If you have hollow doors in your home, soundproofing them can help create a more quiet, comfortable space. Here are the best ways to soundproof a hollow-core door:
1. Add Mass to Your Hollow Door
Your first soundproofing option is to add mass to your door. Adding mass increases the amount of molecules sound waves need to travel through, resulting in higher soundwave energy exertion and lower noise transfer. When adding mass to your door, you have a few options.
Acoustic Foam Panels
Acoustic foam panels are sheets of foam you can use for virtually any soundproofing project. Technically, acoustic foam panels are sound-absorbing solutions rather than soundproofing. They minimize reverberations by collecting excess sound waves that bounce off hard surfaces, like wood. And these panels prevent inside noise from escaping the room.
You can either install these panels on the door’s surface or, if you’re handy and prefer more involved DIY projects, you could install the foam material inside the door for sound absorption. For that installation, you’d remove the hollow door from its hinges, take the door apart and install the foam material inside.
Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Barriers
MLV barriers — made of salts, sands and tiny metal particles — are environmentally friendly alternatives to antiquated soundproofing materials. Typically, MLV barriers rest in drywall and plywood assemblies. But, the thin Quiet Barrier™ MD Soundproofing Material works well at adding mass to soundproof your hollow-core door.
TheQuiet Barrier™ MD Soundproofing Material has three layers — a core barrier that absorbs impact noises and two external foam layers that trap airborne noises and minimize reverberations.
Quiet Door™ Acoustic Panel
The Quiet Door™ Acoustic Panel is an effective, easy-to-install solution that applies as a door covering. The two-part construction features a sound-deadening polymer and a fabric-wrapped acoustic panel for an attractive finish. The door covering has a low profile, and it also accepts push pins to display items for a customizable look.
How Do You Attach Something to a Hollow-Core Door?
Generally, you can add mass to your door using a peel-and-place application or a soundproofing adhesive.
Some soundproofing materials, like Soundproof Cow’s reinforced aluminum-facing acoustic foam or the Quiet Door™ Acoustic Panel, have a peel-and-place application. To apply these materials, all you need to do is remove the adhesive covering and place it directly onto your door. The adhesive will lock into place, making this project simple.
You’ll need a soundproofing adhesive for materials without a peel-and-place application. Use a reliable adhesive, like the PL® Premium Polyurethane Construction Adhesive, to ensure long-term applications. Use the adhesive like a glue — apply it to your door or soundproofing material, then press the two together.
2. Use Soundproofing Blankets Over The Door
Soundproofing blankets are ideal for surfaces you want to soundproof but can’t necessarily be decorated with sound-absorbing materials like art acoustic panels. Soundproofing blankets drape on one side of your door either temporarily or permanently, depending on your needs.
For example, if you’re soundproofing a door to a theater, you may want a permanent soundproofing blanket solution. Or, if you’re soundproofing an office door, consider investing in a temporary solution you can apply during working hours. For soundproofing blankets, you have a couple of options.
Quiet Barrier™ Fiberglass Composite
Soundproof Cow’s Quiet Barrier™ Fiberglass Composite is a soundproofing solution that gives you lasting results. It has a 1/8-inch impact noise barrier that’s reinforced with a Polyester Film facing, as well as a 1-inch quilted fiberglass material layer that absorbs airborne noises.
Quiet Barrier™ Fiberglass Composite is a long-term solution. Apply it to your door using a reliable soundproofing adhesive, like the PL® Premium Polyurethane Construction Adhesive. When securing to your door, apply the adhesive the fiberglass side of the composite.
Quiet Barrier™ Acoustic Quilts
The Quiet Barrier™ Acoustic Quilt is a sound-deadening material that dampens sound waves. It resembles a quilted blanket but is made of nonporous vinyl that works well at absorbing excess sound.
This soundproofing blanket is a temporary barrier, so you can put it up and take it down whenever you want. You can also invest in an acoustic quilt for multi-purpose use. Use it to soundproof your door, tent, music studio, car and more.
The Quiet Barrier™ Acoustic Quilt has hanging rings, which you can support with eye hooks, chains or nails and screws, depending on your door’s capabilities. Soundproof Cow offers the quilt in many sizes, including 2-by-4 feet, 4-by-4 feet and 8-by-4 feet. Choose a size that can comfortably cover your door’s surface area.
3. Soundproof the Door Frame
Take a detailed look at your door frame. Around the perimeter, you’ll notice a small gap. Sound waves easily travel through this air-filled gap causing excess noise transfer, but there are ways to address this.
Quiet Door™ Perimeter Seal
The Quiet Door™ Perimeter Seal is an aluminum and silicone-based soundproofing tool that fits around the space surrounding your door. It has an aluminum base, which fixes into your doorframe, and a silicone filling to form a tight seal to your door.
Installation is fairly simple, requiring a drill, Phillips screwdriver, tape measure and hacksaw for trimming. Because of its adjustable qualities, the Quiet Door™ Perimeter Seal fits almost any door, including your wooden hollow core door.
4. Install a Draft Stopper Underneath The Door
Take a look at the bottom of a door. You’ll notice an even bigger gap, easier for sound waves to pass through than the air-filled spaces around the perimeter gap. Choose a soundproofing solution as a duo to the Quiet Door™ Perimeter Seal.
Quiet DoorDoor Sweep
As the Quiet DoorPerimeter Seal fits in the space around your door, the Quiet Door™ Door Sweep fits in the space between the bottom of your door and the threshold. It’s made of an aluminum base with a silicone seal. This soundproofing tool doubles as a draft stopper, too, creating a more consistent internal temperature and lower monthly utility bills.
5. Use Soundproofing Curtains To Dampen Noise
Soundproofing curtains are great tools to dampen excess noise. They’re made from thick, dense materials and have a porous surface. When buying soundproofing curtains, read the product description. Ensure the curtains are more than just “thick,” as some companies use this trait alone to falsely list their product as soundproof.
Install the soundproofing curtains around your door as you would a window. Find a supportive curtain rod and hang it over your door. Then, drape the curtain on either side of your door, which you can close and open as needed.
6. Use a Door Rug At Either Side Of Your Door
Sound waves reflect off of hard surfaces, including your wooden door and hard-surfaced flooring. Sound waves can bounce off of your hard-surfaced flooring and pass through the cracks surrounding your door, transmitting sound. Prevent this sound transmission by adding rugs to either side of your door.
Carpets are great soundproofing tools because of their porous fibers. When sound waves bounce onto carpets, the carpets’ fibers trap and absorb the sound waves’ energy, preventing them from traveling any farther. Carpets are particularly helpful at capturing airborne noises, but the carpet’s rubberized base is effective at capturing impact noises, too.
