Author Topic: Pocket door and soundproofing  (Read 2226 times)

thenewguy

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 35
  • Location: Texas
Pocket door and soundproofing
« on: November 27, 2019, 09:35:06 AM »
I'm using what was designed as a formal dining room as my home office. It's got double pocket doors (hollow core) that don't block much sound, and my kids are noisy. I'm looking for an economical way to block more noise from entering the room.

Filling the existing hollow core doors with cellulose insulation or some other damping material had crossed my mind... but a google search on that suggested that it wouldn't make much difference in terms of sound, and the door hardware would likely have trouble with any additional weight.

It seems like the best bet is going to be to just replace the pocket doors with something like french doors - preferably solid core. I think I'd want to frame out the opening, but not add any additional studs between the inner and outer sheetrock to keep them 'decoupled' (ie, the space in the wall that the pocket doors occupy when they are opened).

Any other simpler options I might be overlooking?

affordablehousing

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 778
Re: Pocket door and soundproofing
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2019, 10:40:46 AM »
Take the sheetrock off one one side and add rockwool, then resheetrock, change to French doors.

lthenderson

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2252
Re: Pocket door and soundproofing
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2019, 01:25:45 PM »
I think I'd want to frame out the opening, but not add any additional studs between the inner and outer sheetrock to keep them 'decoupled' (ie, the space in the wall that the pocket doors occupy when they are opened).

Any other simpler options I might be overlooking?

I think as far as noise abatement, you would get much better results filling the void formerly used by the open pocket doors with good sound insulation versus just leaving it an air gap. Unless there were other factors, I would just remove that wall and reframe it with solid doors and good sound insulation.

But the easiest and cheapest solution might be to just invest in a pair of sound canceling headphones while working. This obviously isn't a solution if you spend a lot of time making and receiving calls.

EricEng

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 605
  • Location: CO
Re: Pocket door and soundproofing
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2019, 12:15:41 PM »
But the easiest and cheapest solution might be to just invest in a pair of sound canceling headphones while working. This obviously isn't a solution if you spend a lot of time making and receiving calls.
Sound cancelling headphones don't work on voices/squeals/screams and random loud noises.  They cancel out droning constant sounds.  I've used multiple bose headphones for 10+ years for work and pleasure.  They are wonderful in loud industrial areas, I can hear people speak without them shouting because it cancels the background noise and leaves their voice.  So this would actually make his problem worse.

Like the others suggested. Add insulation to interior walls. Easier solution is sound dampening boards hung inside and outside your office.  Shove towel under door when it is closed.

conpewter

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 45
  • Age: 44
  • Location: Illinois
Re: Pocket door and soundproofing
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2019, 12:29:55 PM »
Replacing the doors with french doors sounds useful, you can also just add another layer of drywall on one side and use this green glue they have that is sound deadening to attach it to the current drywall