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#1
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Soundproofing traffic noise
I'm looking for anyone with experience solving a soundproofing issue.
I have the privilege of owing a nice condo at a beach resort, but I really don't sleep well there due to the constant traffic noise. The condo is about 30 yards from the costal highway and it can get quite loud. Apparently it's very cool to alter your truck's exhaust system and rev the engine at 2:00 am. Are guys modifying the motorcycle exhaust systems too? The building is concrete with a dryvit styrofoam facing, so I think that's doing a fine job of noise reduction. The bulk of the noise seems to be coming through the sliding glass doors at the south end of the unit. One in the master BR and one in the LR. These glass sliders look to be cheap builders grade low cost doors. They slide fine, don't leak in storms, and generally work ok, but they are your basic 6' sliders. I want to keep the glass doors because they connect to the balcony, let in light, and give nice views. Should I look into buying new glass doors? Do I go top of the line name brand from the local vendor, or are some better than others? I did read that adding a 2nd door outside the original will help, but I'm not sure I want that drastic of a solution. What about rolling blinds? The kind that roll up into an exterior box at the top of the window. Will these just block light, or do they actually help with traffic noise. I'm sure there are other folks who have similar issues, how did you solve them? |
#2
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Soundproofing traffic noise
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#3
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Soundproofing traffic noise
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#4
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Soundproofing traffic noise
Try wearing ear plugs to go to sleep. They are cheap, effective,
inexpensive, and non addictive. |
#5
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Soundproofing traffic noise
Meat Plow wrote:
On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:10:20 -0700, scott21230 wrote: Try wearing ear plugs to go to sleep. They are cheap, effective, inexpensive, and non addictive. What if you're living alone and a smoke alarm goes off? Get the type of alarm deaf folks use. http://azhearing.com/smoke-detectors/Default.htm -- Dave www.davebbq.com |
#7
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Soundproofing traffic noise
On 27 Jun 2007 16:30:20 GMT, Clark wrote:
wrote in news:as2583p4l7s4o87i393esc0qdiuaofccj4@ 4ax.com: I'm looking for anyone with experience solving a soundproofing issue. I have the privilege of owing a nice condo at a beach resort, but I really don't sleep well there due to the constant traffic noise. The condo is about 30 yards from the costal highway and it can get quite loud. Apparently it's very cool to alter your truck's exhaust system and rev the engine at 2:00 am. Are guys modifying the motorcycle exhaust systems too? The building is concrete with a dryvit styrofoam facing, so I think that's doing a fine job of noise reduction. The bulk of the noise seems to be coming through the sliding glass doors at the south end of the unit. One in the master BR and one in the LR. These glass sliders look to be cheap builders grade low cost doors. They slide fine, don't leak in storms, and generally work ok, but they are your basic 6' sliders. I want to keep the glass doors because they connect to the balcony, let in light, and give nice views. Should I look into buying new glass doors? Do I go top of the line name brand from the local vendor, or are some better than others? I did read that adding a 2nd door outside the original will help, but I'm not sure I want that drastic of a solution. What about rolling blinds? The kind that roll up into an exterior box at the top of the window. Will these just block light, or do they actually help with traffic noise. I'm sure there are other folks who have similar issues, how did you solve them? Not necessarily solved the sound pollution problem but have helped it by installing double pane windows and sliding door. Big difference in sound over the old single pane, aluminum frame windows and sliding door. Have you considered adding storm shutters? You could close them when sleeping and retract them when you wanted the view. I'm thinking of the segmented aluminum storm shutter that retracts into a roll above the window or door. I talked to a local company http://www.alutech.com/ about storm shutters but they didn't have any information about noise reduction. They generally just do these for weather protection. I'm curious if the shutters actually help reduce traffic noise. |
#8
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Soundproofing traffic noise
If you are replacing the sliding doors look for triple pane. Like the double
pane glass units the triple panes are better for heat insulation, and should improve sound blocking. I also read somewhere that glass units made with different thicknesses of glass, unlike most units that have all the glass sheets the same thickness, different thicknesses of glass supposedly will vibrate at different frequencies and reduce the noise transmitted. Heavy drapes will also cut down on noise transmission. wrote in message ... On 27 Jun 2007 16:30:20 GMT, Clark wrote: wrote in news:as2583p4l7s4o87i393esc0qdiuaofccj4@ 4ax.com: I'm looking for anyone with experience solving a soundproofing issue. I have the privilege of owing a nice condo at a beach resort, but I really don't sleep well there due to the constant traffic noise. The condo is about 30 yards from the costal highway and it can get quite loud. Apparently it's very cool to alter your truck's exhaust system and rev the engine at 2:00 am. Are guys modifying the motorcycle exhaust systems too? The building is concrete with a dryvit styrofoam facing, so I think that's doing a fine job of noise reduction. The bulk of the noise seems to be coming through the sliding glass doors at the south end of the unit. One in the master BR and one in the LR. These glass sliders look to be cheap builders grade low cost doors. They slide fine, don't leak in storms, and generally work ok, but they are your basic 6' sliders. I want to keep the glass doors because they connect to the balcony, let in light, and give nice views. Should I look into buying new glass doors? Do I go top of the line name brand from the local vendor, or are some better than others? I did read that adding a 2nd door outside the original will help, but I'm not sure I want that drastic of a solution. What about rolling blinds? The kind that roll up into an exterior box at the top of the window. Will these just block light, or do they actually help with traffic noise. I'm sure there are other folks who have similar issues, how did you solve them? Not necessarily solved the sound pollution problem but have helped it by installing double pane windows and sliding door. Big difference in sound over the old single pane, aluminum frame windows and sliding door. Have you considered adding storm shutters? You could close them when sleeping and retract them when you wanted the view. I'm thinking of the segmented aluminum storm shutter that retracts into a roll above the window or door. I talked to a local company http://www.alutech.com/ about storm shutters but they didn't have any information about noise reduction. They generally just do these for weather protection. I'm curious if the shutters actually help reduce traffic noise. |
#9
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Soundproofing traffic noise
wrote:
I'm looking for anyone with experience solving a soundproofing issue. I have the privilege of owing a nice condo at a beach resort, but I really don't sleep well there due to the constant traffic noise. The condo is about 30 yards from the costal highway and it can get quite loud. Apparently it's very cool to alter your truck's exhaust system and rev the engine at 2:00 am. Are guys modifying the motorcycle exhaust systems too? http://www.soundproofing.org/ In general you want to block air exchange. Air caries sound very well. (Try opening your car's window as a train is going by.) Next you want weight. Heavy things (drywall lead sheets etc.) block sound well. In your case double pane glass doors. You also want to prevent any direct solid connections. Stagger wall studs or use special isolation devices to keep the sound from traveling through the wall (remember the two cans on a string (well wire actuarially worked) you want to break the wire). Filling in wall cavities with sound absorbing materials (accustical fiberglass bats) will do a little. Point source control (special absorption material) at the source of the sound will also help. This might be plants or walls of some sort to re-direct or absorb the noise. -- Joseph Meehan Dia 's Muire duit |
#11
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Soundproofing traffic noise
wrote in message ... I'm looking for anyone with experience solving a soundproofing issue. I have the privilege of owing a nice condo at a beach resort, but I really don't sleep well there due to the constant traffic noise. The condo is about 30 yards from the costal highway and it can get quite loud. Apparently it's very cool to alter your truck's exhaust system and rev the engine at 2:00 am. Are guys modifying the motorcycle exhaust systems too? Call the cops about that. There are noise laws that will deal with that problem. No amount of insulation, new doors or new whatever will fix that. As for the doors, don't get aluminum framed anything. I'd also vote for french doors rather than sliding doors. Why? The french doors pull in and seal against something. the top & bottom edge of the sliding doors don't push against anything to seal; they rely on fabric weatherstrips that wear out & let sound in. French doors are probably more thug-resistant too; it's pretty easy to take a sliding door out of it's track from the outside (lift it up, unless something's in the top track to prevent that) and of course can be forced open. |
#12
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Soundproofing traffic noise
I'm looking for anyone with experience solving a soundproofing issue.
Should I look into buying new glass doors? Do I go top of the line What about rolling blinds? The kind that roll up into an exterior box besides the other suggestions of installing triple pane windows/doors, heavy (I mean really heavy) drapes and curtains will absorb alot of sound. |
#13
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Soundproofing traffic noise
gut walls, have expanding foam installed, excellent insulation and
sound proofing, install low noise drywall, can be mounted on noise reduction holders but you lose a inch or two of room. install new noise reduction windows, possibly storm shutters, heavy drapes too. then create some white noise indoors, leave a box fan running, a noise generator, rain drops, nice noises like that. see town council have them put up siigns on the highway no jake brakes between 9 pm and 6 am. talk to your neighbors the noise must be bugging them too. besides they may have some creative solutions |
#14
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Soundproofing traffic noise
wrote: I'm looking for anyone with experience solving a soundproofing issue. I have the privilege of owing a nice condo at a beach resort, but I really don't sleep well there due to the constant traffic noise. The condo is about 30 yards from the costal highway and it can get quite loud. Apparently it's very cool to alter your truck's exhaust system and rev the engine at 2:00 am. Are guys modifying the motorcycle exhaust systems too? The building is concrete with a dryvit styrofoam facing, so I think that's doing a fine job of noise reduction. The bulk of the noise seems to be coming through the sliding glass doors at the south end of the unit. One in the master BR and one in the LR. These glass sliders look to be cheap builders grade low cost doors. They slide fine, don't leak in storms, and generally work ok, but they are your basic 6' sliders. I want to keep the glass doors because they connect to the balcony, let in light, and give nice views. Should I look into buying new glass doors? Do I go top of the line name brand from the local vendor, or are some better than others? I did read that adding a 2nd door outside the original will help, but I'm not sure I want that drastic of a solution. What about rolling blinds? The kind that roll up into an exterior box at the top of the window. Will these just block light, or do they actually help with traffic noise. I'm sure there are other folks who have similar issues, how did you solve them? I have been researching windows for noise reduction for my home, although not as drastic a situation as you have. As you describe it, it's not a just a matter of "double pane" or "triple pane" windows. You need specially designed ones that have laminated glass. For such an extreme situation, laminated glass is the only thing that will make much difference. The bad news is the it is VERY expensive. One company I have looked at has a "quite line" or maybe it's called serenity. Anyway, check out http://www.milgard.com/ and find the sound control windows. They come in different STC ratings (higher the better and also more expensive). Again, these will run you at least two to three times the cost of regular dual pane windows. Other brands offer these too, usually used around airports. One suggestion: when getting a replacement window contractor, see if there is a "glass shop" in your city that does the replacements and hopefully carries a good quality brand. Unlike most of the replacement guys who have jumped into this now popular field, the glass shop guys usually are much more educated on noise issues. -- John |
#16
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Soundproofing traffic noise
On Jun 27, 1:20 pm, Meat Plow wrote:
On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:10:20 -0700, scott21230 wrote: Try wearing ear plugs to go to sleep. They are cheap, effective, inexpensive, and non addictive. What if you're living alone and a smoke alarm goes off? I would still hear that. |
#17
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Soundproofing traffic noise
In article ,
says... As for the doors, don't get aluminum framed anything. I'd also vote for french doors rather than sliding doors. Why? The french doors pull in and seal against something. the top & bottom edge of the sliding doors don't push against anything to seal; they rely on fabric weatherstrips that wear out & let sound in. This could be a regional issue, having to do with energy codes, but there are sliding doors available that have very durable non-fabric weatherstripping that seals very effectively against noise as well as air movement. Noise insulation and temperature insulation aren't the same thing, of course, but you might look at sliding doors designed for colder winters. I'd also suggest one with a deadbolt lock that keeps it from being lifted off its tracks. -- is Joshua Putnam http://www.phred.org/~josh/ Updated Infrared Photography Gallery: http://www.phred.org/~josh/photo/ir.html |
#18
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Soundproofing traffic noise
In article ,
Meat Plow wrote: On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 21:21:56 -0600, Bob M. wrote: wrote in message ... I'm looking for anyone with experience solving a soundproofing issue. I have the privilege of owing a nice condo at a beach resort, but I really don't sleep well there due to the constant traffic noise. The condo is about 30 yards from the costal highway and it can get quite loud. Apparently it's very cool to alter your truck's exhaust system and rev the engine at 2:00 am. Are guys modifying the motorcycle exhaust systems too? Call the cops about that. There are noise laws that will deal with that problem. No amount of insulation, new doors or new whatever will fix that. As for the doors, don't get aluminum framed anything. I'd also vote for french doors rather than sliding doors. Why? The french doors pull in and seal against something. the top & bottom edge of the sliding doors don't push against anything to seal; they rely on fabric weatherstrips that wear out & let sound in. French doors are probably more thug-resistant too; it's pretty easy to take a sliding door out of it's track from the outside (lift it up, unless something's in the top track to prevent that) and of course can be forced open. I just put in a sliding glass patio door at my girl's house and you're right, that whole sliding panel will pop out with just a small prybar. I didn't tell her that, don't want her to have nightmares. That's funny, I just fixed the rolling glass door at my girl's house, and found that I had to remove the fixed panel in order to remove the slider. And the fixed panel is bolted to the frame from inside. But, as mentioned, a couple of screws inside the track at the top will secure sliding doors and sliding windows, too. |
#19
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Soundproofing traffic noise
wrote in message ... I'm looking for anyone with experience solving a soundproofing issue. I have the privilege of owing a nice condo at a beach resort, but I really don't sleep well there due to the constant traffic noise. The condo is about 30 yards from the costal highway and it can get quite loud. Apparently it's very cool to alter your truck's exhaust system and rev the engine at 2:00 am. Are guys modifying the motorcycle exhaust systems too? If it's bothering you, it's probably bothering the neighbors as well. Perhaps the condo association will plant some evergreen trees as a sound barrier? Or a fence? Though as someone else said, you should work on getting the noise stopped, not just blocking it. |
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