advice on sound attenuating material for fence

[snodley55]

Hoping to get a little advice from the folks here on TBN.
I'm planning on building a double-sided privacy fence, 12' tall, to reduce the noise of a neighbor's barking dog. My plan is to isolate the outer wooden materials on both sides from the 4X4 posts using a layer of foam that is normally used to seal sill plates where they meet a block or concrete foundation.
However, my real question is the best material to place in the 3 1/2 inch cavity between the two faces of the fence. I'm considering 3/4" or 1" extruded expanded polystyrene (such as the green Dow-board), or 3/4" foil-faced polyisocyanurate (such as the Tuff-R or R-Max), or possibly even two layers of the old asphalt covered 1/2" fiberboard sheathing. All these materials are available in 4X8 sheets
I'd appreciate any knowledge anyone has on the relative sound deadening effect of any of these three options.
Thanks in advance,
John

 

[Soundguy]

somex sty;e acoustic foam or any egg=crate foam will be good to break up the sound.. Unfortunately, many of the real good options won't survive the weather ( sonex and similar foams should ). I'd check the acoustic rating on the rmax, and then compair to the 2" bulk styrofoam sheeting.

There are 'spray' coating you can put on the fence outter side as well. In general sounds are absorbed best by thick / soft/ angular surfaces.

Unfortunately.. some sounds that are hi, like a dogs barking.. or a car horn.. make it thru soundproofing pretty good due to their frequency. They also reflect well and bounce alot off of hard angular surfaces.

IMHO.. I'd check with your local police and see if there wasn't a noise ordinance.. I'd bet you do have one. Around here, 'noise abatement' tickets can be issued by code enforcement. non payment, or subsequent violations are usually punishible by fine, then jail, and/or animal seizure.

While not a super easy case.. you may even be able to sure for injunctive relief.. etc

I'd get quotes on the materials and labor, and then pursue all the other options and build the fence as a last resort.

I'd also smoke over any deed restrictions that may/may not exist in your area. A call to the county attorney may also help you research applicable law on this matter, before you contact the police.. etc.

good luck.

Soundguy

 

[BTDT]

Welcome to TBN John. What part of the country is this in? Might be cheaper to invest in a nice set of headphones and a stereo. Who moved next to who? City dog or country dog?

 

[Skyco]

I doubt you'll have much luck with the fence. How cooperative is your neighbor? Is he willing to help or is he the don't give a ^&&% type?
If he is cooperative you might look into one of the anti-bark shock or spray collars. Even if you buy it that will be much less expensive than the fence.

I had a neighbor barking dog problem a few years back, I even tried an ultrasonic speaker by the fence that was supposed to irritate the dog when he barked and eventually train him to stop. Didn't work, he'd cock his head look at it quizically and keep barking. That dog is lucky I love dogs, otherwise he might have disappeared. Fortunately they moved.

 

[snodley55]

To answer a few of the questions:
BTDT, I've lived here about fifteen years, neighbor with dog has been here two months. It's not in city limits, so no zoning in effect.
Skyco, I've talked to them four times. Each time I get the story that "he just barks when the UPS man drives in". Yeah, that and every time they drive in, I drive in, the mailman comes by, anytime anyone steps out of their house, anytime he hears another dog bark within two miles, anytime he feels like it, and usually two or three times during the night. So I guess you could categorize them as the "don't give a %$#@ type".
I tried the Super bark-free from First and Foremost, with no results. I also offered to buy a bark training collar, but no-go on that.
Consequently, fence seemed to be the last resort.
John

 

[ktm250rider]

buy a leaf blower, chainsaw or similar loud machine and run it everytime the dog barks. Tell them you just run it when the fedex guy is here.

 

[EddieWalker]

Sounds has a way of going over and around barriers. I think that if you build a 100%sound proof fence, or wall, all you will do is waste your money.

My house that I used to own in California backed up to a freeway. When they first built the freeway, the lined the sides of it, and the back of the homes with shrubs. Mostly Oleanders, but others as well. This cut down on some of the debri that the roads kicked up, but didn't do much for the sound. When the widened the freeway in the 90's, they build a sound wall that was 12 feet tall, out of blocks. It cost a millond dollars a mile to build, and really didn't accomplish much. My house still had plenty of road noise being right next to the freeway, but now homes that were farther away that didn't have the noise, also got it. The wall sort of acts like a ramp to send the sound further back then before.

Putting double pain windows on the house made a HUGE differnce.

My fear is that you will build this fence, put allot of money into it, and still have the noise. It might even be worse, as the sound might deflect off of the wall and carry further like it does at my old home.

The people living under the flight path of the SF International Airport sued the airport about all the noise the planes made. They won the lawsuite and the airport had to pay for soundproofing to a large number of homes. I know one of the people who live there, and they installed 4 pain windows in his house. I have no idea where you get 4 pain windows, or what they cost, but they are so good that you cannot hear jet aircraft flying over your house with them installed.

You would also save money on your energy bill if you soundproofed your house instead of your fence. It's another option that might have multiple benifits with a solid return on your money, versus taking a gamble that you can stop sound from going over your fence.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[Gryantaylor]

buy a leaf blower, chainsaw or similar loud machine and run it everytime the dog barks. Tell them you just run it when the fedex guy is here.

I have a don't give a *&^( neighbor that used to have a dog that barked all the time. I tried talking to him and got the response "he only barks when someone is in the driveway or there is a problem." So every time the dogs barking would wake me up, 2:00am ,4:00am I'd call the neighbor (sometimes more then once). To say I hear the dog barking, is there a problem, do you need any help, etc. After a few months of an "over concerned" neighbor offering to "help" at 2:00am the dog was gone. Because I took the overly nice route we're still on speaking terms (when required).

 

[Soundguy]

I was just thinking about this thread.. and.. Gosh.. I'm glad i dont have #$%holes for neighbors. I have indoor dogs ( little yappie lap dogs ).. and outdoor dogs. the outdoor dogs literally only bark if somebody walks on my property... thus we virtually never hear from them. The yappie dogs are initially quiet, but get distracted easilly and will bark at butterflies.. etc. I make it a point to monitor the dogs when I let them out... as soon as I hear the first bark.. in they come.

If everyone just had some common courtesy like that.. there wouldn't bee much problem.

Soundguy

 

[EddieWalker]

After a few months of an "over concerned" neighbor offering to "help" at 2:00am the dog was gone. Because I took the overly nice route we're still on speaking terms (when required).

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

 

[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