(Solid core?) Doors and soundproofing

A recording studio door cost $6000. And that's without counting installation costs. I'm also into music and bought a couple from a studio closing down. When i looked at how much these door cost new i was speechless!

I don't think I need a totally soundproof recording studio door. I basically just need a door that will match the soundproofness that my walls will provide. I don't want to soundproof my walls, only to have the effect killed by a thin, hollow door. Is solid-core the way to go? How much will that cost me?

Wait, you're basically gutting your walls, hanging sound-absorbing sheets from the studs and replacing all the sheetrock, and you don't want to change out the door??? Assuming this is a standard size door you should definitely get a solid core door as a minimum to keep out everyday noise. It won't be soundproof by any means, but having a hollow core door will basically mean that all the money you've invested in your walls is a waste. Its like putting great insulation in the walls and then having a screen door.

Agree with MH330. A solid core door is not that expensive. if you are going to do something do it right

Don't forget the door sweep and possibly sound insulating material on the side and top. A lot of sound can leak through those small spaces.

there does exist a sound "rating" for doors, called the "STC" (sound transmission class). If you're comparing two doors, pick the one with the higher STC number. not all manufacturers test for this, tho...

"solid" wood can be "MDF" (medium density fiberboard), which are small wood pieces glued together to form a larger, "solid" piece. probably this is what you should be looking at, if budget is a concern. you can find non-mdf
doors built with panels in the middle, which are solid, but the sound would go right through the thin panels. a stout, 3/4" or even 1" mdf door may be heavy (and require three hinges), but kill as much sound as possible. test the weight before you buy at a lumberyard and make sure it's not too heavy for you.

agree with generalogoun that the air space around the hung door is a huge area for sound to pass through and is most often underlooked.

UWS85:

Install a solid core door.
Get Citiproof to install their professional weather-stripping (mostly used for the front apt.door, but can be installed on interior doors. You will need it for your apt. front door too.)

Stop playing your instrument(s) before the "no noise" time, which you can find in your building's house rules. (The sound will travel through your ventilation vents.)

P.S. Check out that snow in N.Y.C. today. Is it sticking?
The snow is big news on the European t.v. weather reports. People are asking if I wish I was home so I can go to Central Park.

I've never gone to Central Park to see/play in the snow. Not even in October.

http://www.gikacoustics.com/

http://www.realtraps.com/

You need to read the book by ethan winer and treat your room to help absorb frequencies. He will educate you on what "sound proofing" is. I never heard of quiet rock. There is only one true way to "sound proof" (really sound minimizing, sound proof is almost impossible). But you would need to essentially build a floating room within a room. Dont waste money on contractors who never built a studio or did real sound proofing.

Rod Gervais is the authority on building studios, his books give great tips on sound proofing too..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ReTr9Syqg

good dyi video

http://www.audimutesoundproofing.com/

if your really on a budget, get some absorption sheets and hang them across your room, it wont sound proof, but it will dead the sound and eliminate high end frequencies.

I called Citiproof to ask if they soundproof interior doors and they said no. I desperately want to do something about 2 bathroom doors where there are 2" gaps between the floor and the bottom of the door. There may as well not be doors there at all for the sound protection they provide. Any recs for companies that do this kind of work?

leee:
Citiproof doesn't "soundproof" doors. But their weatherstripping does cut down on noise considerably. The entire door-frame is sealed with rubber strips and they also seal the bottom gap.

When my music is playing in the living room (closest to my apt. front door ) the sound is reduced, from just outside on the hallway side of the door.
Same for noise from the hallway when I'm inside.

I don't see why they can't install it on interior doors. Call back again and tell them (if you haven't already) that's your reason for wanting it done.

And, if not; ask Primer where to source the rubber stripping and get a handy person/friend to do it for you. Better than nothing.

thanks, will do.

city soundproofing.com and ask for Mason. you need to do more than just the weather stripping though. need fabric too.

Take some measurements of the gaps and the door frame. Go to Home Depot and ask. They will point your to many options. For the top and the sides it's really just a question of the width, thickness and material (normally rubber or closed cell foam). Standard colors are white brown and gray. For the bottom of the door, you are going to need to attached a piece to close the cap and seal against the floor or saddle. Again that's mostly just a question of dimensions and aesthetics.

Sealing the gaps on an interior door is really not very complicated, and the materials are so cheap that even a little trial and error will cost you a fraction of what a service person will charge.

This won't give you a sound proof door, but it will make a huge difference.

leee: Great acoutitics in the bathroom!

acousticts.

You know what I mean, leee...

Play on.

May I ask: What instruments do you play?

i've tried home depot, finding someone who has a clue is the hardest part. anyway, last time i went i was told there weren't any sweeps that would cover a 2" gap.

with a 2 inch gap, you need a new door. nothing can be done to cover a gap that size that will look good.