Soundproofing my Apartment that is Next to Train Tracks - WFH
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- čas přidán 18. 05. 2024
- My apartment in Kuala Lumpur is located next to the LRT train tracks.
Although I like the convenience, the train's noise every 6 minutes is taking a toll on me.
In this video, I will show you:
the process of installing soundproofing windows by the soundproofing specialist
The dB measurements before and after installation.
Average train noise before installation: 65 dB
Average train noise after installation: 45 dB
Average noise reduction: -20 dB
Future DIY project, installing D-seals at the old wooden door. Get the seals on Lazada: invol.co/cl1433e
For the full article report, you can visit the blog: balkonihijau.com/soundproofin...
It’s so effective that after your soundproof door and window was installed I can only hear from my left earphone! Woah!
means 🙄
maybe you need new earphones
-20 db difference it's quite impressive. Keep in mind that -3 db means about twice less sound pressure.
Once you add a second door to the existing one that goes to your laundry you should see a much bigger difference. Also, the sound goes through your building walls which means that you will hear the train anyway.
If you go to a no sound room you end up hearing your heart beat, because our ears adapt to ambient noise.
Overall very good video! 👍
@AXEL KAULBARS stay next to one then see if cool or not
Yes it is a good video. The sound goes through walls is surface noise, it could be reduced by putting noise barrier in the ground.
It's going to be practically impossible to block out the noise from the train.
1) the lower the frequency, the harder it is to block off -- that's why you can hear your neighbours bass beats but not the entire song
2) the power generated by the passing train would cause even the surrounding buildings (including yours) to vibrate, effectively turning the walls into a diaphragm; essentially turning them into bass speakers.
I think 20dB is awesome. The major weak link in your old door.
And then the low frequency waves probably arrive stronger that your phone's microphone probably can't pick up/detect well
Yeah glass can only do so much, but that's honestly a dramatic improvement, I'm wondering if some sound deadening curtains could give a slight improvement as well. Certainly if OP could replace the door/doorjam with a thicker door that seals tight similarly to the glass door. Depending how much they use that outdoor area could possibly stick some rockwool on the back side of that internal door.
So there is no hope? What if I add sonopan + mass load vinyl + 100 sheets of sheet rock? There should be a wY
@@nat.serrano you'll have to have the whole building "float" on a shock dampener. When a train passes, the whole ground shakes.
Great video. The door probably needs to be replaced with something much heavier, and maybe get a special door sweep for the bottom of it if there’s a gap. From my understanding, the two only factors for soundproofing are the mass (weight) of whatever is between you and the noise, and also blocking air leaks, since sound is just air pressure waves. If it’s a hollow type door (pretty common), you might look into “solid core” doors, and get the heaviest densest one you can find . Or they might even make special soundproof doors.
Instablaster.
My theories below,
i. I think density too,
ii. I think if he makes a double door w/ least 4" in between the doors'd help. Or even replace that former door w/ a cemented brick/ concrete wall.
iii. He can try double soundproofing doors/ windows so he've soundproof doors/ windows behind soundproof doors/ windows.
wuttt... comment from ThioJoe gg
One needs to check noise insulation values even in solid core doors. If you cant measure it, it doesn't exist.
Consider these getting/changing the following:
- get a acustinc curtain for night time, it should further reduce the noise
- replace that door [ideally the whole frame too, its too old], also when getting a new door most are hollow in the inside, so try getting a solid one
theres few more options, but these should improve the sound isolation
What a spectaculair view you have man! I love it. Always much dynamic. It would look even more amazing when it's dark I guess. My window looks at the big green barn door across the street. That's it. And it also blocks the sun.
Hard to get totally quiet from that train as it’s probably vibrating from bottom of building the whole way up. Good job great improvement.
Good video. Very informative. As someone who doesn't know much about sound, I was surprised that the ambient noise didn't reduce as much as I thought it would.
You can also layer the windows with loaded vinyl lined sound curtains and apply a payer of loaded vinyl to the exterior utility door, that should reduce the sound by an additional 10 decimals.
A significant improvement indeed
This is great. Ppl don't realise the stress traffic/transport noise causes.
It cost €5000 to get 1 window done in my house and the window is not that big.
I created the video because I couldn’t find a video like this when I considered to get one myself.
Glad this video is helping a lot of people
20db is 75 percent, that’s actually really decent. Also train noises are usually low frequency which are harder to block.
It is actually pretty big improvement. Although still noticeable
you could have achieved a -40db reduction like this: leaving the existing window in place, asking the cement guy to build an extra 10cm wall on the external side, and installing a double pane window into that: as a result you would have double windows (2 windows). The door towards the air-conditioner should be replaced completely. Thanks for the measurement!
Thick soundproof glass! That’s my heaven!
Don’t forget to put the tint on. I’ve actually gotten pretty good at the window films.
I requested sound proof windows when I did one of my places up too that’s by a busy road. Well worth the investment. :-)
how much was the wallet damage?
How much did it cost and for how many windows?
Hi mate thanks for this, seeing it in practice is really useful!
glad it was helpful!
I found this video to be inspiring. thanks for posting! :D
Looks great
Great video! Love the data, updates and graphs.
Much appreciated!
Great video, THANK YOU!
you’re welcome :)
Here is what I do at night to block the city noise in the bedroom, such as train noise! I have an air purifier machine that I turn on. It does make a fan air noise which is soothing and it cleans and filters the air I am breathing while I sleep. It is great for masking all the pesky city noises when you are trying to sleep. Maybe that may help you too. Besh wishes.
Ahh white noise therapy
Thanks mate. Want to install this in my home.
Nice video bro. Thanks. I’m moving to a new place and the noise trafic is just unbearable.
it's difficult to sound proof thru glass, it can be done but it's gonna cost more, to reduce the sound you can opt for double sided glass door ( usually used in orchestra / band rooms), so it's really thick glass
Nice city apartment. You should have replaced the utility closet door with a new "soundproof" door as well. You're only as strong as your weakest component.
Very helpful
Thinking to move to KL and good location came with great noise... so your video is helpful on my decision
glad you enjoyed it! Where are you moving from?
@@helmi_finance I move to Rawang 20 years ago because wanted a landed house but now thinking to retire in KL looking for apartment beside in Pudu pasar witj nice view and love the apartment but the noise is terrible! But after seeing your video the noise can be rectify so will reconsider
Thank you for the great video.
Yes, the side door is the problem of the noise. Not the balcony. You need to replace it with laminated glass too 😂🤦🏻♂️
agree. or put a soundproof curtain covering the wood door.
I moved to a residential area that has much more traffic noise than I anticipated. Reducing the noise in my condo by -20db would make a big difference. It's interesting that you mentioned the sound of rain. I find the sound of rain on the roof very comforting. It helps me to sleep.
yes. I find it better to have the option to hear or not to hear something when I feel like it.
The soundproofing windows help me with that
This is so me! Living beside LRT and highway omg i can only film videos in 30-40s strips
@AXEL KAULBARS Not when you're trying to sleep or study
@AXEL KAULBARS for you, clearly, but not for most people 😂
@AXEL KAULBARS Precisely. Most people (including myself) who have arrived and watched this video came here to try and find ways to REDUCE the sounds coming into our homes so what’s your excuse? LOL
Coz that makes no sense. Why would anyone want to watch a video like this if they weren’t trying to reduce sounds (from trains, traffic etc) entering their personal space 😂😂😂🤦🏾♀️
You can also add some sound proof curtains so at night it helps .
if you install opaque soundproof glass door on the wooden door, it might help a bit more
but after that, it will be just pure vibrations from the tracks that will travel up to your apartment, cant help it
source: I also live very close to an LRT track but apartment came with soundproof everything
Is it upvc material for the window frame?
What app did u use to measure the sound and what company did you use for the windows and door
great job! i like your video!! 👍🏻👍🏻
thanks for watching:)
Good video, you may need a heavier / thicker wood door.
Its laminated glass...if use thicker insulator(middle plastic layer) would decrease more sound
Or sometimes they use another glass layer to insulated more...also very heavy...
The thing is that when you drown out all other white noise and the train is the only noise coming thru, it stands out more
Did you post your video after the door sealing?
Maybe a Laminated Insulated Glass would probably done a little better. do a solid core wooden door to help reduced the noise from the vents
You could probably add a window "insert" like a Fantastic Frame or an Indow window in from of the glass on your sliding doors/windows and drop the DB another 10-20 decibels.
No that won’t work 😂, you can’t add Indow Window to sliding doors, even says it on their website.
the acoustic insulation of these windows is excellent, but the wooden door where you have air conditioning will also need to be replaced because it leaks and a lot of unnecessary noise goes through it, and another problem is that the banging of the rails is carried by the concrete foundations of the house
Or you can upgrade your window with secondary glazing czcams.com/video/xzEUW4NVDpE/video.html
Playing white noise (or pink noise) - similar to the sound made by an FM radio not tuned to a station - can be a great way to combat noise. You quickly get used to the continuous white noise, and your brain will tune it out. But you will find the external noise is much less noticeable and irritating. (Also helps if you have a partner who snores!) If all else fails, wax earplugs will save the day!
Hi! Thanks for the great video. I’m also struggling with a lot of noise in my bedroom and am actively looking for solutions. Your windows look very effective in sound reduction. Can you let me know if they are double pane or mono? I realized there are vinyl laminated but apparently these windows come as mono and double panes with air gap in between the two. Please let me know. Thank you!
These are 2 glass panels sandwiching a laminate film
@@helmi_finance the proper double panel , would have vacuum gas being pump into it
@@sdqsdq6274 Laminated glass is different and higher NRR to standard double glaze with an air-trap. You can of course increase the noise further with a secondary glaze+air trap, but at that point your window frames are almost 10cm thick and weigh more than a horse.
Which vendor u used for the soundproof windows?
Glass in the balcony. 😀👍🏻 everywhere you go now its noise. The day we run out of oil it will be so peacefull. Still i guess we all starve to death. I wear ear putty now.
@AXEL KAULBARS Noise sucks. Noise pollution. Light pollution. I hate it.
Idiots with noisy bikes.
What for?
Its just noise.
A mechanic that built engines for the most powerful racing boats said to me "noise isn't power".
He was right.
Can you recommend us the contractor that installing soundproofing?
Blocking sound waves is one thing, but you're probably getting vibrational noise from the train passing. Can't do anything about that except move.
Sir which app are you using to measure the noise ?
20 db is quite a bit.
In the audio world, you have to double your amplifier power every 3db of gain.
So your windows went from 6400w to 100w relatively speaking.
To increase attenuation, I recommend sticking a 10mm thick clear acrylic panel on the inside using double-sided adhesive tape around the perimeter of the frame and creating an air cavity between the glass and the acrylic to reduce glazing resonance. After adding a second acrylic glass, attenuation of up to 50db can be achieved!!!
Are you seroius ? did you do this?
You know how cost 10mm panel ?😂
@@janeles100 yeah i did it because the noise from front of my house is horrible
But i have triple glazing and it doesn't worth it!
was horrified to compare the sound insulation of double glazing and triple glazing, because the difference is only 2db?! Like seriously for windows twice as expensive?
i would presume the door is a hollow one, get a solid one and that will significantly improve the condition.
Please help me bro I'm in the same boat. Did you get single pane 10mm windows? Or are they double pane or dissimilar glass
Did you change the wooden door to new soundproof door?
how did you apartment let you do this?
Great video especially since this is in Malaysia. May i ask have u replaced the side door or not? Is there a reason it is not replaced?
IMHO to soundproof completely requires review of your ceiling, wall and floor as well.
I did not replace the door because I don't have the budget for it
Hey Bro! In which floor are you living? The LRT noise really annoying.
been using that app even before pandemic coz of post grad studies 😂
Nice video. Change out that wooden door and consider some heavy drapes that cover the doors.
Which company you engaged for soundproofing?
Would you know what the STC rating was for those new laminated windows you had installed?
Sorry John, I forgot about all the ratings. But it's within the range for laminated glasses that are classified as 'soundproof'
hello, first of all thanks for sharing. I just wonder did your unit can hear only school announcement only? or you can even hear people /student talking or playing noise coming from the school? I am having same situation as yours which can hear all the activities or noise generated from the school. which really annoying! seem like I'm living in the school rather next to the school. headache!
I can hear all. Soundproofing can’t eliminate all, but reduce
Replace or soundproof also the laundry room door.
@Balkoni Hijau
May i enquire, what sort of glass is used? Is it laminated double glazed? or Just laminated glass (without gaps in between the glasses)
laminate is if i’m not mistaken
@@helmi_finance There is no Double Glazing (meaning two pieces with Air Gap in between) ? it is just two pieces of thick glasses glued together with PVC?
If you were to somehow soundproof that window. In the little room and change that door to a modern heavy duty sound proof door I’m sure your whole entire room would be wayyyyyyy much more silent. Because like you said the noise is getting in threw that window and door.
What inserts are best?
Mr Helmi after installation sond proof door etc doe it helps?
Yes. It definitely improves the quality of my life, but it doesn't eliminate the noise 100%
Did you ever get used to the noise?
I could get crazy if i live there !!
Love my country Egypt
You could use some soundproofing panels behind the door? Or a soundproofing curtain. I feel ya, have a construction site right next to my apartment and its driving me nuts
Curtains are peanuts compared to a professionally installed soundproof windows.
@@helmi_finance do recommend us which one should we proceed 🤔
Out of curiosity, why dint you choose to install soundproof windows on your balcony instead of replacing the balcony doors with soundproof doors? That way you can enjoy your balcony without the noise
Depends on building regulations. Some regulations say that we can't alter the outside look of a building.
I thought that was useless without them changing the door to the balcony by the window before you sped the forming. You have to change that door then add soundproofing to the balcony Cross members on both sides.
Nice video
Can i get contact of the contractor for this project?
hi which floor are u staying? is it any improvement if u go to the higher floor?
quite high, above 10. No improvement with height. Sound can travel through air. You need something to break the sound before hitting your ears, which the soundproofing windows are doing
I’d be a bit annoyed at the soundproofing techs that they left that wooden door. They should’ve known that was going to be the weakest link and replaced it at the same time.
I guess they’d expect me to come back for more business
I mean people only do work they get paid for, if he's not willing to pay for it, they ain't gon' do shiet
Quite worth it. But quite expensive.
-20db is a lot. Your wooden door looks a hollow one. Remember the wood passes sound like a guitar or piano. Eventually you may replace it too.
The old frame , windoes should have been kept in same spot and the new ones behind that old one!!! that will be an diference!!!, put some trees outside or other barrier and you will see...
At which floor u stay?
I think the problem is that the glass should be atleast double glazed.
I will never complain about my house again.
May I have the contact of the vendor ? I have highway noise issue 😢
Im living in super hiway we installed a GLASS window but the noise from outside still remain especially during midnight until Dawn when Delivery and trailers trucks ON the hiway the noise is So Loud I can’t sleep in my room facing the hiway. Any advise?
Hi Aida, you can Google for soundproofing specialist around your area and get some feedback and recommendations from them
In France their windows are AWESOME wonder why here we can only get ok windows?
I have no idea. I think Malaysian urbanization like living next to train tracks in the middle of the city is still pretty new to us. Most Malaysians don't know what to expect in a home's built quality & I think developers are taking advantage of that.
How much was it? Can I kindly have the vendor contact. Tx.
Can you share the thickness and type of glass u choose?
I'd like to have the info as well. Thanks
Do u have the supplier name?
How do you get fresh air in?
The soundproofing windows can be opened
@@helmi_finance So you stay inside with the window closed all day and all night. That doesn't sound very healthy.
Wow 70db..thats mental..
Hi. Is that a tempered glass?
Laminated
I'm attempting to figure out why soundproof the bathroom window and not those shutter windows that are allowing the noise to continue to come in? Thanks for the information.
Because no logic lol. Literally the solution is right there to two problems. Sound proof the outer window so that the sound doesn't come through the door and through the window to the bathroom. But instead they sound proofed the bathroom window like an idiot and basically made the balcony sound proofing not as useful either from sound leaking in through the wooden door.
What if you need some air circulation inside? Any solution?
I open my front door but keep the metal door locked
put a sound proof blanket on the door. i think noise world wide is a major problem that needs to be addressed just like global warming
Try replacing that crappy door for a solid door or put some sound proofing foam/pads on the outside
Tolong share company yang buat kerja ini. Terima Kasih
Add a curtain
I think maybe you should remove steel railing and install thick glass. That way you have two glass partitions between you and the noise. I would add value to your apartment.
I read some articles about noise and the guy said the best reduction in noise is two pieces of glass one thicker than the other. Thin on balcony and thicker on bedroom window. The gap between the two panes of glass is most important. The greater the distance the better.
So if you have 5 feet balcony then a big air gap lot between the two panes.
First you need to solve the noise coming from the other door.
Remember its the air gap between two panes of glass.
Thick glass wont reduce the noise by much.
If you had triple glazed windows it would be better.
You need to research it before purchasing the windows.
@AXEL KAULBARS because everyone is different. If you enjoy it, good for you. Others don't.
Noise sucks and all it does it damage your hearing and make your life a misery.
Only morons like noise.
It's astonishing that it reduce so much noise. Is it OK if you can share the company that did that?
Someone said toe that even if you soundproof your windows thete is possibility the sound can go through the wall material. Sound proofing windows cant guarentee sound wont get through.
Nothing can guarantee anything. But I am happy with the improvements so far. I can still hear the train, but it's MUCH more livable
Hi, really appreciate if you share with me this window contractors contact details? Thanks