Barn doors are becoming pretty popular these days because they are cheap, easy to install. Also, don’t cost a lot on hardware, and you can DIY without paying for a carpenter or any professional service.
According to the report of the European Environment Agency, traffic is alone the second most harmful source of the noise. That makes you sick!.
That’s why if you are living in any traffic area. Also, your main barn door is not soundproof yet. Then you should try different ways to make it possible.
But barn doors have a major problem: they allow the sound to pass through.
You don’t want people to hear the noises you make in your bathroom, right? Don’t let this simple problem restrict you from taking other benefits of the barn door.
We got a solution and, in this article, we will help you with 10 practical ways to Soundproof barn doors. Not only exterior, but you will also be able to soundproof interior barn doors.
Table of Contents
What is a barn door?
Skip this part if you are familiar with barn doors; however, if you have no idea, it’s made of wood. A cheap barn door is just like wooden planks attached together with the help of iron nails. Some of them even don’t come with a laminate sheet.
They are usually lightweight, budget-friendly and at times come with some gaps. That’s why we need to put extra effort into soundproofing.
Earlier, people used them for garages, outhouses, or backyards, but now you can even find them in the bathroom, living room, kitchen or drawing-room.
That’s another major reason to learn the process to soundproof interior barn doors.
They come in simple to heavy wood material; some barn doors come in amazing color designs. You get multiple options; the more you spend, the better you get.
But a decent budget barn door is enough for soundproofing.
Why Do You Need To Soundproof Barn Door
Of course, you don’t want the people in the other room to hear your secret conversations. Some other reasons include
- Barn doors are lightweight and pass a lot of sounds.
- It would be embarrassing if other people hear the conversations; you don’t want them to listen.
- If your main door is made of the barn, you will be annoyed by the noises coming from the street.
There can be multiple reasons, and everyone got their unique problems. That’s why we have found the top 10 ways to soundproof barn doors that work for all and are best suitable for any issue you face.
10 ways to the soundproof barn door: Easy & Simple
Let us start with the tried and tested options. Not all options are suitable for everyone; select the one that matches your needs.
1. Apply a weatherstrip
Do you know the main cause of passing sounds? It’s because of the extra space left out between the door and the wall or at the bottom. If the door is not sealed properly, the sound will continue to pass whatever you do.
You can apply a weatherstrip on the side of the door and at the bottom. Seal it properly that even air cannot pass while the door is closed.
- Select the matching color strip with the door.
- Use good quality material to get the best results.
- Choose a weather strip that glides well on the floor as you stick at the bottom.
- Watch tutorials if you have never done it before.
It’s one of the common ways that most professional carpenters recommend. With a small investment in a good quality weatherstrip, you can compress the maximum noise.
It works as a barn door gap filler, is easy to apply, and provides the best results if done properly.
2. Use an extra layer of wood
The problem with most barn doors is that they are mostly planks and super lightweight. If you face the same problem, apply an extra layer of wood to your barn door.
This will only work when you have designed a barn door by yourself.
You cannot apply a layer of wood on a door purchased from the market. It will give your door an awkward look, and I’m pretty sure you don’t want that in your home.
If you purchase a barn door from the market, increase your budget and go for a heavy door. Using this method comes with some problems like.
- It costs you extra money, not suitable for low-budget options.
- Makes the door heavy, showing the difficulty for everyday use.
- It deteriorates the design.
This option works amazingly well as it improves the density of the door but comes with some issues.
If color or design is not your priority, this is the best option.
3. Install a door sweep
A door sweep covers the space from the bottom that hinders the passage of air and sounds. Automatically result in reduced noise. It may not be the perfect option, but it helps in noise reduction.
We will suggest you use a brush-style door sweep as it comes with multiple benefits that include.
- They are cheap compared to other door sweeps.
- Doesn’t create a vacuum or don’t stick on the ground.
- Don’t make annoying noises while opening or closing the door.
A door sweep also acts as a barn door gap filler it may not be as effective as the weather strip but works well for minor sound issues.
Ensure you install it properly, as poor installation will result in the door sweep getting stuck in the tiles.
4. Use soundproof curtains
I mean the heavy curtains you can easily find in any local store, or online marketplaces also referred to as soundproof curtains.
Installing those heavy curtains will result in an extra layer, and for best results, apply curtains to both sides of the door. It’s another cheap option that doesn’t require cutting and applying weather strips or installing a door sweep.
You won’t believe it, but installing soundproof curtains will give you amazing results and instant reduction in sound.
- Select good quality and heavy curtains.
- Install curtains on both sides of the door.
- Make the curtain touch the ground, so the sound doesn’t pass from the bottom.
- If possible, use a single curtain instead of two. It gives better results.
In total, installing curtains is one of the easiest options that give you instant results without hassle or investing a lot of money in professional services. Try it!
5. Select an oversized door
We know that the major cause of passing sounds is the gaps between the wall and the door.
The easiest way to cover those gaps is by installing an oversized door that sticks to the wall and the bottom. The extra planks will not allow the air or sounds to pass, resulting in sound reduction.
This trick will only work when you haven’t installed the door yet. I don’t think replacing a door with an oversized one is a good idea; you got other options for such cases.
This option comes with a few problems that include.
- It doesn’t give a decent look, so it’s not usually suitable for indoors or the front door (you need to spend extra time to search for the perfect match)
- It won’t solve your problem if you already have an installed door.
- Increases your budget, and they are usually heavy.
The door doesn’t have to be super oversized. Just 1 point bigger will work. It may look a little awkward, but it will solve your problem.
6. Use quality hardware
To get a soundproof barn door, you need to make sure that everything is tightly fit, and that is only possible when you use good-quality hardware.
You need to open and close that door daily, and if you use poor quality material, the door will develop space between the wall. It will make the sound pass.
Even using poor hardware will leave a crack from the top of the sliding barn door that you won’t be able to notice but impacts a lot. Good quality hardware will include.
- Sliding strip on the top.
- Good and thick glass quality (if your door includes glasswork)
- Better sealant and other adhesives.
Using good-quality hardware will not only give you a soundproof barn door but also improve the overall life of your door.
7. Add a layer of MLV
MLV is Mass Loaded Vinyl, and it’s mostly used for adding mass to walls and ceilings as part of soundproofing.
You can also use it for doors to fill the cracks between the planks or any left-out holes. In total, a Mass Loaded Vinyl will increase the overall mass of the door while filling all the gaps.
It won’t allow any sound or air to pass through the door. On top of that, you can apply a thick coat of oil paint for the best results.
- MLV covers all cracks or holes (that’s the main reason for passing sounds)
- It’s easy to apply, and you don’t have to take a lot of hassle.
- Budget-friendly options (much cheaper than going for an oversized door)
You can use a paintbrush to apply MLV on your door and let it dry for at least a day to get the finest results.
8. Don’t DIY if you know nothing
It may sound like an extra expense, but if you have never installed a barn door before and you are concerned a lot about soundproofing, we don’t recommend you do it yourself.
A carpenter is a professional who has a lot of experience installing these doors. Pay for their services, and you don’t have to worry.
Please specify your exact needs before hiring any professional ask them about
- The type of door you should purchase.
- Which brand of hardware is the best?
- What type of sealant or adhesives do they need?
Tell them clearly about your budget and that you want a soundproof door.
A professional matching with good quality material, the right knowledge, and experience will give you the best results and value for money.
9. Use sound absorbing corner block
It’s another material you can apply to seal the space between the door and the wall. It gives good results when sealing barn doors for bathrooms as it’s quite a sensitive area.
To apply a sound-absorbing corner block, cut exact length pieces of sound-absorbing foam covering the wide gap.
Glue the foam pieces on the door that it glides on the wall while opening and closing the door.
- These corner blocks are specifically made to absorb noises (works the best).
- Easy to install, and you can DIY it.
- Perfectly fits with the doors and doesn’t make any annoying noises on sliding.
Make sure you browse the brand options check online reviews before purchasing the product. As this is something new for you, selecting a poor-quality product will give you multiple issues later.
10. Get a solid core barn door
Here we come to the last option for the soundproof barn door. Do you know there are two types of barn doors?
- Solid core barn doors
- Hollow-core barn doors
Please select a solid core barn door as it is heavier and works best for sound reduction.
If your door includes the glasswork, then check the thickness of the glass. All together, we need a heavier door to compress all kinds of sounds. The denser, the better.
Follow these steps before purchasing a door.
- Check all the related options online.
- Ask from a professional.
- Check reviews and experiences of other people.
Do your research about multiple brands, density, material quality, and hardware quality.
You will open and close that door daily, and if you choose the hollow core barn door or poor-quality material, you will face issues with the sound.
Wrap Up on How to Soundproof Barn Door
Among all these options, you might get confused in choosing the best one for you. Don’t confuse yourself with so many options. Remember, our goal is to make the room soundproof. Follow these key points for the best results.
- You need a thicker door with good quality installing hardware.
- Makes sure you don’t leave any space between the door and the wall. Also, check the bottom should seal the gap properly.
- Use MLV to cover any cracks or holes.
- Ask an expert if you don’t understand. That’s it!
Making a soundproof barn door is not rocket science, and with the right tools and guidance, it gets easier. What do you think? Will you DIY it or go for expert advice?
FAQ: Best Ways To Soundproof Barn Doors
Finding a good Soundproof Barn Door is not easy. While doing research on the Internet, I saw that there were many questions from many people related to this. Out of which I have given answers to 3 important questions in this article.
Q1. What are the best ways to Soundproof Barn Doors?
Ans. The best and most effective way is to use a heavy-density door that properly seals all corners. If somehow any space is left, then cover it with a weatherstrip. If still, you face problems, then use heavy curtains. It’s the most effective way suggested by professionals.
Q2. How do you hide the gap between a wall and a barn door?
Ans. The easiest way to hide the gaps is to apply a weatherstrip, use a sound-absorbing corner block, or install a door sweep. It’s effective, and you will instantly start seeing the best results.
Q3. Do barn doors block out sound?
Ans. Solid core barn doors do block out sounds, but still, they don’t make the room soundproof. You need to install the door properly and make sure the sides and bottom are sealed properly using quality adhesives for the best results.
Hollow core or less dense barn doors hardly block any sound.
