How to Soundproof a Hollow Core Door? (7 Effective Ways)

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If you can’t seem to find peace in your own home because of noise from slamming doors, neighbours’ loud music, or ongoing construction, then soundproofing your home is necessary.

How to Soundproof a Hollow Core Door

Usually, it’s the doors. They are, of course, the largest opening in our homes, allowing noise to pass through freely. While the best thing to do is change your hollow core door, this can be an expensive and big step.

However, you don’t have to spend a fortune to live without being constantly bugged in your own home.

If you are looking to regain your peace or avoid conflict with your neighbour, here’s the ultimate guide on how to soundproof a hollow core door – simple yet effective DIY tricks.

What is a Hollow Door?

There are different types of doors. They are not all designed to protect your room against the dreaded migrating noise.

Hollow doors are cheaper than solid or wood doors. So, they are mainly used as interior doors. This type of door has two thin layers of veneer sandwiching a corrugated cardboard material or honeycomb.

Because of thin and air-filled construction, they are less durable, cheaper, and tend to allow bugging noise to set in. Furthermore, the frame and the filling in the door’s core can be built differently. This is up to the manufacturer and intended use. Nonetheless, it won’t do a great job shielding you from disturbing external noises.

Does Soundproofing a Hollow Door Work?

It’s okay to want to know if any of this works before investing your energy into these tips and tricks.

Let’s get this out of the way: soundproofing a hollow door does not make the door a perfect sound blocker. However, it’s effective for controlling two types of noises:

Airborne noises come from people chattering or TV and travel through the air. On the other hand, impact noises invade your privacy through solids. Examples are stomping feet or annoying knocks on your doors.

So, the tips and tricks are perfect for absorbing reverberating sounds and attenuating excess impact or airborne noise for a quieter living space.

Types of Doors

As I said earlier, doors are not created the same. It’s essential to know the different types of doors on the market to ensure you can make an informed decision.

Solid wood doors are made of all wood. It’s solid, which is suitable for quieting down external noise. They are ideal for exterior and interior applications.

Solid-core doors have their core made of wood within two layers of veneer. They put up a good resistance against loud noise. Solid-core doors are mostly used for interior applications.
Last, the hollow core doors have an air-filled core with external veneer layers. They are more prone to excess noise and only ideal for interiors.

Pro Tip: Solid doors still allow sound waves to pass through. However, they are more effective for minimizing airborne noise than hollow core doors. No door can completely block out the noise.

How to Soundproof a Hollow Core Door: 7 Effective Ways to Stop the Annoying Noise

Add Mass

Hollow-core doors are air-filled and thin enough for sound waves to pass through. Therefore, adding another layer of soundproofing material helps increase the thickness of the door.
Since your door is likely made from medium-density fiberboard, add some acoustic foam or other effective sound-insulating material for a thicker core. This method works better on drywall. Nonetheless, it will help soften the loud, annoying noise.

Seal Door Frame Gaps

Doors are one of many culprits to a noise-invaded room. The cracks in the door frame serve as opening for moisture, wind, and air to travel through. You can cover up those cracks using a door seal to keep those noises out of your space.

It’s advisable to use an acoustic caulk or sealant to seal those cracks. They are waterproof, elastic, and soundproof.

Weatherstrip

This option is popularly used to solve the annoying noise from slamming a door. However, it can also help block sound waves leaking through door cracks and corners of your doors.

There are a wide range of strips.

Choosing the right material, length, and thickness for your door is essential. Otherwise, you might need help to open and close your door.

Place a Door Sweep

There’s usually a small gap between the floor and the door. This is easily solved by placing a door sweep at the door’s foot.

Door sweeps are available in vinyl, nylon, acoustic foam, or plastic. Regardless of your option, this door accessory will keep the noise, insects, and dirt out of your room.

Use a Thick Soundproofing Blanket

This is another excellent way to soften the loud noise. Adding a soundproof curtain or heavy blanket on your door helps prevent noise from coming through and improves your room’s overall acoustics.

I recommend pinning the blanket to the door instead of hanging them with adhesive. This way, you can easily remove them and vacuum them regularly. Keep in mind that blankets tend to accumulate dust over time, causing air pollution. So, it’s crucial that you can easily remove it and for thorough cleaning.

Add Acoustic Insulation to the Door’s Core

Reinforcing your hollow core door with acoustic insulation is a more efficient and permanent soundproofing solution. Fill the space between the two plywood panels of your door with an insulation spray foam to increase the door’s mass.

This simple process does not involve removing the panels to achieve. Remove the door knob and use a tube to spray the acoustic foam into the hollow core. It’s vital that you entirely fill the space for significant soundproofing results.

Use a Solid Wooden Door

When it comes to blocking disturbing noise, solid doors perform better than their hollow counterparts. Replacing your hollow-core door is the most reliable solution. It can be expensive if most interior and exterior doors are hollow.

If you can’t afford to change every door in your home, consider changing the exterior hollow doors to solid. It is better at protecting you from noise and intrudes. For the hollow interior, try out any of the aforementioned soundproofing tips to quiet down any noise that makes it past the solid exterior doors.

Pro Tips: how do you tell if your house door is solid or hollow? Knock on the door; if it echoes, then it’s hollow.

Related FAQs

Can I soundproof my hollow core door with door rugs?

Yes! To some degree, you can successfully minimize footstep noise. However, not any type of rug can quiet down the noise to a significant degree. It’s best to use thick rugs and place them on both sides of the door to cancel out the noise effectively.

Do I need to drill holes in my hollow door before filling it with insulation spray foam?

This is absolutely not necessary. You can achieve the same result with less stress by removing the door knots.

What’s the best way to hang a soundproofing blanket on my door?

There are several methods to attach the thick blanket to your hollow door. However, the best method should allow you to remove the blanket for thorough cleaning and easily reattach it. You can use velcro or pin them to the door.

Parting Words

There are many ways to soundproof your hollow core door effectively. I’ve discussed the seven most effective and efficient ways to keep those disturbing noises out of your home and avoid confrontation with your neighbours.

Remember that the best soundproofing solution is replacing your door with a solid wooden one. It offers better security, soundproofing, and peace of mind.

David Briley

David Briley

My name is David Briley, a soundproofing expert with a burning passion for curating and creating audio since adolescence. The need for a quiescent working and living environment cannot be overemphasized.

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