If you are planning to buy or already own a property alongside a busy road that produces noise, you will need to learn the ways to reduce those road noises on the property. Doing so will let you spend time enjoying the upcoming years on the property with no hassle. It will also help you sell the property in the future easily for greater value.
You can reduce road noise on your property in numerous ways. For reducing noise at your home, you can install soundproofing applications, use soundproof curtains, install solid doors, apply noise-reducing landscaping, and more. For reducing road noise in your backyard or garden, planting hedges, trees, shrubs, and plants is an effective solution apart from building walls and a good fence. Moreover, the outdoor planting idea will be aesthetically pleasing and affordable.
This article will guide you with all the necessary details you need to know about road noises and how to cope up or alleviate them from your property. So, let’s dive in.
Why can I hear traffic in my house?
There can be many possible reasons behind it, some of them are:
- Holes or cracks in the wall: You must inspect and take a closer look at the areas around your ventilation grates, window frames, and electrical sockets. If you find any hole or crack, they can be the reason why you hear traffic at home.
- Unsealed Doors: If your door is not sealed and lacks the installation of weathering strips on its frames, you can witness noise traveling throughout your home.
- Hollow Doors: If the doors at your house are hollow, it increases the amount of sound passing through it. This lack of solid doors can make you hear traffic more than ever at home.
- Old or Incompetent Windows: If you have old windows installed at home, it can be the reason for noise traveling inside. Lack of having the latest window options like the double or triple-pane PVC frame windows can be another reason for it.
- Old Walls And Ceilings With No Insulation: If your walls and ceiling are too old and lack the installation of insulating products like ceiling panels, neoprene rubber, etc., you can experience traffic at home.
WHY SHOULD WE CARE
Is road noise at home bad for your health?
Yes, road noise at home is bad for your health.
- According to WHO, road noises can correlate to health problems like sleep disorder, headaches, hormonal effects, tiredness, stress, high blood pressure, and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- The exposure of an individual to road noises at home at the time can cause an impact on their diagnosis or leads to diabetes.
- If someone gets exposed to 10 decibels of higher noise at home, their risk of having high blood pressure increases by 6%. It also increases their risk of having blood clots in the heart by 6-8%.
- Noise exposure from the road at higher levels at home has also led to noise-induced hearing loss, vasoconstriction, tinnitus, and other cardiovascular effects.
Does road noise affect house prices?
Yes, road noise can affect the valuation of your house significantly. It can lead to problems while selling the home. If there’s no solution installed in the house to wipe off or reduce the effects of road noises, its price will go down adversely.
- For instance, if your house is valued at approximately 400K, it can drop its value by $40,000 when affected by road noises.
- This 10% of deduction from the total value of your asset can be a considerable loss.
- Many buyers are least interested in buying homes affected by road noises.
Is it hard to sell a house on a busy road?
No, it’s not necessarily hard to sell a house on a busy road if you have taken the necessary steps to soundproof it. You can opt for plenty of options to prepare your home to sell at a high or expected price, even if it’s on a busy road.
- You can easily sell your home by canceling out the road noise by installing exterior and interior soundproof protection. If you apply noise-reducing landscaping, the buyers will get attracted to its beauty and curb appeal and become relax about the road noises.
- However, it’s crucial to spend on a budget so that selling the house gives back revenue. Another option to sell a house easily on a busy road is by selling them as a commercial space, only if your zoning allows it.
What is the acceptable road noise level for residential areas?
The permissible standard noise level depends on the regulations of the country. Road noise level below 50 dB is generally considered low. However, hearing damage starts when exposed to road noise levels around 80-90 dB.
Below is a table that represents the various noise levels across the major countries in the world.
Major Countries | Average Road Noise Levels | Consideration |
United States of America | 70 to 80 dB(A) at a distance of 15 meters (50 feet) from the highway | Alarming |
United Kingdom | 62dB while driving at 30 mph 70dB at 50 mph | Acceptable |
India | 55 dB for residential areas 75 dB for industrial areas | Acceptable |
Russia | Ranges between 30-40 dB for residential areas | Low |
China | Ranges between 40-50 dB for residential areas | Low |
THE SOLUTIONS
How to dampen road noise at home?
To reduce the road noise at home, you may do some or all of the following:
Installing Thick Curtains:
Thick curtains help to dampen road noise. The heavier the curtain, the more effective soundproofing it will be.
- You can even opt for the noise-canceling curtains designed to eliminate road noises. You must choose the thick and heavy curtain that is affordable as well as goes with your overall interior appeal.
- If the road noise is too much, you can even hand two sets of these curtains.
Reinforcing The Windows:
- Windows can be the common reason for letting sound enter the home.
- If you live in a rented house, replacing them by requesting the landlord may not be successful.
- In such cases, try the DIY option at home. Cut some pieces of acoustic foam that fit into your window and cover it partially.
- This flexible option helps you remove and apply whenever you want. However, if it’s your own house, investing in new soundproof windows will be the best option.
Using The Exterior Walls:
You may make a few changes on the exterior wall. Some of them are:
- Making a book shelf: A big wall of books can absorb road noise effectively. You can move your bookshelves to line up against your exterior walls such that it absorbs some of the road noises.
- Use Linen: Moreover, the fabric is a good insulator, so use them by shoplifting your closets, linen storage, and clothing racks against the exterior walls for noise reduction.
How to cut road noise at home?
Some changes to your home can help considerably cut the road noise!
- Install Various Types of Soundproofing:
You can add various types of soundproofing at your home. You can apply the soundproof options designed for home studios at your home. For instance, you can get soundproofing tiles to install on your walls for their exceptional insulating properties. However, if the wall facing the road also has a window, you will need to install soundproofing windows too.
- Install Solid Doors:
For exterior doors, you can consider composite doors as they not only protect from burglars but also cancels out more noise than other door types. These doors are made out of steel, plastic, and wood to ensure the best insulation. For interior doors, use solid doors and avoid the ones that are hollow in the middle. This will keep road noises away from every room.
- Double Glazing And Triple Glazing:
Installing two panes of glass in every room of the home is known as double glazing. It will cut off road noises to enter the house and act as a protective barrier.
In triple glazing, you will install three panes of glass in every room to ensure better soundproofing and better insulation.
- Have a good fence
If possible, get a tall fence constructed around the house. Get this made from good quality wood or any other thick water proof material. You can put tall plants on the inside as they work really well to absorb any kind of noise. If placing plants is not an option, just use a wall creeping plant around the fence, either on the inside or outside. This will reduce outside sound considerably!
Conclusion
Some changes, both inside and outside the house can help reduce the road noise significantly. You may implement these changes either in your bed room for quality sleep or in the entire house based on your requirements and budget.
