The Evil door from H*LL!!!

[Itsgrandzbaby]

I have a stupid door in my studio that is the king of leakage. I can't mix when my girlfriend watches TV because (even with the tv volume low) the sounds of jersey shore leak into my recordings. What can I do to fix that. Pic below.

[JoRillo]

Have you looked into the cost of a new door? Stopping sound from going out and coming in requires mass.

[John White]

1. Dump any significant other that watches Jersey Shore.

2. Put an actual door there.

[Starlight]

.. a solid door (or two). Make sure that you have plenty of rubber door seals to make it as airtight as possible because sound is not fussy, it will travel quite happily through air gaps - as you know at the moment only too well.

[JoRillo]

Originally Posted by John White

1. Dump any significant other that watches Jersey Shore.

2. Put an actual door there.

[Itsgrandzbaby]

I should have been more clear in the description, as much as I would love to replace the door I am in an apartment. I don't really know how they would feel about me making renovations.

[JoRillo]

Originally Posted by Itsgrandzbaby

I should have been more clear in the description, as much as I would love to replace the door I am in an apartment. I don't really know how they would feel about me making renovations.

All you really need is a screw driver.

[Rod Gervais]

Originally Posted by Itsgrandzbaby

I should have been more clear in the description, as much as I would love to replace the door I am in an apartment. I don't really know how they would feel about me making renovations.

OK - given that as a part of the criteria - you can either wear good quality headphones - make your GF wear headphones - dump the GF - or live with it.........

I don't really see any other reasonable possible solution if you insist on mixing while she is watching the tube.......

Rod

[Itsgrandzbaby]

Ha. Getting rid of GF is not an Option. Btw it also affects her when my monitors leak outside the rooms and she is doing HW. I was thinking of building acoustic panels, I know that acoustic treatment is not soundproof but would a panel similar to GiK or Realtraps help any?

[Rod Gervais]

No to any degree that would mean anything to you

[Itsgrandzbaby]

Ok I might just get some wood to put in front of the door then cover the area with drapes/curtains.

[JoRillo]

Originally Posted by Itsgrandzbaby

Ok I might just get some wood to put in front of the door then cover the area with drapes/curtains.

Lean your mattress up against it while you work. My mattress is real thick (also not a spring mattress either though) anytime I have needed that extra bit of noise block from the outside that has helped - although my door is a solid door.

[MONSTA_ONE]

Originally Posted by JoRillo

Lean your mattress up against it while you work. My mattress is real thick (also not a spring mattress either though) anytime I have needed that extra bit of noise block from the outside that has helped - although my door is a solid door.

good idea

[darkbuddha]

Try the mattress thing first, but if you're creative and handy, you could probably build some sort of wall/door insert that would fit in that doorway. Or you could build a free standing false wall between that door and your studio space. Neither one should bother/upset the landlord as long as it is non-permanent and minimally invasive. Anything short of that is probably not worth the effort IMHO.

[Itsgrandzbaby]

Originally Posted by darkbuddha

Try the mattress thing first, but if you're creative and handy, you could probably build some sort of wall/door insert that would fit in that doorway. Or you could build a free standing false wall between that door and your studio space. Neither one should bother/upset the landlord as long as it is non-permanent and minimally invasive. Anything short of that is probably not worth the effort IMHO.

I think I'm gonna go with the false wall. Should I use wood or some sort of drywall.

[darkbuddha]

Originally Posted by Itsgrandzbaby

I think I'm gonna go with the false wall. Should I use wood or some sort of drywall.

Good question, and to be honest, I don't know. From a practicality/budget oriented perspective, my inclination would to be to build it like any other wall, with a wood studs/framing, insulation, and drywall. But maybe do a search here and see what others have done. I know there are folks here that have done "room inside a room" builds and stuff with free standing walls, so you should find some good stuff.

[Starlight]

Isolation is achieved with mass - and lots of it. Woods vary in mass with pine being around 400 kg/m3. Drywall is about 250 kg/m3, so for the same thickness panel wood is likely to give you better isolation. Should a drywall panel fall over it would probably shatter - another reason to go with wood. Cost may also be a deciding factor.

The weak point with either material will not be the panels but any gaps around them.

[darkbuddha]

If mass is what you're looking for, consider cement board (sometimes called concrete backer board). That stuff is like 72 lbs/ft3, which is over 1100 kg/m3, but it'll probably be unforgivingly reflective and require a good amount of treatment.

My original though of using drywall was to keep the finishes (and hopefully the acoustic quality) generally uniform in the space. Maybe that isn't as consequential as isolation in this case.

[Itsgrandzbaby]

Originally Posted by Starlight

Isolation is achieved with mass - and lots of it. Woods vary in mass with pine being around 400 kg/m3. Drywall is about 250 kg/m3, so for the same thickness panel wood is likely to give you better isolation. Should a drywall panel fall over it would probably shatter - another reason to go with wood. Cost may also be a deciding factor.

The weak point with either material will not be the panels but any gaps around them.

Yea I think drywall would be a lot easier to work with though because of the fact I can cut it with a utility knife if needed. The indentation in the door way is about 2 inches thick so I'm wondering if putting two precisely cut pieces in their would suffice. I guess I will have to just try it.

[Starlight]

If you make two door sized panels, each 2" thick then they will each weigh approximately 25kg (55lb) which will probably be too heavy to move easily. Two sheets of 1/2" drywall the size of each door will weigh half of that, or about the same as an average 1x12" guitar or bass combo.

A timber frame will provide some protection for the drywall at the edges and corners. Handles will enable you to move the panels much easier. I would run a strip of thick felt along the bottom edge to protect your floor and door seals around the other 2 edges.

[Itsgrandzbaby]

Originally Posted by Starlight

If you make two door sized panels, each 2" thick then they will each weigh approximately 25kg (55lb) which will probably be too heavy to move easily. Two sheets of 1/2" drywall the size of each door will weigh half of that, or about the same as an average 1x12" guitar or bass combo.

A timber frame will provide some protection for the drywall at the edges and corners. Handles will enable you to move the panels much easier. I would run a strip of thick felt along the bottom edge to protect your floor and door seals around the other 2 edges.

Ok.cool thanks. I will go to lowes tomorrow.