How to Build a Soundproofing Door

Replace your door if you have a hollow core door or a door too old and thin to prevent sound from seeping through the material. A solid core door is a good choice for this task, because sound cannot penetrate its mass and can escape only from openings. If you have a solid door already in place, skip this step.

Line the door jamb with closed cell foam tape until the door closes tightly. This will seal the top and sides of the door, preventing sound from coming through. A good way to tell whether you’ve sealed the door jamb completely is to turn a light on outside the door, shut the door, and turn the lights off inside the room you are in. If you see light coming through the seams of the door, it is not sealed completely.

Attach a door sweep at the bottom of the door to seal the space between the bottom of the door and the floor. Simply screw the door sweep into the bottom of the door so that it fills this gap and gently drags across the floor as you open and close the door.

Further soundproof your door by adding more mass to it. Mass loaded vinyl can perform this function effectively. It is flexible, can be cut to fit your door and is better than lead at stopping the transfer of sound. Cut a piece of this material to fit the dimensions of your door and include a hole for the door knob. Attach this material to the door with an adhesive recommended by the manufacturer of the mass loaded vinyl. There are a variety of companies that produce this product. Some variations come with an adhesive backing that allows you to quickly and easily attach the mass loaded vinyl material to the door.