You want to spend time outside in your backyard, but all you can hear is the hum of traffic and the noise of your rowdy neighbors. Wait to put your noise-canceling headphones on. Learn about the best noise-reducing fences to add privacy and tranquility to your life.
Check your local rules and HOA requirements before beginning any fencing project. Before you start, you should obtain approval for your project. However, if you want a little peace and quiet, there are fencing alternatives available.
What Makes a Fence Effective in Noise Reduction?
Noise barriers are a cost-effective solution for both homeowners and businesses. But what makes them function? Sound must be reflected or absorbed by the fence. Reflected sound will bounce off the barrier, potentially making neighboring regions louder. Because of the substance, the absorbed sound will evaporate.
While it is impossible to make a fence completely soundproof, any noise reduction will provide you with more quiet and make things simpler to overlook. It can also lessen noise from your yard, which is great if you have children, pets, or regular visitors.
Acoustic fences are intended to keep out noise. The following factors influence a fence's ability to reflect or absorb sound.
Design
A fence with numerous holes and gaps will not prevent noise from going through. Some of the least soundproof fence designs are picket, lattice, and chain-link. Though you can improve their noise-proofing with fence fabric or other coverings, a complete privacy fence is preferable.
The greatest privacy fence designs are tongue-and-groove for picket fences and solid for wood, masonry, vinyl, or composite fences. There are no gaps between the fence pickets in these designs.
You should also avoid leaving a gap at the bottom of the fence. To avoid this difficulty, you should level the ground first if you wish to install a fence on a sloped yard. It is far more challenging to seal gaps after erecting a fence.
Height
The greater the height of the barrier, the better the noise suppression. You want the sound waves to bounce off the wall or over your head. In addition, you'll enjoy a more private and safe yard. Taller fences are more expensive than shorter ones made of the same material, but it's worth it if it affords you peace and quiet.
Check for the maximum fence height for homes in your region. Many localities and HOAs set a maximum height for backyard fences of 6 feet, but you should go higher if possible. Front yard fences are typically expected to be 4 feet or less. There isn't much you can do to soundproof a 4-foot fence, but you can lessen noise by planting trees, shrubs, and bushes.
Thickness
Have you ever lived in a house or apartment with paper-thin walls? The same may be said for fencing. Thicker, denser walls, such as stone or concrete, block sound more than thin designs.
The material frequently affects the thickness (stone fences are thicker than wooden fences), although there is Variety within each material type. For example, 1-inch wooden pickets outperform 12-inch wooden pickets.
Placement
The placement of your noise-reducing barrier is critical to its effectiveness. The first option is to position your noise barrier close to the noise source. This placement deflects and absorbs sound before it reaches your property. This is the greatest solution for those that can construct tall front yard fences to block traffic noise.
Check your local requirements to discover how far your fence can be from the property line. Tall fences too close to the road may impair motorist visibility.
What if you can't put a fence in your front yard or near the noise source? You can still enclose a smaller area further back so that the sound travels a greater distance before fading. This method works best in the backyard.
You might also build a tiny outdoor alcove to block off outside sounds like children playing or neighbors conversing. This would be ideal as a small reading nook.
Materials
Some typical fence materials absorb sound better than others. While wood and stone accomplish this naturally, some materials, such as vinyl, have been created explicitly. You can combine different materials to improve soundproofing, such as adding a vinyl layer inside or over a wooden fence. Because the prices of various components differ, we'll review the costs for each fence style.
What Are the Best Noise-Reducing Fences?
Now that we've discussed all the aspects that influence noise reduction, let's review each fencing option and its advantages and disadvantages.
Wooden Fencing
Sound waves are absorbed and disrupted as they pass through the wood. Wooden fences are famous for aesthetics, so noise absorption is an added plus. However, only some enjoy the upkeep required to keep them long-lasting and in good condition. Numerous varieties of wood fencing are available, but red cedar is particularly effective at noise absorption.
Want a more sound-resistant fence than a standard wooden fence? Inside, construct a fence with mass-loaded vinyl or absorbent sound screens. You won't even notice the soundproofing material because it's wedged between two fence panels (though you'll notice the difference). You can also place mass-loaded vinyl and absorbent sound screens between fence materials.
Can't make up your mind? Here are the benefits and drawbacks of wooden fences.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✔ Visually appealing ✔ Durable ✔ Many wood types and designs to choose from ✔ Can paint with many colors | ✘ Requires regular maintenance to prevent rotting ✘ Susceptible to wood-destroying pests ✘ It only lasts 10-20 years. ✘ Paint will peel over time. |
Vinyl Fencing
The Ohio Department of Transportation sponsored a study that concluded that vinyl fencing was an excellent alternative for minimizing traffic noise. This study is terrific news for local government organizations and all homeowners who live near busy streets.
Vinyl fences can be built to either reflect or absorb sound. Some vinyl fences are packed with acoustically absorbent materials to improve their effectiveness. The greater the thickness of the vinyl, the better its performance.
Vinyl fences are more adaptable than wooden fences. They come in various styles and colors and can also be made to look like other materials, such as wood and stone. The material is frequently hollow and lightweight, but it is nonetheless strong. Vinyl is heat, UV light, wind, moisture, and pest resistant. But, like any other substance, vinyl has advantages and disadvantages.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✔ Low-maintenance ✔ Lightweight ✔ Comes in many colors and designs, including faux wood and stone ✔ Resists heat, UV rays, wind, moisture, pests, and fire | ✘ You can't customize them after they're manufactured. ✘ Higher up-front cost than wooden fencing ✘ Color can fade ✘ Becomes brittle over time ✘ Not eco-friendly ✘ More difficult to repair or restore |
Composite Fencing
Want to have the best of both worlds? Composite fences are constructed from recycled vinyl and wood. The overlapping panels and density keep noise out of the composite fencing.
They, like vinyl, come in various colors and can be used to replicate stone and wood fences. The vinyl prevents decay, wood-destroying bugs, and splintering. However, these fences are more expensive than wood or vinyl ones, and their color may fade over time.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✔ Eco-friendly ✔ Low-maintenance ✔ Comes in many colors and designs, including faux wood and stone | ✘ More expensive than vinyl or wood ✘ Color fades over time. |
Price range: $26-$57 per linear foot
Masonry Fences
These fences may not be to everyone's taste, but they can enhance the attractiveness of a yard. Sounds bounce off these thick walls, and there's little chance of privacy violations. You can select from a variety of styles, including:
Brick
Stone (granite, limestone, etc.)
Concrete
Marble
Stucco
Do you want to shake things up? To change the appearance of the fence, paint or apply stucco. Precast concrete fences with designs are also available.
When properly maintained, these robust fences can last for decades. You must, however, be committed to this design choice. Masonry fences are difficult to remove or adjust once they are erected. They are also expensive up front, especially if you want high-quality materials.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✔ Variety of styles ✔ Decorative ✔ Durable ✔ Extremely long-lasting ✔ Low-maintenance ✔ Fire-resistant | ✘ Expensive ✘ Hard to remove, modify, or repair ✘ Time-consuming to build |
Price range: $10-$80 per square foot
Living Walls
Money may not grow on trees, but peace and quiet may. Plants are used to create living fences, which act as a natural sound, wind, and privacy barrier. Sound attenuation, or the reduction of sound intensity, is how vegetation minimizes noise pollution. A privacy hedge is the most densely packed barrier. You might also plant various varieties to add aesthetic interest and disease resistance.
Here are some of the best living fence plants for reducing noise.
Holly
Juniper
Leyland cypress
Yew
Arborvitae trees
Living fences work best in yards with lots of space.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✔ Aesthetically pleasing ✔ Low maintenance costs ✔ Sustainable | ✘ Take time to grow ✘ Not practical for small yards ✘ Add more to your garden to-do list. |
Cost: Depends on the plant species. Contact your local nursery to learn about your options.
FAQ about The Best Noise-Reducing Fences
How Can I Improve the Soundproofing of My Existing Fence?
Attach fence fabric, mass-loaded vinyl, noise-reduction panels, and soundproof blankets to muffle sounds to an existing fence. You can also build a secondary sound barrier by planting a living fence alongside your existing one.
How Can I Reduce Noise From Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners?
First, make sure it isn't a technical issue. You may need to replace the motor, fan, or entire machine. If everything is in order, install a sound compressor blanket or a soundproof fence around the pump. You can utilize some of the fencing materials suggested in this article, but make sure you can maintain the heat pump or AC.
If your neighbor's heat pump or air conditioner upsets you, talk to them about it. They can solve it themselves. If they refuse or cannot do so, you can soundproof your fence to absorb or reflect the sounds.
What Other Ways Can I Reduce Noise in My Yard?
Why not disguise the noise with something more enjoyable if you can't silence it all? Here's how your landscape and decorate to lessen noise.
Install wind chimes to drown out external sounds in the neighborhood.
Install fountains or other types of water features. Running water produces white noise, which helps to drown out other noises.
Increase the vegetation in your yard to absorb, scatter, and block sounds. The rustling of leaves and the sound of wildlife can also create a relaxing atmosphere.
Make a berm or a mound of soil. This method is most useful for those who have huge properties.
When Should You Hire a Professional?
While you could tackle many of these fences as a DIY project, some soundproofing techniques are tricky to get right. Contact a local fencing pro for quotes and advice for your new fence or soundproofing project.