sound proofing an internal sliding door?

Soldato
Joined
27 Nov 2004
Posts
10,327
Location
North Beds
Hey guys,

I have just moved into a new apartment, and one of the bedrooms connects to the lounge with a large sliding door:

TWP_6830.jpg


phonecam_small.jpg


There is an inch gap underneath and at each end of it and sound from the lounge leaks in there like there was no door almost. I was thinking of some kind of foam to seal it up? the door doesn't need to open in reality!

All suggestions taken on board as if my flatmate goes to bed before me the lounge is practically unusable as it stands.

Thanks,

Tom.
 
If it doesn't need to open, how about a big thick heavy curtain.
If you do go down that route you can always stick egg boxes to the door as well behind the curtain :)

This is the cheap option btw :p


EDIT
oh and you need a bigger tele :p
 
Why isn't a pair of ear plugs which 1000s of people wear to bed every night realistic but some Heath Robinson egg crate and foam idea is?
 
I want to stop the sound getting into the room, which ear plugs don't do. I want a permanent (yet reversible) solution that requires no further user input, and i dont necessarily want it to be a bodge..i mean proper soundproofing foam that is designed for this job, which is why I am asking what is out there.

Also that doesn't stop sound coming back into the lounge from his room if he's listening to music etc.
 
Last edited:
This isn't helpful in the slightest so apologies.

But your apartment looks awesome :)

haha thanks, other than the sliding door it isn't too bad!

That's a 42" ??? Jesus your apartment is MAHOOOSIVE :D:D

yeah, 42s look big in some rooms but looks far too small in this room. For a size reference the sofa is over 3 metres wide! Was hard to find somewhere that could fit it in the city centre but it goes amazingly well in here :D we're still unpacking so there's boxes where they shouldnt be and surround speakers out of position etc, but loving it so far :)

Location is great too, view from my bedroom:
view_small.jpg
 
Last edited:
Glorious flat by the way.

Anyway, egg box type stuff does not work for soundproofing, thats a question of acoustics.

And let me tell you soundproofing is a whole different kettle of fish compared to what you're after. You want sound reduction, soundproofing is massively expensive and complicated, sound reduction is more achievable.

To do it properly, for a start, you're going to have to either get a new door or rehang the door and alter the frame to compensate.

If you're renting discuss with the landlord, a gap like that isn't acceptable in terms of fire safety, all rented properties must have correctly fitted firedoors and be up to a certain standard. Which it isn't meeting.

If you own it, you'll need to foot the cost, too bad.
 
Nice flat but WTF is going on with that door! Needs ripping out and doing properly tbh, I really don't know what to suggest that would sort out the problem temporarily and actually look o.k.

I suppose you could stick some foam vertically on the back edge of the wall in pic 3 and along the bottom of the door on the bedroom side to seal the gaps. I'd screw it on, you can always fill/paint the holes easy enough.

Shame such a nice pad has been bodged, no way a professional trade installed that unless they were ordered to. I'd be embarrassed by it!
 
As a tenant your not in a position to do much without putting your deposit at risk, you should speak with the agent or landlord prior to doing any work.

Realistically a builder or carpenter will be needed to sort those type of gaps, nice place thou.
 
This isn't untypical of a few other apartments I viewed, so I highly doubt going back to the landlord is going to achieve anything.

Thinking of getting acoustic insulation foam to plug the gap and then an acoustic dampening curtain to put up in the lounge side. The door itself is really thick and heavy so hopefully that will be enough
 
Retrofitting anything to that door is going to be pretty unsuccessful/expensive, most sealing methods were not designed for sliding doors and require some kind of compression. If it's OK with the landloard I'd remove it and replace it with a conventional acoustically sealed door.

As previous post, an acoustic dampening curtain (plus side & top pelmets) would be your next best option.

It's a pity they didn't use a pocket sliding door, a much better design.
 
I've just had an amazing idea

Fire sock or cavity fire barrier and a heavy curtain, you can shove the fire sock in anywhere and remove it without damage and you'll get permission to erect a heavy curtain if you explain the construction is pony.
 
I wouldn't seal it up as it's a feature of the flat so it can double as a dining room perhaps. I'd put a heavy curtain on both sides.
Nice flat btw.
 
Yer it's pretty common, my old flat in castlefield had the same type of door on the second bedroom, it's so it can used as a dining room/office.

Not a lot you can do unfortunately, it was just nine and the girlfriend at the time spare room so wasn't a problem. Would hate to be in that position sorry, you can't even watch tv on the lowest setting without it being heard!
 
Back
Top Bottom