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soundproofing doors inexpensively

17 years ago

I am a Sunday School Supt. who needs a relatively inexpensive soundproofing solution. Our classrooms (both permanent and temporary walls) are located off the central fellowship area, where the adults chat for 15-20 minutes over coffee after the children's classes begin. It is difficult for the teachers during that time. Replacement temporary hanging walls are going to be ordered for 3 of the rooms with a soundproof level of 41, but the real culprit is the required ventilation space beneath the doors - and perhaps the glass viewing rectangles in them as well.

Any products out there that would work well? I have seen door jambs that spring down when the door is closed for a couple of hundred each, but is there a less expensive product?

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Comments (5)

jejvtr
17 years ago
What are the ventilation requirements? not sure I follow why cant you have a tight fitting door?

If that is the case you could purchase rubber gasket to be attached to bottom - but that seems defeating the "ventilation requirement"
jubileej
Original Author
17 years ago
Jejvtr, I talked with one of the trustees today and he explained that the furnace cannot work properly if air is blocked from under the doorways, even for the length of the Sunday School class. Something to do with air movement to the ventilation ducts.

When we build our new addition, perhaps the design can take these concerns into consideration so that the rooms can be made more soundproof. A detailed internet search showed me that the best of soundproofing measures will be undercut if there is airspace around the door.
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Jon1270
17 years ago
Have you considered moving the conversing adults elsewhere?
mightyanvil
17 years ago
The "ventilation" issue is probably bogus.

A normal undercut of 1/2" (with a threshold if needed) will avoid the door binding against a carpet and might allow enough make-up air for a bathroom exhaust fan to work properly but not for return air from a classroom or any other occupied room. For that kind of space the undercut would have to be at least several inches and that is illegal in most jurisdictions and unsighty. When return air is allowed to pass through a corridor or an adjacent space it must pass through a transfer duct in the wall or ceiling which can be baffled to reduce sound transfer.

You should first have a good HVAC contractor or engineer look at the whole system and advise you on how to properly handle the return air from the space. (It can't be working properly now if the undercut is really part of the system)

At any rate, the door undercut should be eliminated as part of the HVAC system and then you can add edge seals from Zero. Covering the entire door with a hardwood veneer plywood panel with edge banding helps a lot.

Here is a link that might be useful: Zero sound seal gaskets
jubileej
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks again mucho, anvil. My trustee friend did say something about the returns not being properly set up back in the day - so you better believe they will look more closely for our new addition.

Well, jon - had thought that flicking the lights early to break it up was going to be the path of least resistance, but apparently not so - the extended time was due to popular (and recent) request.

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