Interesting to hear about the door thing, never would have guessed it made that much difference. I'm thinking about doing something similar on a budget—anyone know if weatherstripping alone helps much, or is a solid-core door really necessary? Trying to avoid spending a fortune, but also don't wanna waste time on half-measures...
Weatherstripping alone helps a bit, especially if your current door has noticeable gaps—but honestly, if noise is a real issue, a solid-core door makes a huge difference. Learned this the hard way after trying cheaper fixes first...ended up spending more in the long run.
"Weatherstripping alone helps a bit, especially if your current door has noticeable gaps—but honestly, if noise is a real issue, a solid-core door makes a huge difference. Learned this the hard way after trying cheaper fixes first...ended up spending more in the long run."
Totally agree on the solid-core door. I had a similar experience when remodeling my own place last year. Initially thought weatherstripping and some heavy curtains would do the trick—nope. Still heard every single conversation from next door (and their dog barking at 6 am...). Finally bit the bullet and installed a solid-core door plus some sound-blocking insulation in the shared wall.
Honestly, it was night and day. The insulation itself made a noticeable difference, especially with muffling voices and TV noise. But pairing it with the solid-core door really sealed the deal. Now I barely notice they're there unless they're having a full-blown party or something.
If you're serious about cutting down noise, I'd say insulation is definitely worth considering—but don't underestimate how much doors matter too. Learned that lesson firsthand!
Solid-core doors definitely help, but honestly, insulation was the real game changer for me. When I renovated my bedroom wall (shared with a noisy neighbor who loved late-night gaming sessions), I went with soundproof drywall and insulation. It wasn't cheap, but it cut down noise dramatically—way more than just upgrading the door did. Curious though, did anyone here try acoustic panels or foam? Wondering if those actually do anything noticeable or if they're mostly hype...
"Curious though, did anyone here try acoustic panels or foam? Wondering if those actually do anything noticeable or if they're mostly hype..."
I've messed around with acoustic foam panels in my home office setup. Honestly, they're decent for reducing echo and improving audio quality inside the room itself (great for Zoom calls or recording), but they don't really block external noise much. For actual soundproofing from neighbors, insulation and drywall upgrades like you did are definitely the way to go. Sounds like your renovation was spot-on...worth every penny, right?
