Isolation mounts can definitely help, but honestly, I've found that swapping out the opener itself for a belt-driven model makes even more difference. When we renovated our last flip, I tried isolation mounts first—pretty good, but still noticeable hum through the walls. Then switched to a belt drive...night and day improvement. If you're already investing in soundproofing measures, might be worth considering upgrading the opener itself instead of just quieting down the vibrations afterward.
I had a similar experience with a flip last year. Tried isolation mounts first, and yeah, they helped a bit, but I still got complaints from the neighbors about noise late at night. Finally bit the bullet and went belt-driven—huge improvement, no more awkward conversations next morning. Curious though, anyone tried those direct-drive openers? I've heard they're even quieter than belt drives, but haven't tested one myself yet...
"Curious though, anyone tried those direct-drive openers? I've heard they're even quieter than belt drives, but haven't tested one myself yet..."
Yeah, I put a direct-drive opener in a rental property last summer after dealing with similar noise complaints. Honestly, it's impressively quiet—definitely quieter than the belt-driven one I have at home. Installation was straightforward too, fewer moving parts means less maintenance down the line. They're a bit pricier upfront, but worth it if you're trying to keep neighbors happy and avoid headaches later on...
I swapped out my old belt-drive for a direct-drive about two years ago after the belt started slipping. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much difference, but it surprised me—it's noticeably quieter, especially late at night when everything else is dead silent. Installation was pretty straightforward too, fewer parts to mess with. My only gripe is the cost upfront, but like you said:
"worth it if you're trying to keep neighbors happy and avoid headaches later on..."
Has anyone noticed if they hold up better long-term compared to belt drives?
I've had my direct-drive opener for about five years now, and honestly, it's been rock solid. My old belt-drive wasn't terrible, but I did have to replace the belt once and adjust tension a few times. With the direct-drive, there's just fewer moving parts to wear out, so less maintenance overall. I'd say long-term durability is definitely better—at least in my experience. Plus, like you mentioned, the quietness is a huge bonus late at night...neighbors haven't complained once since I switched.
