Dear James: We are in the planning stage of our new house and want it to be quieter than our current one. What design features should we consider to make it more soundproof? — Eddie F.
Dear Eddie: Noise generated from indoors, especially if you have children, can often be louder and more annoying than sounds from outdoors. With the proper material selection, floor plan and orientation to the road, you can build a relatively soundproof house without increasing its cost significantly.
Soundproofing was not a typical concern when most older houses were built. The building codes were mainly concerned with the structural integrity of the house, not how quiet it was. Soundproofing is more of a design consideration in newer houses. Unfortunately, the quality of the construction and attention to detail is often more important than the soundproofing materials themselves….