How do you sound proof the exterior of your home?
by
Kathy Faile
+11
I live in the center of a cul-de-sac and can hear every noise that goes by 2 streets over to include music from car stereos. Is there anything I can put on the outside of my house (other than brick or stucco) and then cover it with cedar shakes to improve the noisiness?
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Bushes might help.
I found that replacing my windows with insulated glass helped a lot.
Styrafoam then redo siding
Have your windows replaced. Very expensive, but it makes a huge difference. I am replacing the windows on my house. Will take me four years. Doing one side of the house at a time.
Hi Kathy! Soft surfaces like heavy curtains help. Another option is adding panels to interior or exterior walls that are designed for soundproofing (they are usually listed as acoustic). Are your walls well insulated? Insulating has the added benefit of lowering your heating and cooling bills. Double paned windows with good weather stripping helps, also.
https://www.hometips.com/buying-guides/soundproofing-insulation.html
Bless you! Constant traffic noises are fatiguing, even when you think you're blocking them out. It sounds like you've tried a lot. I hope you find something to help.
Hi, Kathy,
Adding heavy weight lined draperies that measure at least 2.5 times the width of your window frames plus returns will help. Ideally, they should run floor to ceiling.
Planting some larger pines in your yard near the road, in addition to dense shrubbery closer to your house may also help absorb sound. If your yard is flat, think about adding "island plantings", because the additional height should help break the sound travel.
It's a shame that your windows are such poor sound insulators. Some brands are much better than others at reducing noise.
Cork is excellent as a sound absorber. You may want to create some cork panels that can be placed in areas where noise is most irritating. Using padding beneath wall to wall carpet will absorb more sound that bare floors. Textured walls and ceilings used in older plaster walls are better at handling noise. Hardwood floors are better than tile and laminates. Upholstered furniture will help absorb sound more than plain wood surfaces.
Your municipality most likely has codes re: noise levels from car stereos, dogs barking, motorcycles and vehicles, etc.. If you believe them to be excessive, a call to your local authority may be in order.