Home Soundproofing

[KELLY88]

Alright here's the issue. I just moved into a new place. My bedroom window faces a major highway. There's some vegetation between the road and my place but not enough to drown out much of the sound. The traffic noise is driving me insane, especially at night. I'm a light sleeper and if a big rig or motorcycle drives by then it tends to wake me up. I need to do something to quiet the traffic noise.

So far I've tried setting up a loud fan and hung a large blanket over the window. Both ideas helped a little bit but it's still not enough. I looked into quotes at getting a soundproof window but it would cost over $1000 and take 3-4 weeks to get here. I heard a tip that foam rubber in the window could help but when I went to get some it was going to cost over $200. It is only one window but it's a large one, 72" x 58.5" and I'm running out of ideas. I just bought some carpet padding to try out but haven't installed it yet. I figured I would ask some opinions on here.

Has anyone else dealt with constant traffic noise in their home and found an affordable solution? I'm willing to try just about anything.

 

[kerry]

Noise is attenuated by mass. If you could get something massive (steel plate?) that fit in the window, it would help. However, the noise from traffic, especially the low tones will shake the walls, doors & windows transmitting the noise to your ear. Can you move to the back of the building? If not, an earthen berm (think landscaping) could afford some relief.

 

[KELLY88]

I like the berm idea, unfortunately I live on the second floor. A steel plate would be nice but way too much money. And yes I could move to a different bedroom but this is the master bedroom and I've got a lot time put in to make it how I want. It's perfect aside from this small issue. Thank you for the options.

 

[Southern_Trendkill]

I think I've seen sound reducing drapes at Bed Bath and Beyond before. You can also try getting a sheet of that egg-crate foam, glue it to a layer of thick cardboard, so that there's a layer of foam on each side. Get some velcro or elastic and fasten it snugly against the window. If you need, you can stack a couple of these together. I've used that before.

 

[crbnunit]

If you don't need to open that window and light isn't an issue, use some 2" blue foam board. The same stuff they use for insulation. Put a double layer of that in the window and it should help. Cover with heavy drapes for furhter noise reduction. If it is your place, pull the siding from that end of the house and insulate with the blow-in expandable foam type insulation, add another layer of blue foam and reinstall the siding. Plant trees. Complain to the city about their lack of noise abatement and have them build a fence. They help a lot.

Now you know why I hate loud vehicles of any type. Specially hardlys.

 

[backroad101]

could sleep with headphones on (maybe the sound canceling ones). Prob no the most ideal solution but...

.

 

[KELLY88]

There's some good ideas here. I like the eggcrate and cardboard idea. Seems like something I can pull off for relatively cheap. The blue insulation as well sounds good. I wish I could do the outside but I don't have siding, it's just block and stucco. Thanks everyone.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Alright here's the issue. I just moved into a new place. My bedroom window faces a major highway. There's some vegetation between the road and my place but not enough to drown out much of the sound. The traffic noise is driving me insane, especially at night. I'm a light sleeper and if a big rig or motorcycle drives by then it tends to wake me up. I need to do something to quiet the traffic noise.

So far I've tried setting up a loud fan and hung a large blanket over the window. Both ideas helped a little bit but it's still not enough. I looked into quotes at getting a soundproof window but it would cost over $1000 and take 3-4 weeks to get here. I heard a tip that foam rubber in the window could help but when I went to get some it was going to cost over $200. It is only one window but it's a large one, 72" x 58.5" and I'm running out of ideas. I just bought some carpet padding to try out but haven't installed it yet. I figured I would ask some opinions on here.



Has anyone else dealt with constant traffic noise in their home and found an affordable solution? I'm willing to try just about anything.

THe old cardboard egg cartons that are square and hold like 24 eggs. We put them up on our walls to reduce echo in my TV class. Worked like a charm. Problem is the outside surface, If you put somehting on hte outside surface it will break up the soundwaves.

My duplex the shared wall on my side has the rock wall setup. While my landlord has a smooth surface. His sounds comes into my side easily. But sound from my side hits the rocks and is broken up pretty good, ive blasted my tv and he never hears it. Maye put some lattace with a growing vine on the wall by the highway side.