advice on sound attenuating material for fence

[daBear]

You are more patient than I. If the overly concerned neighbor and counter noise does not work using a chain saw, I am afraid I would introduce a tranqualizer in hamburger to the pup. Sounds like a challenge to me and I would only stop slightly short of croaking the pup. I'll bet I could get him so dizzy he could not stand for a while though.

 

[idaguide]

I think the previous advice about quite a bit of the sound going over the fence is true. When I was building my recording studio I did a lot of research...and basically sound will go wherever air will go. In the studio business, that means you have to take care of ALL little cracks, crevices, and holes, as the dB levels for tiny openings are surprising.

However, that being said, one of the best materials for slowing the transmission of sound is Owens Corning 703 insulation. These are rigid fiberglass panels. They're used for "bass trapping" but are actually pretty good across the entire audible sound spectrum. There are lots of folks selling them on the Internet (for audio apps) with fancy covers, etc., but you can buy bales at commercial insulation suppliers. Not exactly cheap, but WAY better than any kind of 'foam' for acoustic absorption. Here's what they look like:

Ready Acoustics, LLC - Afforadble, Durable, and Stylish Acoustic Products - Bass Traps - DIY! Solutions - Mounts - Insulation

Those big blue or white panels of styrofoam or whatever you can buy at Lowe's are great for thermal apps, but really don't do anything for sonic absorption.

You could probably wrap them in plastic for weatherproofing...not an issue for my app. After all this, you may be disappointed with how little you really cut the sound coming over, under, and through a fence.

Hope this helps.
grae

 

[Soundguy]

I really like this aproach. It makes your neighbor admit his dog is barking and doesn't let him ignore it. He can't do anthing about you calling, because your just being concerned. Man, that's a great way to fight back!!!!

Eddie

That's uh,.... passive agressive right? ( sounds like a neat idea though.. and if he raises a stink about it to a LEO.. then you can just bring up the fact that he said his dog only barks when there is a problem... ergo.. there must be a problem and you were calling to check on him! )

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

Those big blue or white panels of styrofoam or whatever you can buy at Lowe's are great for thermal apps, but really don't do anything for sonic absorption. grae

You might want to look into the acoustic reduction of that insulation before you dismiss it out of hand... at least the types I have used DO list an acoustic attenuation factor... etc. Not huge.. but present...

soundguy

 

[Gryantaylor]

That's uh,.... passive agressive right? ( sounds like a neat idea though.. and if he raises a stink about it to a LEO.. then you can just bring up the fact that he said his dog only barks when there is a problem... ergo.. there must be a problem and you were calling to check on him! )

Soundguy

I figured it was either call and tell him to shut the $*# dog up OR kill him with kindness. I think he read between the lines pretty quickly, but I don't know for sure (and don't really care). Was it passive aggressive? yes. It was also effective and as soundguy points out would minimize legal problems as I wasn't calling to yell at him, I was just an overly concerned neighbor.

 

[Soundguy]

Sometimes that's the easiest way.

I sure wouldn't want to ahve to build a big eyesore fence just to keep a neighbors dog quiet.

hope the original poster don't ahve to come to taht./. as I suspect it will only reduce the sound a bit.. and be a huge expnse and effort.

soundguy

 

[Nwood]

A fence won't work.
Sonex insulating foam can be very effective at the source of the noise, like down the dogs throat, but I'm guessing you are an animal lover and don't want to hurt little poochie.
That leaves fighting fire with fire, er I mean sound with sound.

A person at the end of their rope might take skyco's ultrasonic dog trainer and hook it up to oh I dunno an air horn from a semi, or a tugboat, maybe a space shuttle booster rocket. Something slightly louder and more annoying than Wolfie the wonderdog.
Heck someone really smart could hook it to an autodialer and Wolfie could call his master direct on the telephone! Woof, woof UPS is here .

If you escalate with your neighbor, its your own doing leave me out of it. I'm just trying to have a little fun here..

I do sympathize with your situation, but don't have much in the way of constructive advice. Kindness is alway a good option. Much less likely to lead to a Hatfield Mccoy type relationship.

 

[Soundguy]

Sonex applications are not limited to being used directly at the point source of noise. In many cases, back drops, and reflective areas can be lined with sonex to prevent reflections.. etc.

However.. as has been mentioned.. I think if he goes the route to attenuate the bark.. he'll have lots of labor and expense, and very little relief to show for it...

Soundguy