8 Ways to Soundproof a Barn Door

Adding a barn door to your home design can make any room look more aesthetically pleasing. As great as they look though, there is one drawback with barn doors. They aren’t always ideal for blocking sound.

The door itself is usually more soundproof than your average one due to its weight and density. But by design, gaps are left between the wall and the door itself, allowing noise to travel into other rooms.

That doesn’t mean you’re doomed for controlling the noise in your home though. There are plenty of ways to soundproof a barn door, and if you’re diligent, you’ll have a much quieter home.

Control The Air Movement

Wherever air flows the easiest is where most of your sound escapes. In the case of barn doors, it’s the gaps along the perimeter of your door, and even the smallest crack will let sound through.

Keep this in mind when you’re using the following methods, and anytime you need to troubleshoot how to stop noise from flowing through your home.

How To Soundproof a Barn Door

1. Expand Barn Door Size to Ensure Proper Coverage

Having a barn door that’s too small doesn’t look as nice and also makes it much harder to soundproof.

Get out your measuring tape and take some measurements before buying. Your barn door should be two to three inches wider than the door opening and about an inch taller at the top.

2. Install Weather Stripping

Weatherstripping is an easy and inexpensive way to stop some noise from traveling between rooms.

Attach it along the door’s perimeter to create a tight seal when it’s closed. You want the weather stripping to glide nicely on the floor but still create a firm seal.

3. Install Brushed Door Sweeps

Brushed door sweeps are very durable, and the thick hair is effective at sealing gaps and creating a tight seal at the bottom of your door.

Most door sweeps will come in various sizes but are easy enough to cut to the width of your barn door if needed.

4. Install Acoustic Foam Strips

Barn doors have an inch or two gaps between the door and wall because it needs the room to slide over the baseboard when you’re opening and closing it.

A great way to seal this gap is to install acoustic foam strips between the door and your wall. Depending on the size of the opening, you can also use foam blocks to bring you the same results.

The best part about this method is that the foam is soft enough not to damage the wall or door when you’re sliding it but creates a tight enough seal to absorb any sound.

5. Install Acoustic Foam Panels Outside

If you’re still not happy with the level of soundproofing after you’ve taken care of the gaps, you can move onto the actual door itself. Adding acoustic foam panels on the outside of the door will absorb much of the amplitude that passes through them.

They’re easy to install using Command Strips that won’t damage your door if you remove them.

6. Install Soundproof Curtains

If the barn door isn’t one you use very often, or you don’t mind moving curtains when you need to enter or exit a room, soundproof curtains could be a good option.

They’re made with materials that excel at absorbing sound, are designed to be much thicker than regular curtains, and are often pleated. While they won’t stop sound from passing through, they will effectively muffle the noise, adding to your overall soundproofing treatment.

7. Use Solid Core Barn Doors

If you haven’t bought your door yet, or you’re open to the option of buying a new one, then opt for a solid core barn door.

Their density makes them much better at reducing sound than the more common hollow core doors. They are more expensive and much heavier though. You should make sure you use high-quality, sturdy hardware when hanging to avoid potential damage.

8. Employ a Carpenter

Most homeowners are completely capable of installing a barn door themselves and often do a decent job. But if you don’t have much experience, it’s easy to leave unnecessarily large gaps.

Hiring a carpenter with experience hanging barn doors is a good idea if your goal is to efficiently soundproof a room. They will ensure your door sits as close as possible to your wall without causing damage when you open and close it.

Final Thoughts

Most soundproofing methods are easy to install and aren’t too hard on the wallet either. But there’s no one perfect solution.

Every situation is different, and you’ll find some ways will work better for you than others. Usually, the most effective way to block sound is to stack together multiple soundproofing methods until you’re happy with the results.