Doors for my home studio

Riaan

Do any of you people know who in the Western Cape I can contact to install a door in my home studio in Worcester? I'm looking for something that will go in a 1500X2100 opening that will be as soundproof as possible. If needed, the depth is adequate to fit two doors in there.

A week after having two of the local aluminium door manufacturers here and measuring everything, I'm still waiting for their quotes...bloody typical, no wonder everyone in Worcester takes their business to Cape Town >☹

Maybe I should just construct this myself out of timber, as I've had to do with just about everything else...

AlanRatcliffe

"Soundproof as possible" means two doors. Aluminium sliding doors make the most sense for weight (ideally two different thicknesses of glass for the best isolation), and the sliding variety prevents air-lock with having two doors (when you struggle to open one because of the air compression between the two doors). My father is in an aluminium trade, I can ask him who you can speak to in CT. AFAIK, you can have them made up to the size you need and fit them yourself.

It's a bit of a narrow space for sliding though, so you may have to go for normal hung doors (or knock out more of the wall and fit a wider lintel). Solid wood doors are difficult to find (the closest are the Rutherford or Swartland doors made of meranti tongue and groove), so they would have to be custom made (speak to your local joinery).

You need a solid concrete lintel (probably have one already) and two door frames with sills (one inward opening, one outward). Both doors must be mounted on one side or the other (or you loose too much width). Sills are essential so you can seal at the bottom. You can mount two doors on one frame, but solid doors are heavy so are more likely to distort a frame and you get better isolation with two. You can use steel frames.

BTW, I used fire doors in my last studio because they are solid and cheap. Problem is they are internal doors with a core of chipboard, so are heavy and swell in wet weather. Three years later, the frames are distorted and the doors are warped too (bad mistake essentially).

Latches are another issue with normal swinging doors - most latches go right through the door, essentially destroying the soundproof nature of the door. You can use either a heavy folding padlock latch or specially fit a Yale latch to the outer door so that there are only three small holes penetrating all the way through the door (and the two screw holes you can caulk), instead of the single large hole normally used. Use heavy duty door closers to keep the doors closed and sealed from either side.

The absolute best thing would actually be the big freezer doors they use for walk-in freezers - big, heavy, insulated, solid frames, water resistant, and use compression latches. One is actually damn good isolation. The only problem is they are custom made and very expensive (tens of thousands of rand).

Whatever you use - make sure it is fitted properly and that weather stripping is used to air seal the doors. I can't stress this enough - a badly fitted door is likely to be useless for soundproofing, if wooden frames aren't properly sealed before fitting, they will warp and destroy the door's effectiveness. If using solid doors, you need three hinges each (which are difficult to fit roght). Essentially it's a pro job for a good builder or someone very handy.

That's all I can think of now.

Neps

I cant add anything to that.. Doors are a mission to get just right, and unless your studio was purpouse built from ground up with good isolation from almost all outside interference youre never going to be 100% sound proof!

Another way to get soundproofing a bit better to the outside world regarding doors are the following.. Location, location, location!! If they are for your control room, dont fit them behind you where the monitors will be blasting straight at them! On the side is better, but in an already constructed space you cant always do that.

mmm... So actualy I cant add anything to Alan.

deanBailey

Alan Pretty much covered what I would have said ?

My studio has firedoors and neoprene weather strips inbetween for a snug fit.
One way to test is to put the light on and close the door. If you can see light leaking through somewhere that's where the sound will leak too.

Neps

Oh before I forget. BASS!!! Your doors are realy only going to kill down to about 300Hz at most. Bass traps might help. The only way to cover the bass spectrum is to install Big,Heavy Doors with loads of insolation inside and air gaps. A studio in Midrand I frequent has heavy double doors installed with about a 3 foot air gap in between. Works about 90%.

Neps

sorry, im double posting again!! my network is not happy with me

CornFlakes

While we on this subject..
I want to sound proof my room or lets just say break most of the sound so that the other people in the house not hear me make so much noise.
Please don’t tell me to play softer so that option is OUT!!

AlanRatcliffe

It's actually a big subject Flakes. Read this first: http://ratcliffe.co.za/articles/acoustics1.shtml That'll give you some idea of what's involved. Then come back to me with any specific questions.

CornFlakes

@ Alan – Read your article on sound proofing and Acoustic Treatment. I’m moving into a new flat and my girlfriend said I can use the spare room for music “awesome hey!” anyway i think I need to check out the layout of the room first and then take it from there..

Riaan

Thanks guys for the input.

Solid wood doors are difficult to find (the closest are the Rutherford or Swartland doors made of meranti tongue and groove), so they would have to be custom made (speak to your local joinery).

@Alan: this is probably what I'm going to go for if the aluminium door guys in town don't get their act together soon. Swartland doors are available in town and I've modified some of them before which worked well, elsewhere in our house. BTW: I've also read about a guy who fill non-solid doors with sand, and use extra strong hinges.

The entrance to my room will actually be a tiny little room consisting of two opposing walls and two opposing pairs of either aluminium sliding doors or solid wooden doors, modified to fit into the available space. Changing the door opening is not an option now...had enough of builders, dust and all that!

The only way to cover the bass spectrum is to install Big,Heavy Doors with loads of insolation inside and air gaps.

@Neps: I hope the doors will be effective as bass traps also. The insulation inside sounds like a good idea, will definitely do that if I go for wooden doors. Would compressed fibre glass covered with cloth do?

I want to sound proof my room or lets just say break most of the sound so that the other people in the house not hear me make so much noise.

@CornFlakes: It's quite a big undertaking, believe me... and my effort does not even begin to approach what they do in pro studios. But the guys on the forum gave me excellent advice, and there are lots of resources on the net also. Fortunately, the laws of physics apply equally to the pros and to the rest of us without loads to cash to spend, so one can get far if you do a bit of research, put your mind to it, and tap into the wealth of knowledge on this forum! Oh yes and DIY...

AlanRatcliffe

Read your article on sound proofing and Acoustic Treatment. I’m moving into a new flat and my girlfriend said I can use the spare room for music

Amazing, the power of the written word, isn't it? ?

AlanRatcliffe

Riaan wrote @Alan: this is probably what I'm going to go for if the aluminium door guys in town don't get their act together soon.

Kick butt - the only way to deal with these guys. Contact each and tell them you already have the quote from the other, you're just waiting on their quote. You'll probably find when you're actually getting the work done, you'll have to ride them continually too.

Swartland doors are available in town and I've modified some of them before which worked well, elsewhere in our house.

How did you modify them (something I've never done)?

The entrance to my room will actually be a tiny little room consisting of two opposing walls and two opposing pairs of either aluminium sliding doors or solid wooden doors, modified to fit into the available space.

Great! The extra volume air in there will mean that if you do go for normal doors, they won't airlock as badly. The walls will still transmit a little from one door to the other, but the further apart the better, so you are on the right track.

I hope the doors will be effective as bass traps also.

Only if they flex - and then they will work as resonator type traps, and also retransmit on the other side. Covering your corners with rigid fibreglass is much more effective. There's also a free DIY tube trap design lurking on the net somewhere if you look for it - basically some rigid fibreglass, some game fencing and some cloth.

BTW, what did you eventually do about aircon?

Riaan

Kick butt - the only way to deal with these guys.

Yep, I think it's time for that now.

How did you modify them (something I've never done)?

I just cut them smaller to fit in a smaller than standard door opening. Actually went much smaller than what they recommend but it worked. If needed I could to the same with my 1500 mm opening...already have a few ideas.

The entrance to my room will actually be a tiny little room

With two sets of doors fitted, this space will be 900 mm X 1500 mm. Think it might double as a vocal booth? Weird studio where one enters throught the vocal booth, which also doubles as sound trap...!

BTW, what did you eventually do about aircon?

I opened the window... ?...I still have to install aircon!

deanBailey

Alec from Trusound is on this forum, he builds and acoustically treats studios for a living, perhaps he can help you out.
He built mine ?

His office is based in Brakenfell.

AlanRatcliffe

Riaan wrote I just cut them smaller to fit in a smaller than standard door opening. Actually went much smaller than what they recommend but it worked.

Ah - I was thinking about sealing between the slats of a tongue and groove door.

BTW, what did you eventually do about aircon?
I opened the window... ?...I still have to install aircon!

LOL!

NorioDS

Alan Ratcliffe wroteYou'll probably find when you're actually getting the work done, you'll have to ride them continually too.

My friend, we need to talk. ?

Riaan

He built mine

The next thing after the doors will be moving in all my stuff, then the acoustic treatment. Depending on the costs - I will need to save for this - I might ask him to do this for me. The thing is, this is only a hobby for me, I'm not a pro musician so I can't really justify spending too much money on something that's unlikely to bring financial returns. On the other hand again, I am a bit of a perfectionist...we'll see!

AlanRatcliffe

Norio wrote My friend, we need to talk. ?

You interested too are ya? Tanya know about this? ?