How to soundproof my apartment

[Cohibaman]

If you're working with the Housing Authority, doesn't that mean this is government subsidized housing?

[GaryProtein]

The entry door is the biggest concern.

When I was in my residency in Boston, I lived in a high rise. The MOST important improvement to keep sound out of the hallway was to place a quality gasket all the way around the entry door frame to the apartment. That included adding an oak saddle to the OUTSIDE of the door for it to close against. The saddle can be screwed or eppoxied to the floor so the gasket could go around the floor part of the door frame also. You should have to lean on or slam the door closed to get compression of the gasket for the door to latch closed to stop sound permeation through the door.

There is little you can do to prevent sound from traveling through walls. A carpet will help stop some sound going through the floor. The ceiling has almost nothing you can do to stop sound penetration.

[buggs1a]

Originally Posted by Cohibaman

If you're working with the Housing Authority, doesn't that mean this is government subsidized housing?

Yep. Sadly.

[buggs1a]

Would appreciate more input other then you're screwed.

[Weirdcuba]

I think everyone has given it a pretty good go, but you do face lots of issues with a rented apartment, via a public housing authority. There are only so many options, and no magic bullets.

My personal advice is headphones - they've come a long long way and with the right set up, might be the perfect solution.

[buggs1a]

I can't have headphones though because they touch my head and the sound would be way to close and not nearly as good.

There's things to do but what? Hurdles yes but they can be overcome. I don't care what it takes. This is a necessity.

Ok. Headphones have to be 7.1. Great sound. Wireless. Work on anything. Windows, Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 and 4 and with my home theater. Subwoofer type bass. Bla bla. And not over say $400.

See?
One. They touch my head and that's a mental issue for me.
Cost.
Sound too close.
Sound not nearly as good as my system.
I'm sure other stuff. So headphones are a no go. But I'm not against them for casual gaming maybe.

[buggs1a]

What can headphones do for me?

[crwilli]

Originally Posted by buggs1a

What can headphones do for me?

seriously?

[eddiel]

Originally Posted by buggs1a

I'm sure this is possible darn it it's gotta be I think.
I've read something about something you can put around the front door to lower the sound vol that goes out. And I've read that there are things to do but I've not heard from companies/ experts who this is their job.

I guess I need to talk with them folk and also see if King county housing authority will work with me somehow.

What you want to do is possible. It just might not be possible in terms of budget or in terms of physical location.

You might want to look into lead soundproofing. Essentially, you'd be lining your place with lead sheeting. I worked with someone briefly who used this method to soundproof their apartment in NYC. I don't know the particulars but there's information out there.

But I'd do what your thinking...find specialists and have a word with them. You could do some research online for now. There's quite a bit of information out there.

[buggs1a]

Seriously yes. Just a question.
I have heard from one place that said what I'm looking for is not possible in last email I got. But the first email he said there are things to do but then I guess he was talking about for a home theater not to help the sound not go to neighbors as much.

Sound isolation and something else. I don't know what this is.

I've heard of sound absorbing panels which does what? Absorb sound yes. But I don't understand the result. Then there's blocker panels or something I think?? Diffusion panels too. I dont know what these panels result in. Sometimes when reading an article I can get confused.

In a post above it was mentioned a room within a room. And I bookmarked the link he provided. But I don't understand. This sounds good though if it could work.

I don't know about budget yet. I'm living with my parents until king county housing authority gets back to me on getting me a place big enough for me to fit. They're needing to transfer me because the current apartment is way to small. The living room is 14'x11' only and bedroom 10'x8'. I can barely fit. So I'm trying to get them to transfer me. I'm somewhat claustrophobic in that small of space.

When I know where I'll end up my plan is to talk with them about soundproofing whatever it takes. this is because of my mental health issues. I need soundproofing so I don't bother others as I may have outbursts and some other issues due to my Tourette's syndrome and ADHD and OCD and Asperger's syndrome and anxiety. And tv, music is part of my therapy. So I'm trying to figure things out.

And right now I'm trying to learn my options.