How to soundproof a sliding door? (A Comprehensive Guide)
In this blog post, we’re going to tackle a common question: “How can you soundproof sliding doors?” We’ll explore the various methods to keep those unwanted sounds at bay, understand the sneaky ways sound finds its way through sliding doors, identify the types of sliding doors that can benefit from soundproofing, and delve into the perks of having a soundproof sliding door. Stick around…
How to soundproof a sliding door?
There are several key methods to soundproofing sliding doors:
- Brush Weatherstrip
- Acoustic Caulk
- Door Sweep
- Acoustic Curtains
- Double Quilted Fibreglass panels
- Acoustic Blinds
- Laminated or Triple Pane Glass
- Increasing the thickness of the glass pane
How can sound infiltrate through a sliding door?
Sound infiltrates through a sliding door either through airborne transmission or structural transmission. The general function of any kind of door is to separate one space from another which could either involve the same kind of activity or a completely different one.
Typically, a household usually has at least one sliding door which could either be one that separates the exterior part of the house from the interior or within the house to divide two spaces.
There are 2 ways in which sound can permeate through a sliding door:
- Airborne Transmission: As can be seen from Image 1, this can be through the door sill or through the interstitial space between the overlapped doors in the sliding door mechanism.
- Structural Transmission: This can happen through vibrations of the material of which the sliding doors are made from such as glass, wood, some form of plastic, metal rail or a combination of the four.
Methods of soundproofing a sliding door
There are several key methods to soundproofing sliding doors:
1: Weather-stripping
This is the first step you should take to make your sliding door soundproof. Weatherstrip is a kind of rubber strip that is made to seal the gaps around the door and it is very good at it.
I tried this trick on my sliding door, and not only did it keep the noise at bay, but it was very easy to install. All you need to do is just cut it according to the size, peel off the backing from it and stick it to the door frame.
2: Acoustic Caulk
Acoustic caulk, also known as the acoustical sealant, it’s your go-to solution for sound dampening in all those sneaky gap areas. How? Just spread it where there are gaps, and let it work its magic.
I went on a caulk spree with my sliding door, sealing every gap I could find. The result? Peaceful vibes without a hint of noise disruption.
Keep in mind for large gaps, I would not recommend using acoustic caulk at all. It is only for small gaps.
3: Door Sweep
If you have a gap beneath your sliding door then noise will obviously be passing through it. And to seal it you need to install a door sweep.
They are usually made of polystyrene foam, rubber, or a brush strip, it’s there to say, “No more sound escaping from beneath!”
I have installed a rubber door sweep on my sliding door, and rubber door sweep is best for sliding doors in any way and every way.
4: Acoustic Curtains
Sure, glass paned sliding doors look sleek, but what about the noise? This is where acoustic curtains make their entry.
Just like Hrithik Roshan enters in War. This increases the overall mass of the door and also lifts its sound reducing capacity. These curtains are also known as soundproofing curtains and work better at absorbing noise.
Installing acoustic curtains is similar to installing a regular curtain. I have a heavy and thick curtain with 3 layers that reduces the noise by 22 dB.
5: Double Quilted Fiberglass Panels
Think of these panels as heavy-duty acoustical blankets for your sliding door. They’re not just any blankets; they come with a shiny quilted look, adding a touch of style to your soundproofing game. The catch? They might be a bit pricey, but trust me, they’re worth it.
6: Acoustic Blinds
Normal blinds meet their cool cousin – acoustic blinds. They look and function like your regular blinds but come with thicker material to dampen those high-amplitude sound vibrations.
All you need to do is just hang them on your sliding door, and let the silence reign. I have used these blinds to keep noise but I replaced them with soundproofing curtains because I found them more effective than blinds.
But to be honest, acoustic blinds cost me way lesser than the curtains, so it is a budget friendly option. But I have still installed blinds in some of the sliding doors in my home where I need less soundproofing.
7: Laminated or Triple Pane Glass
By god, replacing the door glass with a double or triple pane is the most effective way to make a sliding door more effective at blocking out noise.
However, it is also super expensive, the dead spaces and air pockets works wonders against high and low-frequency sounds. And in bonus: thermal insulation for the win!
I spent more than $1500 to install a double-pane sliding door and after closing the door, I feel like there is nothing outside. And this was my costliest investment I can make to soundproof a door.
8: Increasing Glass Pane Thickness
If you can’t go all out with double or triple pane glass? No worries. Simply increasing the thickness of the glass pane on your sliding door can still make a significant difference in soundproofing.
It is way more affordable than replacing the glass pane and also reduces noise really well. I can go for it if you do some sort of guitar practice or anything else related to sound and music.
Some of the things that need to be considered are glass thickness, overall thickness, air space, door construction–wood, vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass, and the ability to change glass stops and still have an operating door.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make a sliding door soundproof?
For interior doors, soundproofing blankets may be hung directly over the doorway to further decrease the sound from within. Soundproof blankets can improve the sound-blocking of a doorway by 80-90%. Gaps around the sides of sliding barn doors create sound flanking paths.
How do you make a sliding door less noisy?
Now, a quiet whoosh is the only sound the doors make as they glide by! It is easy and frugal to quiet your sliding doors with household wax. You can find paraffin near the cleaning supplies or household goods section of your local grocery store. It can also occasionally be found near the canning supplies.
Are sliding patio doors soundproof?
Acoustic Sliding Doors are soundproof sliding doors are the perfect way to let light in and keep noise out, especially when space is at a premium. Choose to add toughened or safety glass for that added peace of mind.
Does sound travel through glass doors?
An open window lets in air, but it lets in sound too—because the air carries sound waves. More importantly, while light waves pass through only a handful of solid materials (such as transparent plastic and glass), sound energy will happily storm through most solids and emerge almost as loud on the other side.
How do I stop wind whistling through a sliding glass door?
We can fix it by simply removing the door from its track and then adjusting the roller screws by driving them towards the bottom.
Finally removing the top door stop. Realign the door on the track, reinstall the top plate, and readjust the roller screws.
Conclusion
This blog addresses the ways in which sound can infiltrate through a sliding door, the performance metric information an individual needs before opting for soundproofing a sliding door.
Finally, what are some of the main ways that an individual can address a sound barrier or a sliding door and the effectiveness of each method.
If you have any questions or comments please let us know.
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