Sound Barrier Fence & Walls

Gabion walls are an excellent solution for reducing noise from traffic, loud neighbors and industrial noises. With their sound absorption qualities, gabion walls serve as an effective noise barrier that mitigates sound waves. Since gabions are pouruos, the core of these walls is typically filled with soundproofing materials such as layer sandbags or solid masonry blocks to enhance sound reduction. The examples below are robust gabion walls installed along a busy highway to minimize road noise.

Link to Shitai

Factors to Consider for an Effective Sound Barrier Fence

There are several factors to consider when making a sound barrier fence. These include:

• The fence placement is vital because the closer it is to the noise, the more effective your soundproofing will be.
• Use white noise and plants to mask the surrounding noise.
• The height of the fence is crucial because if you can see the source of the noise, then you can hear it.
• The construction of the fence is critical because you need to have airtight barriers for optimal sound blocking.
• The fence&#;s density also matters because the denser it is, the better it will block the noise.

What Materials Will Block Sound?

There are different types of soundproof fences you can select from, and they all offer various levels of effectiveness in soundproofing. While denser or heavier materials tend to block out more sound, they're not the best option for all households.

It will be best to check your HOA and local regulatory guidelines before you begin your fence construction. The job&#;s complexity will depend on the perimeter, design, material, and property size. Below are the materials that you can use in your fence construction to block sound:

• A chain-link fence will only block sound if you install a sound blanket on it.
• Natural fences are made of trees and make for an attractive solution to blocking surrounding noises. However, they take time to mature.
• Metal fences are cost-efficient, but you will have to add a sound-absorbing material to enhance sound absorption.
• Wooden fences&#; effectiveness on soundproofing depends on the installation method and type of wood, but you can add a sound-absorbing material to them.
• Stucco-covered concrete, stone, and brick fences including gabion fences are the best materials to use as sound barriers.

Will a High Fence Reduce Traffic Noise?

Yes, a high fence can help reduce traffic noise, but the fence&#;s material will also make a difference. Remember: the source of noise can only be blocked if you can&#;t see it. You should also consider the soundwave path, meaning a higher fence will present a bigger diffraction angle, making for an excellent sound barrier.

Mistakes When Constructing Sound Barrier Fences

Some of the most common mistakes people make when constructing a sound barrier fence include:

• Misunderstanding the sounds. Knowing where the noise comes from will help you determine the best approach.
• Not having a grounded barrier is a costly mistake that will reduce your sound barrier&#;s effectiveness.
• Leaving gaps in your fence can lead to damages in the long run. Therefore, inspect the perimeter to ensure any issues and vulnerabilities are uncovered and repaired.
• A short fence will not block out the noise effectively. Sound does not travel in a straight line, so the higher the wall, the more effective the barrier.
• Using the wrong materials is a mistake most individuals make. The best materials to use are rammed earth, straw bales, steel sheeting, wood (redwood, cedar), and stone.

Who Might Need a Sound Barrier Fence?

It's not unusual to stay in a quiet neighborhood but still hear the occasional noise, including from your home. Sound barrier fences are great for anyone who does not want the noise that may be coming from the following places:

• HVAC units
• Lawn equipment and power tools
• Constructions
• Parties and cookouts
• Road and traffic noise
• Pool pumps

SOUND BLOCKING PRIVACY FENCES

Shown below are examples of residential sound blocking gabion fences. These sound blocking walls are typically narrow width walls with sound absorbing panels imbedded in the core of the wall

As a rule of thumb, if you can see it, you can hear it. This is the acoustical line of sight. Step one is removing the line of sight to the source of the noise. The higher you go, the easier it is to keep sound out. Now, because sound waves don&#;t travel in a straight line, sometimes you can still hear it, even if you can't see it. This is known as the diffracted path, which is the path sound waves take after encountering an obstacle.

People often overlook the importance of fence height for creating an exterior sound barrier. As a general rule, once the barrier breaks line of sight with the noise source, you&#;ll get a 5 dB noise reduction. And then you&#;ll add an additional 0.5 dB of noise reduction for each foot above the line of sight. For your typical street, you should be thinking about a barrier to be at least 8 feet high to even start to block out traffic noise, and the higher the better. Be sure to double check your local regulations as they often include a fence height restriction.

Sometimes it&#;s easiest just to see a picture:

You may think that where you build your fence doesn&#;t make a difference; after all, a barrier is a barrier. But actually, if you place your sound barrier as close to the noise source as you can, the soundproofing can prove far more effective. Alternatively, you can also place the barrier as close as possible to where you hang out, to keep that area quieter. Both of these strategies take the most advantage of the line of sight rule.

Sound moves like water (or smells), as it can move through the smallest of gaps. For the best sound blocking, you want as airtight of a barrier as possible. This means NO GAPS. Ensure your fence goes all the way to the ground. It works just like wall soundproofing. If you can fully seal up your barrier, it will make a world of difference in decreasing the outside noise you hear.

Explore more:
A guide to keeping your sponges, dish rags and scrub ...
Diamond Blade Do's & Don'ts

For more Sound Barrier Priceinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

The other key for construction is length. Very short barriers can have what&#;s called end diffraction. Which just means the noise is going around your barrier. A general rule is that a fence should be 4 times as long as the distance between the barrier and the source OR the barrier and the receiver.

In soundproofing, the best place to be in a project is the start. Soundproofing existing structures is certainly doable, but it's always easier, more efficient, and significantly more cost effective to soundproof before anything has been built.

For fences, the same applies. You have the luxury of building a fence with soundproofing in mind. Building the fence itself is the first step, making sure it is tall enough and close enough to the noise source to make a difference, then comes deciding on the right soundproof material and installing those materials. Here are the numbered steps we recommend.

When building a new fence, you should consider the type of material you use. Generally speaking, heavier or denser materials block out more sound. That's why materials like wood and brick will perform better from the start than a chain link fence. However, when adding soundproofing materials to the fence to increase the density, there are ways to get the best bang for your buck! We'll walk you through the comparisons to help you make the best decision.

If you&#;re building your own fence, you'll get the best results if you combine the fence with materials that are proven to work. There will usually be two approaches &#; adding mass to a light barrier (also making the barrier more airtight than it was) and adding absorption to the noise source side of a fence when the fence is close to the noise source.

There are different approaches for different size fences and different fence types.

For residential applications, you're either the noisy one &#; trying to keep neighbors from complaining about a loud pet or music &#; or you have a neighbor with a loud pet or music, or perhaps there's unwanted traffic noise coming into your yard. Regardless of what you're dealing with, you need to add mass to your new fence so it can be more efficient at blocking direct line sound. Creating a mass loaded vinyl sound barrier will increase the mass of a wood, vinyl, chain link or metal fence so it can be just as effective as brick or concrete.

We recommend one of our reinforced mass loaded vinyl rolls for the job: Luxury Liner&#; Reinforced Mass Loaded Vinyl and Luxury Liner&#; E84 White Mass Loaded Vinyl. Both of these rolls are UV stable and have a high tensile strength to resist tearing while hanging. Measure out the height and width of your barrier to determine how many square feet of MLV you'd need. These can be installed using grommets and mechanical fastners. These rolls are off-white and grey respectively, but for those who don't like the look of these (they are an industrial product, after all) you can hang these between two layers of fencing. If doing so, you do limit your options a bit for fencing material.

If you did go with brick, concrete or even a heavy metal, make sure to add some absorption to the fence to control echoes with an absorptive facing like a Quiet Quilt&#; Outdoor Acoustic Blanket or Charcoal BlocknZorbe&#; Sound Panels.

We often say sound performs like water, and your fence is the walls of the pool. If you have a hole that sound can go through, then all the sound is going to start flowing through those weak points. That&#;s why you want to make sure you get enough material for your full fence build, even overlapping the edges (2-3") of the blankets or mass loaded vinyl you are using to ensure you are getting 100% coverage.

There&#;s something serene about hanging out in our own backyard, listening to the wind whistling and the birds chirping. But that serenity can quickly be interrupted by the sounds of traffic and neighbors yelling. Although it&#;s impossible to keep out all unwanted noise, with some careful planning and a bit of time, you can create an effective sound barrier for your humble abode and make your backyard your favorite room in the house. If you have more backyard soundproofing projects, then you should check out our soundproof shed article!

Second Skin prides itself on offering this best quality products and solutions for any soundproofing project. Take a look at some of the outdoor soundproofing problems we've helped solve and give us a call any time you have a project where you'd like some help!

Are you interested in learning more about Blade Barbed Wire? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!