Living next to a busy road can make it sound like rush hour traffic is driving through your house. Loud road noise from cars bleeds through windows easily. Dealing with street noise is a challenge for many homeowners. Even the thickest drywall doesn’t block road noise very well. Loud trucks and motorcycles that drive by your room will make sleeping tough, negatively affecting your quality of life. Trying to soundproof your home and reduce road noise will take creativity and determination.
Here are 5 effective strategies to block road noise and reduce how loud cars are from your house.
1. Seal Gaps
When it comes to soundproofing your house from road noise, the devil is in the details. Small gaps (and cracks) around your doors and windows are open invitations for noise. Dealing with noise around your home can come from something as small as a crack – believe it or not. Thankfully, there’s a simple fix to seal gaps and eliminate noise from the street.
Caulk and weather-strip the cracks along doors and windows to block road noise from cars. These are cost-effective and easy to apply. If you’re having trouble sleeping because of loud cars driving by at night, try caulking gaps along your windows. By sealing these gaps, you prevent external noise from seeping into your home. It’s a quick win in your soundproofing journey.
2. Upgrade Your Windows
If you’re ready to take a bigger step toward making your home quieter next to a busy road, try upgrading your windows. Traditional windows are thin and do little to block out sound. New, double-pane, noise-reducing windows block road noise from sneaking into your home. These windows have multiple layers of glass and are designed specifically to create a barrier against noise.
Upgrading to noise-reducing windows can block out most noise from cars on the road. The ultimate test is large 18-wheeler trucks. If your room still raddles when a truck drives by, you may need to try other noise-reducing methods.
Soundproof Window Inserts
Pull out all the stops if you need to when it comes to protecting your peace at home!
Soundproof window inserts are very effective in blocking traffic noise in your home. Especially if your room faces a loud highway, consider adding window inserts. These inserts are installed on your existing window sill, typically in front of your actual window. They provide a second layer to help reduce car noise from the road that leaks into your room.
3. Soundproof Curtains
Curtains can be powerful tools when soundproofing your home. Regardless of the color, they are more than simple aesthetics. Soundproof curtains are made from thick, heavy materials that can absorb sound waves. This helps prevent sound from echoing around your living space.
Soundproof curtains are an easy and flexible solution to reduce road noise. You can have them installed fairly quickly in the rooms that face the busy roads. Plus, new curtains enhance the look and feel of a home. For those who plan to sell in the future, nice matching curtains will help. You can easily sell a house that comes equipped with nice curtains. Also, the less noisy it is in your home, the easier it will be to find a buyer.
4. Install Acoustic Panels
Acoustic panels are designed to absorb sound waves. They significantly reduce echo and reverberation within a space. If the road is too noisy by your house, consider adding these panels to block the noise. That’s what they are built for!
Acoustic panels allow you to block road noise from cars without destroying your home from the inside. Installing the panels is simple. You can hang them along the walls where the noise is coming from. Once you completely cover the wall in these soundproof panels, then cover the panels with something else. Ideally, use a material that looks nice. Cover the soundproofing foam and let your wall shine with a new accent wall theme.
5. Use Landscaping as a Natural Sound Barrier
Don’t forget the power of nature in your soundproofing efforts. Especially when living in a mobile home, you must use everything you can to your advantage when blocking road noise. Landscaping can be an effective, yet beautiful, way to reduce loud traffic noise.
Planting trees, shrubs, and hedges creates a natural barrier that absorbs and deflects sound. Not only does this help in reducing noise pollution, but it also makes your home a safe place to live. Your home is less exposed and less vulnerable when surrounded by landscaping.
How to Block out Traffic Noise in a Bedroom?
Consider using the 5 soundproofing methods above to block traffic noise in your bedroom. If you need extra firepower, try a white noise machine. These are not everyone’s favorite. However, they have come a long way. You can purchase a white noise machine and customize the sounds to your liking.
Another last-ditch effort to block out traffic noise in your bedroom is to use earplugs. Not everyone wants to sleep in these. So, this solution may not be good long-term. However, if you’re looking for a few quiet nights of rest, use earplugs to block road noise from cars that you can hear through your windows.