Who of us doesn’t dream that after a hard day we can close the door behind us and sink into soothing silence? But what if we live in a block of flats and we are constantly being disturbed by the sound of conversations from the staircase or the sound of the lift? Fortunately, there are several proven ways to soundproof a flat in a block of flats. If you are looking for help, we will give you some hints on how to achieve the effect of an oasis of tranquillity in your own four corners thanks to properly installed external doors.

A good way to soundproof a flat in a block of flats? – selection and correct installation of the entrance door

One of the best and easiest ways to find a door that restricts the flow of sounds is to use the sound reduction index expressed in a decibel scale – dB. The higher the level, the better the sound insulation. Doors that have a sound reduction index are marked with a decibel value, and notification of this can be found in the marketing materials in the National Declaration of Performance. The sound insulation value can also be found directly on the label, or in accompanying documents such as the warranty card. It is good if the door has a sound reduction value of at least 32dB. This means that the noise coming from outside will be reduced by this value. If the manufacturer offers a choice of a door on a wooden or steel frame, the former should provide better sound insulation, since wood dampens sounds much better than steel. If the manufacturer does not declare the sound reduction index, the thickness of the leaf can be used as a reference. The thicker the leaf, the better, and the recommended minimum value is 46 mm. When buying it is also worth paying attention to whether the leaf has a drop seal, if not, the door must be equipped with a transition threshold. During the installation every care should be taken to ensure that the door leaf fits flush with the frame, as any deviation resulting in gaps will cause a significant deterioration of sound insulation. It is advisable to use good quality fitting foam (preferably acoustic) for mounting, and the frame should always be covered with foam along the perimeter; point applying of fitting foam is unacceptable. A well-fitted frame is a guarantee that soundproofing will not deteriorate over time.

Insufficient sound insulation level? – some good advice

If, for various reasons, we have not decided to replace the door and only want to soundproof the already installed door, it is worth considering several options. The most popular way is to use door upholstery. Ready-made upholstery is available in many colours and sizes – it is not only one of the cheaper options for soundproofing your entrance door, but it also improves thermal insulation. Thanks to the included accessories, we can install the upholstery by ourselves.

Another option, definitely more modern, are various types of acoustic or cork mats available on the market. The only difficulty is the need to sand the door with a corrugated or rough surface.

However, we should not forget that in terms of improving the acoustics, the most important thing is their tightness, for which the seals, threshold and proper door regulation are responsible. None of the above-mentioned methods of soundproofing will bring the desired effect if we do not take care of their tightness. Therefore, all actions should begin with regulation of the door, so that the leaf fits well to the frame. Next, we should check the gaskets in the door frame to make sure they have not become brittle over time, are still flexible and adhere well. If necessary, we should replace them with new ones, of course, as close to the same shape as possible – they can be purchased in DIY stores. As the last step, we should pay attention to the transition threshold, whether it is not damaged or leaky.

Creating in your flat an oasis of tranquillity, where you will enjoy the silence is possible even in a block of flats. All you need is a properly selected entrance door, which provides sound insulation and the proper installation, which will ensure blissful silence for many years.