Soundproofing of entrance and interior doors. Materials, methods of sound insulation

Coziness and comfort in the house can only be ensured if there is good sound insulation. Today there is a huge selection of materials, thanks to which you can get the necessary silence. It is worth noting that if soundproofing is done in an apartment, then only an integrated approach must be used.

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Soundproofing problems are especially familiar to apartment owners. Due to the thin walls and lack of insulating layers, you can sit on the sofa at home and listen to what your neighbors’ TV is showing. Few people would like such comfortable conditions, and the only correct solution would be sound insulation. As you know, any sound travels well through the air, and even if there is a small space, it will be impossible to achieve sound insulation results.

If everything is more or less clear with the finishing of walls, ceilings and floors, then few people have thought about the interior door and its level of sound insulation. The thing is that in modern apartments the design does not provide thresholds that create a soundproof barrier. It is under the interior door that any noise and sound can pass through. Today this problem can be solved by using a special retractable threshold. Some manufacturers install these mechanisms to obtain maximum effect. If there is no addition on the canvas, then it is better to take care of this in advance and install or purchase another design.

The walls, ceiling and floor are insulated, but sound from the next room enters the room. It would seem where it would come from, but as it turns out, no less noise comes into the house through windows and doors than from the neighbors. By installing a metal-plastic window, you can solve one problem and reduce the noise level. The remaining interior door also affects the level of sound absorption. The proposed material will tell you how to perform high-quality and effective noise protection for an interior door.

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It is worth understanding that the design of the door leaf is one of the most important components of insulation. Common door options can be: plastic, wood or chipboard and MDF panels. There are hollow and honeycomb products; depending on the design of the fabric, the optimal sound insulation option is selected. An important point: it is impossible to soundproof a door with glass elements. As you know, glass transmits sounds well, so it is better to replace the door leaf with another one with better insulation properties. By filling the door structure with soundproofing material, you can protect the room from noise as effectively as possible.

Selection of materials

When you plan to soundproof an interior door structure, the choice of insulating material is quite complicated. The thing is that today there is a huge selection of materials that meet the requirements and parameters. First of all, when selecting insulating materials, you need to pay attention to products applicable for interior structures. The most commonly used insulation materials for doors are slabs:

• foam rubber;
• padding polyester;
• mineral wool;
• isolona;
• polystol;
• polystyrene foam

The choice of soundproofing material is also influenced by the insulation characteristics. There are products that shrink when used for a long time, which means that after a few years the door leaf will have to be replaced. If you use more expensive materials, then despite the high cost, their service life will be an order of magnitude longer. All types of sound insulation are applicable for internal use in door structures.

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With a solid door leaf, an automobile vibration filter and Splen should be used as an insulating material. The foil material will provide the necessary level of sound protection. As for Spleen, it is used in the form of a noise-absorbing layer, as well as thermal insulation.

Despite the small thickness of the product, the rubberized base can retain vibrations and absorb sounds. The adhesive base will help to fix the insulating material well, preventing it from peeling off. Due to its characteristics, this insulating filler is used to reduce noise in a car.

Advice! You should not use insulation materials such as polyurethane and corrugated cardboard for soundproofing interior door products. As for polyurethane, it is quite difficult to apply and the structure becomes beyond repair. If you use corrugated cardboard, then after a short period of time you will have to change it.

Preparatory work

Before you begin soundproofing interior structures, you should initially prepare everything. It is worth understanding that when adding soundproofing material to the design of the door leaf, the total weight will also increase. In order for the mounting loops to withstand the weight, they need to be strengthened. The optimal reinforcement solution would be the additional installation of a pair of curtains. Thanks to this reinforcement option, the door leaf will not sag or the entire structure will warp.

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When soundproofing an interior door, the opening itself is also important. If the wall and frame are not insulated, then you should not expect any results from sound insulation. As a rule, the doorway is foamed, thereby providing an optimal sound-absorbing effect.

It is important to understand that if you install a soundproof door, its characteristics will not be enough to protect the entire home. Only comprehensive sound insulation will help protect the room from sounds coming from other rooms.

To work on soundproofing a door leaf, you will definitely need various tools and it is necessary that they always remain at hand. It is worth understanding that it is much easier to work on doors when they are removed from their hinges.

Basic mistakes

Soundproofing doors is a job that requires strict adherence to technology, so that after material and time costs you do not discover that the result is not pleasing. What points should you pay attention to when soundproofing a door:

1. All work will be practically useless if soundproofing measures are not taken for the room. Such work must be carried out comprehensively.
2. You cannot skip the preparatory stage of work, which determines the quality of installation of the door frame in the opening. Check how straight it is installed and whether there are any distortions.
3. It is recommended to observe the temperature regime when carrying out work. The optimal temperature will be 20-22°C.
4. It is not recommended to use polyurethane foam when installing a door frame, because this material does not have sound-absorbing qualities. And if the doors are already installed, then the layer of polyurethane foam should be covered with plaster.
5. All existing cracks and gaps must be sealed with cement or acoustic sealant.
6. You should not use cheap materials for sound insulation, for example, foam rubber, corrugated cardboard. This work will not bring the desired result due to the low sound insulation of these materials.
7. Before laying soundproofing material, the surface of the door leaf must be clean, and the installation must be uniform and dense.
8. It is desirable that there is a small air gap between the contours of the seals, creating an additional barrier to sound.
9. Don't forget about the threshold and door slopes. They allow you to create additional protection from sound in areas of possible gaps. For an entrance door, a threshold is required, and in the case of existing interior doors, it is necessary to supplement them with specially designed thresholds.

Dismantling the casing

Basically, people sheathe the front door with various materials, which increases the rate of heat and sound insulation. Sometimes trim is needed to hide an old door and give it an attractive appearance. Typically, sheathing is attached to wood surfaces using small decorative nails. With metal structures everything is a little more complicated; plywood is glued onto the panel, and after that the finishing is applied.

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Depending on the sheathing material, the level of difficulty of dismantling is determined. A simple wooden door with vinyl trim can be disassembled quite simply and without special equipment. When it is necessary to change the casing on metal products, the procedure may take a long time. It is easier to disassemble the panel if it lies horizontally.

First, the doors are removed from their hinges and laid on a flat surface. Fittings, locks and other structural elements are also removed. After soundproofing work is completed, they are installed in their original place, but the appearance and characteristics of the material are completely different.

How to install the seal correctly

Installing sealing tape is the simplest procedure for increasing the sound insulation of an entrance door. To perform this work, you need to perform the following algorithm:

• The sealing tape is unrolled to the required length.
• The master marks the cutting areas and cuts the product 5 - 10 mm longer than the required size, to organize the stock.
• At the point of contact with the tape, the canvas is cleaned of dust and degreased with a solvent or alcohol.
• The end of the protective film is carefully peeled off from the back of the product, and the tape is pressed against one of the corners of the canvas.
• The tape is stretched along the contact line.
• The protective film is removed along the entire length, and the product is evenly smoothed.
• At the point where the material turns, when transitioning from a longitudinal to a transverse line, the tape is cut at an angle of 45 degrees to prevent it from bending.
• If, upon completion of installation, an overlap forms between the beginning and end of the tape, its remainder is carefully trimmed for a hermetically sealed connection.

If it is necessary to join the tape, in no case should this be done along the length or width of the web. Breaks should only be made at the corner joints of the door structure.

Self-soundproofing interior doors

Despite the fact that sound insulation is a rather complex process, all types of work can be carried out independently, having everything you need at hand. Modern soundproofing materials allow you to choose exactly what is needed in accordance with the technical parameters and cost of the material. For doors you can use plates, mats, vibration-absorbing pads, etc.

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To implement sound insulation, it is necessary to carry out a number of works:

1. Remove the door leaf and stick a seal around the entire perimeter of the frame.
2. If there are mechanical cracks on the front side, they must be sealed with sealant.
3. If the design of the canvas is collapsible, then you need to fill the middle with soundproofing filler.
4. The outer part of the structure can be additionally covered with plastic panels.
5. Install an automatic threshold in the lower part, which will hold the sounds passing from below.

With an integrated approach, you can most effectively protect the structure from the passage of noise and sounds. If the surfaces of the walls, ceiling and floor are not insulated, then no matter how high-quality the doors are, such sound insulation will not produce results.

Stages of soundproofing interior doors

If the door in an apartment is installed according to all the parameters and recommendations of the manufacturer, the design is capable of absorbing up to twelve dB of sound. When an additional level of sound insulation is used, sound waves are absorbed more effectively. There is a certain procedure:

• Using sealant, seams and cracks should be completely sealed.
• The door is treated from the side where sounds penetrate.
• Modern soundproofing boards allow installation without unnecessary difficulties. The slab is glued directly to the canvas with mastic, and decorative material is installed on top of it.
• A seal is glued around the perimeter of the door frame. The thickness of the gap around the entire perimeter should not be more than 0.5 centimeters.
• Installation of a threshold to minimize the passage of sound waves at the bottom of the structure.

Today there are many product options that guarantee effective protection against various noises, but the main thing is to choose the right material.

Construction of a vestibule or installation of a second door

The most radical way to create a “safe haven” from an apartment is to install a vestibule. In an apartment building, this can be done if there is permission from the management organization and the consent of 75% of all residents of the building. If this is not possible, then a simplified option would be to install a second door. As you know, in older houses, double doors are a very common occurrence. Both methods of getting rid of external noise in an apartment are impossible if there is no free space to install a partition or a second door.

Soundproofing a door with disassembling the leaf

Some doors can be disassembled, which greatly simplifies the soundproofing procedure. For such structures, it is important that the material inserted into the middle not only holds in place, but also provides the required level of insulation. Mats can be a good insulation option. Due to the relatively small thickness of the product, it provides a sufficient level of protection against airborne sound. It is also worth noting that this insulator contributes to the heat conservation of the door leaf.

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Door disassembly begins with dismantling the fittings. It is worth noting that this procedure is much easier to perform if the canvas is removed. Not only do you need to remove the handles and locks, you will also have to dismantle the facing panel. The simplicity of the procedure depends on the material used. If the canvas is sewn up with fiberboard, then it must be dismantled from the end part. Use a flat-head screwdriver or knife to lift up the sheathing layer. Since nails are mainly used in such structures, they all need to be pulled out and the canvas will peel off from the frame.

Recently, interior products made by veneering have often been used. Wood veneer or other texture is glued onto the frame. To disassemble the product and not destroy the lining prematurely, you can try using an iron and cloth to warm the edges. The veneer will begin to peel off, and gradually warming up the canvas, there is a possibility of complete removal without damage.

If the door is hollow, then it is difficult to install appropriate sound insulation throughout the entire interior. A suitable material would be a fiber base board or a soundproofing mat. When laying the material, it is necessary that it does not protrude beyond the edges of the body. It is also important that the insulation is of sufficient length and width so that it can be distributed throughout the entire space of the box. When the insulation is completely laid, you can sew up the structure with a facing sheet.

Of course, it is not always possible to carefully dismantle the panel or install it back. If the front part is damaged, you must try to correct the defect. A small crack should be coated with quick-drying glue, and after drying, polished to obtain a perfectly smooth surface. If the problem cannot be solved in a simple way, then as an option you can try to buy a special adhesive film that is glued to the surface, creating an absolute smooth surface.

How to prevent noise from entering your apartment

There are a number of ways to significantly increase sound insulation. Let's take a closer look at them.

• Lay another layer of insulation over the door leaf. For this you can use extruded polystyrene foam or mineral wool. As a result, sound waves passing through these materials are completely damped.

Extruded polystyrene foam dampens extraneous sounds well

Use metal foil on a soft base that reflects sound vibrations as the main insulating material. Install insulation strips onto the door leaf or frame. To do this, you need to accurately take measurements from the doors and mark the strips, leaving space for the hinges. After installing the planks, cover them with flexible tape, which will ensure a tighter fit to the frame. Attach threshold slats and brushes. Install 2 entrance doors with a vestibule between them. The resulting layer of air will significantly reduce the noise level. Equip the outer door with burglary protection, and cover the inner door (which serves more for decorative rather than protective functions) with panels or lining. To seal cracks, instead of polyurethane foam (poorly insulating from noise), use a cement mixture, which, after drying, is treated with silicone sealant.

To begin work, you need to prepare all the necessary tools and materials.

Soundproofing upholstery around the outer perimeter

The outer part of the door can be covered with dermontin, leather or vinyl. Of course, the upholstery material itself has a certain soundproofing effect, but it is insignificant. It is better to use a lining made of sound-proofing material, in which case the expected result can be achieved. The thickness of the insulation does not need to be too thick, 3-5 millimeters is quite enough.

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The insulation is applied to the canvas over the entire plane. It is necessary that the material does not protrude beyond the edges, but is level with the frame. The insulation can be fixed using glue or a construction stapler. It is better to start nailing the material from the top of the door. In this way, the formation of unevenness and ripples can be minimized. When the canvas is completely sewn up, the next step will be the installation of the decorative part. Upholstery can be done using decorative nails with wide heads so that the dermontin does not tear. To improve fixation, you can stretch a thin cable or a thick nylon thread between the nails being driven in. You can do the door trim yourself, but it is better to get help. To enhance the soundproofing effect, doors can be sewn on both sides.

Step-by-step instructions for soundproofing a metal entrance door with your own hands

Let's consider the sequence of actions to perform independent sound insulation.

Selection of materials

First, let's prepare the necessary materials:

• Sound insulators (such as vibroplast, splen);
• adhesive-based vibration isolators (for example, bimast, vizomat);
• cement mortar for filling cracks;
• material for decorative finishing (lining, MDF panels);
• silicone sealant.

Rolled soundproofing material with foil layer

Removing the upholstery

Video on the topic: Door noise insulation using automotive materials Click Play to view

To install sound insulation, you must first remove the old door covering.

1. Remove the nails that attach the artificial leather to the door leaf.
2. Remove the upholstery.
3. Remove the layer of hardboard or fiberboard next to the artificial leather.
4. Prepare the door for soundproofing: wipe the inner surface with solvent.

Installation of insulating materials

After the surface has dried, you can begin gluing sound insulators. For high-quality gluing, it is necessary to maintain the air temperature in the room at least 25 °.

1. Glue a thick vibration-proof layer of bitumen onto the metal using adhesive-sealant.
2. Glue a light porous, foam-like soundproofing layer on top of the previous layer.
3. Trim off excess material with a knife.

Seal for door perimeters

Installation of thermal insulation

This step is optional, but recommended. Thanks to insulation, heat will not escape from the apartment through the doors. This is especially true for the cold season.

1. Lay a layer of foam rubber or mineral wool.
2. Secure it with a fishing net and nail it around the perimeter.

Wiring

The laying of several signal and power wires is necessary for the subsequent installation of an electronic peephole or radio-controlled lock. It is better to do this right away than to disassemble the door later.

All electrical wiring inside the door must be laid before finishing work and decorative finishing.

Fittings for soundproof doors

For maximum sound insulation of the door panel, it is necessary that not only the panel be sewn with insulation, but also the appropriate fittings must be used. The locking mechanism, handles and hinges must be securely fixed in the door leaf. If necessary, you can additionally treat the fitting locations with sealant. Speaking of insulation, it is also important to cover the door frame with insulation. Worth knowing! The insulation can be tubular or embossed, and it must completely cover possible cracks and seams.

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If you want the structure to last as long as possible and at the same time be effective for sound insulation, it is recommended to use high-quality building materials. With quality work, the service life of the door leaf can reach 50 years. Depending on the level of noise protection, the appropriate material is selected. You should not take sound insulation that is many times higher than the level of demand, since such materials will cost an order of magnitude higher, and the result will remain the same as cheaper options.

Classification of soundproofing doors

At the moment, there are a lot of soundproof doors offered on the market, and in order to understand everything, it is necessary to consider each class separately:

1. Swing. Such designs provide for opening and closing the opening on one side or the other, it all depends on the design features of the apartment and personal preferences. Swing structures are ordinary ones that consist of one sheet. The main feature of such structures is that they have decorative cladding on both sides, which can complement the interior design and become an addition to it.
2. Sliding products are quite difficult to install and their soundproofing qualities are insignificant. Due to the fact that the canvas consists of two parts, it is quite difficult to provide effective sound protection. In most cases, the sliding mechanism is needed as a decorative element.
3. Folding interior doors. As for such structures, for effective noise protection it is necessary that each sash have additional insulation at the joints. Considering the fact that products of this type often have glass in their design, there is no need to talk about its effectiveness.

Each class of products is unique and individual in its own way. Depending on your needs, you can choose one or another version of the product. To ensure maximum sound insulation, it is better to use a model with a swing mechanism. Despite the simplicity of their design, they are considered the best as soundproof models.

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Additional soundproofing methods

Some interior doors have standard sound insulation, which is installed at the manufacturing stage. Sometimes standard insulation is not enough and you have to make your own adjustments. To ensure an optimal level of sound insulation for an interior door, you need to cover the door frame with a sealant. The width of the seam between the canvas and the box should not exceed two millimeters. You can also use pads made of thick paper or plastic as an insulating layer. Naturally, you can’t expect too much efficiency, but in combination with sound insulation of the door leaf itself, you can get a good result.

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As additional sound insulation, you can use thick curtains located directly above the opening. Our grandmothers used this option, but it is actually effective. If, after trying a lot of options, you are unable to achieve the expected effect, you should completely change the door model to a new one with good sound insulation.

What factors influence sound insulation

Sound insulation is influenced by several factors:

• The material from which the door is made. The best door option is an array. Such structures do not have voids inside, so sound insulation is better. An alternative option for solid wood are doors made of composite materials, which are equipped with fillers inside.
• The presence of a threshold. Its absence leads to the formation of a gap under the door, through which sounds come in.
• Lack of seals on the door frame. If there are no seals, then there may be gaps between the door and the frame through which noise will enter.

If we are talking about an interior door, then an important factor is what kind of partitions are in the apartment. Plasterboard partitions transmit sound very well, so soundproofing doors is unlikely to help. Therefore, all partitions must be made of dense materials that can guarantee sound insulation. But if the walls are made of plasterboard, then you can lay soundproofing materials inside the partition. This will help improve sound insulation.

It is also important that there are seals on the door frame. In some designs they are already provided, but in many they are absent; making them yourself is not difficult.

Interior doors with sound insulation

When there is a need for maximum protection of the interior door leaf from extraneous noise, only effective sound insulation will resolve the issue. Currently, there are many options for insulating against various sounds that can be used when upgrading the door leaf. Thanks to modern production technologies, it is possible to make doors with maximum sound insulation, but without compromising the strength of the structure.

In the production of soundproofing doors, multilayer technology is used, thereby achieving maximum efficiency without loss of strength. Each individual layer is made of sound-proofing and noise-absorbing material so that the finished fabric is protected.

The main types of materials for sound insulation are: chipboard, MDF and fiberboard. Thanks to the fibrous structure, the expected result is achieved. For additional effect, it is covered with veneer and plastic film. To be sure of the quality of sound insulation of interior doors, you should order the product from the manufacturer or from a trusted supplier.

Laying soundproofing material on the door

The simplest solution, which ensures proper sound insulation of doors, would be insulation of the door leaf followed by upholstery with leatherette, plastic or wood, MDF, chipboard. The material is laid on the base, fixed and upholstered on top with one of the materials listed above.

How do soundproof doors differ from conventional models?

Along with the fact that the market offers a large selection of conventional interior structures, it is quite difficult to determine which of them are soundproofed. If the purchase of canvas is planned on the market, then the seller, for his own benefit, may sell you a product that is completely different from what you need. To avoid getting into an unpleasant situation, it is important to look at the following nuances:

• When purchasing a structure, you need to check the quality certificate and other documents;
• If the canvas is from the manufacturer, then it has a protective film with the company logo and characteristics;
• You should not buy doors without first checking them;
• Availability of high-quality fittings;
• One of the indicators of quality is the cost and the impressed manufacturer’s logo.

Having dealt with all the subtleties, you can choose the ideal canvas for your apartment, which will have a sufficient level of sound protection.

What materials protect against noise?

Foamed polystyrene - absorbs noise well, is easily and tightly laid and fixed - it can be glued with any construction adhesive.

Mineral wool is an excellent soundproofing material. A special feature of use is the need to carefully lay it without creasing the canvas, so as not to impair its qualities as a soundproofing layer. In addition, to prevent mineral wool from crumbling, it is covered with a film on both sides and only then fixed with self-tapping screws or furniture clips to the internal beams of the door structure.

How to choose a door with good sound insulation?

Today, the variety of interior door designs is so great that it is quite difficult to choose just one. It is especially difficult if you come to a building materials store, then without knowing some points it will be problematic to choose the necessary canvas.

When choosing interior door products, first of all you need to look at models with good sound insulation. As a rule, such products have a fibrous material in their design, which provides the necessary degree of protection. It is worth understanding that canvases with glass inserts do not insulate sounds well, so it is better to give preference to solid structures.

When you choose interior designs, you need to look not only at the canvas, but also at the door frame. It is important that the width of the seams between the two products does not exceed two millimeters, otherwise the sound insulation will be very poor.

To purchase a high-quality product, you should contact special centers where original products are presented; in this case, you can avoid purchasing a low-quality product. If the decision to purchase has been made, then you should definitely inquire about the composition of the fabric and components. If there is documentation, then it is worth comparing the data in the documents and the design.

Today, quite often, products are sold via the Internet. You can buy a high-quality door for a room if you cooperate with a trusted supplier or if the online store works directly from the manufacturer. When choosing a product on the Internet, it is important to initially request documentation; if everything is in order, you can make payment.

A visual assessment of the door panel is also important, since you can immediately see whether the item is of high quality or not. The front part of the canvas should not contain defects, the corners should not be knocked down and all accessories should be in place. High-quality fittings can be seen not only visually, but also by touch. Based on these features, you can determine the quality of the product offered.

Why do you need soundproof doors?

It seems that everything is clear: soundproof doors are needed in order to absorb sounds and not allow unnecessary noise into the room. Because if noise with a volume of 35 to 50 dB bursts into the room, then it will not be comfortable to be in such a room.

A sound-absorbing door is also needed to ensure that sounds do not leave the room. This is important for those people who like to listen to music loudly, watch TV or play musical instruments.

Special rooms are worth considering separately:

• Meeting rooms
• Recording studios
• Executive offices
• Hotel rooms

Soundproof doors must be installed in them.