they can plan their activities accordingly.
Seek Help from Your Landlord
If necessary, seek assistance from your landlord. He or she has a vested interest in ensuring all tenants are comfortable, plus the landlord is a neutral third party. Definitely consider the assistance of the landlord if the noise continues to be an ongoing issue or if your neighbor has shown signs of aggression towards you during previous conversations.
Identify Vulnerable Areas
If your neighbors aren’t an issue and your apartment walls are just paper-thin you may need to look into this matter from a different angle. Some units may naturally be louder because of their location (next to a busy street or park). Once you learn which areas allow the most sound in you can focus on ways to either buffer or work around the sound.
Take Care of Doors and Windows
Gaps and cracks in doors and windows allow outside noise to enter rooms, stealing you of peace and quiet. You might need to replace the doors, as most of the time they are hollow from the inside and do not block excess noise. If your doors are an issue, notify your landlord of the problem and see if it’s acceptable to replace the doors yourself. There are also acoustic seal kits and weather stripping that will fill in the cracks around windows and doors, thus reducing sounds from the outside.
Install Soundproofing Blankets
Recording studios are havens for sound. It’s also critical that they reduce as much outside noise as possible; this is done with soundproofing blankets.
These blankets are made of a noise canceling material that works the way blackout curtains block light. A word of caution though: soundproofing blankets tend to be heavy, so it may be a good idea to invite some friends over to help install them.
Hang Soundproof Curtains
This is the window counterpart of soundproof blankets. Add these sound canceling window treatments to the windows that seem to let in noise. Don’t worry–these curtains come in a variety of patterns and colors to match your apartment’s interior.
Add Carpet to the Floor
Hardwood flooring is popular, but it does little to reduce interior noise. Adding an area rug not only helps absorb noise but also helps add flair to the room.
Mattresses Don’t Work
You might have heard that putting mattresses into the wall is a great way to soundproof an apartment. The lie detector determined that THAT is a lie. Though it may soften the pitch it can’t block the noise. Plus mattresses trap dust and can be a playground for mold and mildew, so it’s not a great solution.
Finding a Soundproof Apartment
It is not like you walk in the market and find an apartment with good soundproofing. It takes more than that to get one. Talk to friends and family about the noise level in their buildings and what, if anything, they’ve done to reduce the extra noise.
Also, consider touring prospective properties during busy times of the day so you’ll have an idea of how noisy the apartment can be. Be mindful that apartment layout plays an important factor in noise management–the more open an apartment is, the louder it’s prone to be.
Conclusion:
Your home should be your sanctuary. Some outside noise is inevitable, but there are practical ways to limit the amount that infiltrates your space while possibly adding some flare at the same time.
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