Soundproof yards and deal with outside noise
Seems to come from everywhere
External noises can come from all kinds of directions at the same time and can have many sources. They can also be reflected all over the place. People tend to look at what they think the fountain is and imagine that the sound travels in a straight line from the fountain to their patio. In reality, the sounds have likely been diverted, bouncing off buildings and other objects, reaching your garden amplified and from a different direction than the source. The amplification that occurs is no different from the amplification of sound that occurs when a breath is channeled through a wind instrument and emerges at the other end like a trumpet. So your first step is to identify the source of the problem and the path you are taking to get to your garden.
Words and regulations are excellent soundproofing
A nearby business or industry may be exceeding acceptable noise levels or duration or operating at inappropriate times of the day. Sometimes you can solve the problem simply by raising the issue with the landlord in a friendly manner. It can even be helpful to check with your city council and make sure your noisy neighbors aren’t breaking local laws. People are often surprised to learn that there are many laws that protect residential amenities (as long as the noise is not coming from aviation, which appears to be a law in itself in many countries). I’ve seen laws that restrict the use of air conditioners after a certain time, ban leaf blowers, and even ban pets like roosters and barking dogs.
Having exhausted common sense logical approaches to reducing noise, you have two options for solving the problem. The first option is to create a kind of acoustic barrier in the patio. The second option is to go back inside and work on your interior soundproofing.
An airtight patio!
It is impossible to make a patio airtight. You will always have to deal with the flanking sound. Flanking sound is noise that surrounds, under or around your soundproofing structures. All the principles of internal noise barriers and sound absorption still apply outdoors.
Low-frequency noise has a longer wavelength than high-frequency noise and will require a higher and denser barrier. If, for example, you are dealing with truck noise, you probably need a barrier of up to 12 to 15 feet (3.5 to 4.5 meters) or more. In most cases this is impractical or even contrary to municipal building regulations, so it might be wise to go back inside and work on your soundproofing there and be content with a quiet internal environment.
Is it a baritone or a soprano nuisance?
It is true that higher frequency noises can be blocked by lower fences, but there are some complications. Take, for example, the noise of train bells at level crossings. This is a fairly high frequency. Hopefully a lower fence will block out the noise. Unfortunately, the train companies have installed their bells on top of ten-foot poles, which means you still have to install a 15-foot fence to have an acceptable impact on noise. In an ideal situation, you will want to build the fence at least eight feet higher than the source of the noise. This is less of a challenge when it comes to car tailpipes that stick to the ground, but it is a challenge when it comes to truck horns and their roof-mounted exhaust systems or even their noisy engines that are quite high off the ground. .
The path of the lotus flower
All is not lost when structural soundproofing seems impossible. There are still a couple of innovative options. It can soundproof by creating more sound, especially sound that is pleasant to the ear. For example, one way to quickly deal with level crossing train bells is to install a water feature in your yard; not to be confused with silent Zen-style installation. The sound of falling water will not only create a pleasant atmosphere, but will interfere with the sound of the train crossing bells and make them less noticeable. You can achieve a similar effect with wind chimes. Chimes are not as effective because they only work when the wind is blowing and the sound tends to be less random. The motivated soundproofing enthusiast might consider both chimes and a water feature and also external audio speakers for pleasant music on the patio. The application of these three strategies will sufficiently interfere with the most annoying noise pollution and allow you to return to your garden for recreation, relaxation and entertainment. Another advantage of these noise masking options is that they are usually much less expensive and much more homemade than a massive fence.
Acoustics by name only
If you are going to build a sensitive noise barrier in your garden, make sure it is at the proper height and has no openings or gaps anywhere. The correct height and no gaps are the two most important variables and the things most people get wrong about. Some do-it-yourself articles seem to promote acoustic fencing at any height, which is frankly a waste of time and effort. A fence won’t work just because it has the word “acoustic” in its name! There are some proprietary acoustic fencing systems on the market and even with these systems it is important that you verify the height required for your specific problem. Most reputable products come with data sheets.
The data sheet is king
The datasheets should talk about an amount that the fencing system reduces noise. The amount is measured in decibels or dB. You should look for a system that reduces noise by at least 20 dB. As a general rule of thumb, every 10 dB is half of the perceived noise. Some products come with an STC rating. Again, don’t consider a product rated lower than STC 20. STC is a more useful summary of how a product responds across a range of sound frequencies. See if you can get the frequency table for the product. Two products can function quite differently depending on the noise source and the frequency response of the product. If your noise problem is lower frequency like trucks and doof doof music, then you need a product that blocks more noise at lower frequencies, for example between 50Hz and 500Hz. Therefore, you would look for higher values against these frequencies on the STC chart. If your noise problem is at a higher frequency, such as human voice, or small barking dogs, or railway crossing bells, then you would need better blocking at frequencies around 1000Hz to around 2500Hz. I would look for better performance at these higher frequencies.
Those fences are great
An effective and relatively lightweight material for acoustic fences is sheet steel, as the material used in roofing decks. Wooden fences work well, but it is more difficult to create an airtight structure and the wood will be heavier and more difficult to work with. Whatever you use, remember that the frame is taller than usual and will catch the wind. Make sure your studs are closer together or thicker than usual and also bury them deeper into the ground.
If you already have a tall fence, it probably has holes or gaps in and around it, it may not be made of the right material to block or absorb offensive sound. In situations like this, you may consider retrofitting a product like Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV). This is a heavy plastic membrane that is basically weather resistant. You can attach it to your existing fence and it will greatly increase the density of the fence and help block out noise. MLV doesn’t change the fact that you still need the correct fence height.
If you live on a large property and can build a mound of earth to deal with the problem, this can be an effective and inexpensive way to create a soundproofing barrier. Again, the height has to be correct and it may take a bit of effort to build a mound of dirt. Another option for large properties is a hay bale (straw) fence. There is endless information on the internet these days about hay bale building and they are cheap, effective and fast, but they must be free of gaps and have the proper height.
Take care who you listen to
Like all soundproofing problems, there are endless myths about soundproofing outdoors. The most common is the use of trees and shrubs. Trees and shrubs are quite ineffective except as visual displays. To some extent, the sounds of birds and wind through the leaves create a masking sound like the water feature and bells we talked about earlier.
Remember that prevention is better than cure. If you haven’t bought your home and are thinking of buying a good bargain-priced property that’s a bit close to the trains, the airport, or the highway, think again. If you are a little sensitive to noise, don’t put yourself in the nightmare of trying to solve noise problems for the rest of your days. Quality of life is more important than real estate negotiation. Save a few more pennies and shop in peace. Don’t be swayed by a false sense of security about what constitutes acceptable reassurance. Set your own standards and stick to them. Many real estate developments are noisy torture chambers, and yet the brochures feature images of happily happy people living the life of their dreams. Not everyone cares about noise, but if you are someone who does, you should look beyond the hype and ask if there is a 3am freight train passing nearby, or common pipes running through thin walls, or plans. to build a shopping center behind. your patio and so on.
