World Construction Symposium

World Construction Symposium

Is It Possible To Reduce Noise With A Fence?

by Wallace Simmons

Would you like to reduce the noise coming into your yard, or the noise leaving your yard? You may not think that a fence can help facilitate those things, but it can. A properly placed fence can go a long way toward adding to your outdoor comfort levels.

Reasons to Consider Noise Reduction Fencing

There are two things to consider when you're looking for noise reduction methods for your yard.

  • Preventing or reducing noise originating outside your yard
  • Preventing or reducing noise originating inside your yard

If you live close to a source of traffic or other human activity, the sounds coming in from the street can seem extremely distracting and annoying. These noises can prevent you from enjoying your yard as you would like. They can also invade your living space.

On the other hand, it's possible that you like to throw parties or turn your music up. You don't want to annoy your neighbours or give passersby ammunition for complaints. Even if you just want to enjoy quiet conversation in your yard, you may not want your talk to travel out for the rest of the world to hear.

How You Can Use a Fence to Bring Down the Noise

There are two main methods of reducing noise.

Reflection – Sound bounces off certain surfaces and reflects back out.

Absorption – Sound mutes when it's absorbed.

Through a combination of material and construction, you can use your fence to both reflect and absorb sounds. When it comes to materials, the denser the material, the better it is at dealing with sound.

For example, using a brick or stone has a better chance of defeating sound. However, many homeowners cannot afford or are not allowed to build such walls. That means you have to get creative with your fencing. Two main attributes can help a fence defeat sound.

  • Height – A fence should stand high enough to block most sounds that come from ground level and above. It doesn't have to soar, but ideally, it should stand higher than whatever the highest source of perpetual noise comes from.
  • Gaps – A fence with gaps can look nice, like the oft dreamt of white picket fence. However, gaps allow sound to come in and out. You need a gapless fence to bounce back sound or absorb it. This goes for under the fence, as well as over it. Which goes back to height as well.

Of course, the fence cannot do all the work. It's good place to start, and if the noise levels aren't all that bad, you may not need anything more. If you're dealing with a lot of noise though, you'll need to help your fence to help you.

Help Your Fence Keep the Noise Out (or In)

Remember the part about absorption and reflection? There are many materials out there that you can put on your fence to help it do those things. In fact, there are so many of them, you can look for them to help with form as well as function.

For example, there are wood panel barriers and absorbent foam sheets that won't look out of place circling your yard. In addition to these materials, you can also plant shrubs or even trees.

This is especially a good idea for covering the bottom of the fence where there might be space for noise. Trees are good for covering the top of the fence to deal with noise that may rise over the top.

It All Starts with Professional Fence Placement

If you worry about noise, then you have to start with your fence. When you speak with a fencing contractor, let them know that one of your main concerns is cancelling noise travel. They can help you find a fencing system that fits your budget, your yard, and your need to keep the noise levels manageable.

For more information, contact Davis Kresak Fences or a similar company.


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About Me

World Construction Symposium

Hi, I'm Lenora. One of my favorite things is traveling. And when I travel, I especially love to see the various architecture around the world. Ever since I built a house (well, you know, hired a contractor to help me design it and then build it for me), I have been fascinated with the construction process. I love looking at international architecture like Saint Basil's Cathedral in Russia or Angkor Wat in Cambodia. How were they made? It is just so interesting to me, from the foundation's support to all the intricate details such as paving or roofing. I started this blog to talk about all the parts of construction. I hope you enjoy it!

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