How to choose a soundproof entrance door: 6 important parameters

Modern entrance doors perform not only an enclosing function, they are a full-fledged part of the inter-apartment wall structure. High-quality doors protect the owner of the premises and his property from burglary, fire, and also act as thermal insulation. When installing such products in apartments, owners often think about sound insulation. Certain categories of products are made using multi-layer filler in the body of a steel frame, which absorbs a greater amount of noise and vibration.

Assortment of entrance doors

What characteristics of entrance doors should you pay attention to?

Buying a reliable entrance door is an important decision for the apartment owner, on which the comfortable and safe operation of the living space will depend. When purchasing products in this category, experts recommend paying attention to the following characteristics:

• Strength - depends on the thickness of the metal profile from which the base of the frame is welded, as well as the sheet steel protecting the door from the outside of the room.
• Burglary resistance - reliability and number of locking mechanisms, number of door leaf locking axes, tightness of the product in the narthexes along the entire perimeter, type of hanging bars.

Burglar resistance of the entrance door

• Fire safety - depends on the type of filler between the elements of interior decoration and external metal sheet. If the manufacturer declares an increased fire resistance class, a fireproof mineral wool board is used as a filler.
• Sound insulation - the indicator is also affected by the internal filling of the door leaf. The increased porosity of effective insulation absorbs most external vibrations.

Effective filler inside the door leaf made of mineral wool

• Ease of use – the quality of the hangers, the presence of ball bearings, the reliability of the locks, the push handle, the presence of an optical eye.
• The quality of interior and exterior decoration is determined depending on the size of the consumer’s budget and the overall style of the interior of an apartment or private residential building.

Interior decorative MDF panel

Considering the number of manufacturing enterprises competing with each other, the buyer cannot always make the right choice in favor of a reliable brand. Before choosing a supplier company, experts recommend paying attention to reviews from satisfied customers on online forums, as well as the year of foundation and other important parameters of the enterprise.

Required Tools

Do-it-yourself soundproofing of a metal entrance door requires the following tools:

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• Tape measure and pencil;
• Stationery knife;
• Putty knife;
• Screwdriver;
• Hacksaw;

Before you begin, prepare the necessary supplies:

1. Self-tapping screws for metal;
2. Adhesive composition (liquid nails or non-expanding foam);
3. Sealing tape.

If you are soundproofing doors made in the form of a single sheet of metal that does not have internal stiffeners, to hide the soundproofing material you will need a decorative MDF panel and wooden slats to arrange the frame on which the cladding will be attached.

When is soundproofing needed?

Soundproofing the front door is one of the main characteristics of the product, which affects the level of comfort of the owner and his family when using the living space. Providing increased sound insulation is necessary when any of the following situations occurs:

• The presence of noisy and active neighbors on the landing.
• Close location of the elevator machine room in the building.
• If there is a highway, industrial facility, or large construction site near the house. Any external factors that produce a high level of noise will negatively affect the comfort during operation of the room.

Reliable soundproofing of the entrance door

According to the current SanPin, the maximum noise threshold in a residential area cannot exceed 35 - 40 dB.

A party at the neighbors or a raging hammer drill

It turns out that the sounds are different. They can be equally unpleasant, but their nature from a physical point of view is different.

• Drums. The patter of feet on the landing, the sounds of construction tools. It seems that even the walls vibrate when they sound. Such acoustics cannot be completely drowned out, but a good door will help reduce the volume.
• Airborne. Music, loud conversation, barking dog, children's games. These sounds travel only through the air. Doors are able to completely absorb them.

Rating of the best soundproofing entrance doors to an apartment

Below is a rating of the 15 best manufacturers of entrance doors with an increased level of sound insulation. The list was compiled based on an analysis of reviews from real customers on forums and is divided into 3 main categories, based on the cost of the door design kit.

Product category	Place in the ranking	Door model name	Manufacturer	Average product price, rub
Budget entrance doors with increased sound insulation	4	Bravo "Optim Modern"	"Bravo"	23 000 – 25 000
	7	Armada Luxor 3K Shagreen	"Luxor"	28 000 – 30 000
	12	Door world Triumph DVM-450	"Door World"	24 000 – 26 000
	14	Door Continent Garant-100	"Door Continent"	13 000 – 15 000
	15	Shelter Comfort TRIO	"Onyx""	12 000 – 14 000
Doors with increased sound insulation in the mid-price category	10	GRANITE ISOTHERM	"Citadel"	30 000 – 33 000
	13	ASD ATLANT WENGE	"ASD"	31 000 – 34 000
	1	Coliseum	"Doors of Regions"	38 000 – 39 000
	8	LABYRINTH MEGAPOLIS 04 BLEACHED OAK	"Labyrinth"	32 000 – 36 000
	3	Lex Thermo Sibir 3K Stained birch	"Lex"	35 000 – 38 000
Doors with increased sound insulation of premium class	2	BERSERKER ACOUSTIC 81 CJAN NJAAB|VFYPJYBZ	Berserker	44 000 – 46 000
	6	Nevada Steel Line	"Steel Line"	45 000 – 48 000
	5	Luxor 33 “Vinorit Almon”	"Luxor"	32 000 – 37 000
	11	Intekron Sparta San Remo	"Intekron"	41 000 – 44 000
	9	Persona TECHNO LUX	"A person"	51 000 – 56 000

All product prices are based on an analysis of retail outlets in the country as of June 2022.

Shelter “Comfort TRIO”

A stylish and inexpensive product with a high degree of reliability. Low prices are achieved by using parts from domestic suppliers, including elements of locks, hinges, bolts and other fittings.

The thickness of the cold-formed box profile is 86 mm. The door provides a high level of security, as well as good noise insulation performance - the maximum noise level in the room is no more than 29 dB.

Shelter "Comfort TRIO". Appearance. Option 1

Shelter "Comfort TRIO". Appearance. Option 2

The design of the door leaf is equipped with anti-removal pins and additional bolts, which increase burglary resistance when locked.

"Door Continent" Garant-100

A domestic manufacturer presented a folk product characterized by simplicity and low cost combined with effective soundproofing qualities. Product Features:

• The outer sheet has a thickness of 1.5 mm.
• Reinforced internal frame structures due to the installation of additional stiffening ribs.
• Soft hinges on bearings, provided they are installed correctly, ensure ease of operation - even a small child can open a heavy sash.
• Inside the frame there is a sheet of extruded polystyrene foam of the PSB-S type, which provides minimal thermal conductivity in combination with sound-absorbing properties.

"Door Continent" Garant-100. Appearance. Option 1

"Door Continent" Garant-100. Appearance. Option 2

The product in question cannot be called the best in the rating, but it is in high demand among middle-income consumers who leave positive reviews about the quality and reliability of the brand’s products.

The company has been on the Russian market for more than 40 years, but it has devoted only about 30 to the production of steel doors. Before this, the plant produced consumer goods, spare parts for VCRs, safes, and, since 1991, lever locks. The plant has implemented a Japanese quality control system and an Italian line for the production of burglary-resistant doors, which operates with virtually no human intervention.

• 
  Wooden windows

• Interior doors at Kashira Courtyard

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• Metal entrance doors to the apartment

Production is aimed at producing products of 3-4 safety classes. The company has an extensive dealer network and independently produces the necessary door and fittings for installation. There are products from economy to premium and luxury class. For an average price model you will have to pay more than 27 thousand rubles.

"ASD" ATLANT WENGE

A reliable and high-quality door from a well-known Russian manufacturer. The internal milled MDF panel adds rigor to a room with a classic type of finish.

Internal insulation, consisting of layers of basalt wool, expanded polystyrene and foil, ensures proper heat-insulating and sound-absorbing properties of the product.

"ASD" ATLANT WENGE. Appearance. Option 1

"ASD" ATLANT WENGE. Appearance. Option 2

An additional armored lining is welded around each lock, and durable crossbars made of high-quality steel prevent entry into the room after cutting the hinges.

"Door World" Triumph DVM-450

Buyers appreciated this modification of a well-known brand with a long history. The DVM-450 door has a number of undeniable advantages:

• The record thickness of the external metal sheet of 2.2 mm significantly increases the safety of residents and the burglary resistance of the structure.
• Soft basalt wool is laid between the elements of the canvas frame, providing thermal insulation, noise absorption and fire resistance of the product.
• Each canvas is equipped with a standard peephole with a viewing angle of 180 degrees.
• The product is offered to potential buyers in several color palettes.
• To ensure a tight connection in the vestibule, a high-quality factory tubular seal is glued along the perimeter of the supporting frame profile.

"Door World" Triumph DVM-450. Appearance. Option 1

"Door World" Triumph DVM-450. Appearance. Option 2

All door leaves, complete with frames, are equipped with reinforced crossbars with a diameter of 16 mm.

"Intekron" Sparta San Remo

A distinctive feature of this product is three-layer insulation using the manufacturer’s patented technology. Distinctive features of the product:

• The universal design is available in right and left versions, depending on the characteristics of the room and the direction of opening.
• The thickness of the armored outer sheet is 1.5 mm, the internal additional reinforcing steel element is 1 mm.
• The door is equipped with 3 anti-removal pins made of high-alloy steel and has a certificate guaranteeing the maximum level of security.
• The internal structure of the canvas includes an eccentric, the automatic adjustment of which guarantees the tightest possible connection of the structure in the rebates.

"Intekron" Sparta San Remo. Appearance. Option 1

"Intekron" Sparta San Remo. Appearance. Option 2

According to reviews from numerous users, the door of this brand is characterized by impeccable operation and durability. The design of the canvas does not deform due to temperature changes, and the hinges do not sag over the years.

Sealant

You can use a sealant to cover the second contour of the box or replace the material. To do this, purchase a product in the form of a sealing gum so that it exceeds the required length for gluing by at least 20 cm. The filler is purchased in a single skein. The seal may consist of:

• foam rubber
• silicone
• rubber
• artificial rubber
• thermoplastic elastomer

Rubber and rubber seals are most suitable for door structures (both entrance and, by the way, interior ones). A silicone seal is not as inexpensive, but its service life and consumer properties are almost at the same level. As for foam rubber, places where compression is increased cause it to deform.

"GRANITE" ISOTHERM

The product is distinguished by one of the most original design options for the internal MDF panel. The quality and thickness of the internal seal provide an average level of sound and thermal protection. Distinctive features of the product:

• The locks are located in armored cups, which eliminates the possibility of drilling them.
• The thickness of the canvas is 18 mm; more than 20 stiffening ribs are welded into the rigid frame structure, ensuring increased strength and reliability of the product.
• The outside of the steel sheet is powder coated, resistant to scratches and other mechanical damage. On the inside, a stylish MDF panel with lamination effectively complements the decoration of the room.

"GRANITE" ISOTHERM. Appearance. Option 1

"GRANITE" ISOTHERM. Appearance. Option 2

Along the perimeter of the door leaf, in a steel frame, there is also effective insulation, which allows the door to be installed outdoors.

"Persona" TECHNO LUX

Products for installation in an apartment. The internal equipment of the door leaf does not allow for comfortable operation when installed outdoors. Technical parameters of brand products:

• Unlike most competitors, it is manufactured by cold deformation of a single metal sheet. The weight of the canvas approaches 150 kg, and its increased strength guarantees complete safety for the owner.
• High-quality hinges, handles and locks made of stainless steel and brass with a bronze tint from a German supplier guarantee long-term trouble-free operation of the product.
• The inner part of the canvas is equipped with a milled MDF panel. Each buyer has the opportunity to choose any of the proposed design options from the company’s catalog.

"Persona" TECHNO LUX. Appearance. Option 1

"Persona" TECHNO LUX. Appearance. Option 2

The door is distinguished by increased noise insulation - according to the results of measurements and according to the certificate, the maximum noise level in the room does not exceed 25 dB.

It produces standard, reinforced and temporary doors installed during the construction and finishing of a house. The company has been around for almost 20 years; in addition to doors, they also produce locks. You can choose metal entrance doors for an apartment at a price starting from 7,700 rubles.

Reducing prices to this level is possible thanks to improved capacity and a reduction in manual labor.

The company has a serious quality service that checks products at every stage of assembly.

"LABYRINTH" MEGAPOLIS 04 BLEACHED OAK

A high-tech modern product is equipped with a magnetic sealing system at the junction of the canvas and the frame, which guarantees complete tightness of the warm contour of the room.

Inside the frame there is an effective porous insulation made of basalt wool, which simultaneously plays the role of a fire barrier, combined with a soundproofing function.

The internal equipment of the door is distinguished by the aesthetic appearance of a milled panel with high-quality PVC coating.

The reliability of the design is added by Turkish locks with laser perforation of the cylinder, which eliminates the possibility of selecting a master key.

"LABYRINTH" MEGAPOLIS 04 BLEACHED OAK. Appearance. Option 1

"LABYRINTH" MEGAPOLIS 04 BLEACHED OAK. Appearance. Option 2

It belongs to the middle price category and is in stable demand among the population.

Armada "Luxor" 3K Shagreen

The design of the canvas is versatile and can easily be used both indoors and outdoors. Product advantages:

• A high-quality polymer coating of the outer steel sheet with a thickness of 1.6 mm eliminates the appearance of scratches and abrasions after many years of use.
• Additional stiffening ribs made of steel profiles ensure that the shape remains unchanged during sudden temperature changes.
• Internal mineral wool insulation protects the room from the penetration of extraneous noise, cold bridges and fire.
• The door is equipped with additional elements that provide burglary resistance, even after the hinges are cut off during an unauthorized attempt to enter the apartment.

Armada "Luxor" 3K Shagreen. Appearance. Option 1

Armada "Luxor" 3K Shagreen. Appearance. Option 2

Internal MDF panel with high-quality PVC lamination is available in 20 textures and color options.

"Steel Line" Nevada

High-quality product from a famous brand from Belarus. Characterized by the presence of the following technical characteristics:

• Durable welded frame with transverse crossbars - stiffening ribs.
• Steel plate with armor plate.
• The internal decorative MDF panel has increased moisture-resistant properties.
• The body of the frame contains mineral wool insulation, as well as a sheet of metallized film, which not only provides sound absorption, but also reflects thermal energy.

"Steel Line" Nevada. Appearance. Option 1

"Steel Line" Nevada. Appearance. Option 2

To provide additional sound insulation, a porous seal is glued around the perimeter of the junction of the canvas and the frame.

How does installation affect

Without high-quality installation of the door, all work on sound insulation will go down the drain, so if you do not have sufficient experience, it is better to forget about self-installation.

• The space between the door frame and the wall is filled with polyurethane foam, which does not have outstanding soundproofing properties. Therefore, it is important that the gap is minimal, not exceeding 2.5 cm.
• The foam should be distributed evenly. Too large a gap will become a conductor of sounds, and acoustic comfort will not correspond to the quality of sound insulation of the door itself. To neutralize this effect, door trims are installed even with minimal gaps. Then you can kill two birds with one stone: both quietly and beautifully.
• It is important that the fabric adheres evenly to the seals to avoid uneven subsidence of the rubber.
• The door must be installed level, without distortions in all planes.

Luxor 33 “Vinorit Almon”

Premium product from a higher price category. Advantages of the brand's products:

• High build quality, increased wear resistance of the internal and external door coatings.
• Attractive appearance - the canvas will optimally fit into both classic and modern interiors.
• The highest level of heat and sound insulation - up to 19 dB, which is achieved by an increased layer of insulation inside the fabric structure.
• Increased thermal protection allows the product to be used both indoors and outdoors. Acts as a full-fledged enclosing structure.

Luxor 33 "Vinorit Almon". Appearance. Option 1

Luxor 33 "Vinorit Almon". Appearance. Option 2

The design of the model is distinguished by a full set of security and burglary resistance elements - anti-removal bolts, an armored lining in the lock area, an eccentric for a tight fit, as well as reinforced stiffening ribs inside the steel frame.

Bravo "Optim Modern"

One of the most popular models on the market. The universal door is equipped with hinges on the left or right side, and can also be used indoors or outdoors.

Thanks to its own staff of designers, it produces unique products, the appearance of which allows the installation of doors in rooms with any type of decoration.

Bravo "Optim Modern". Appearance. Option 1

Bravo "Optim Modern". Appearance. Option 2

Sound insulation of 22 dB is provided by a layer of extruded polystyrene foam PSB-S-35. The total weight of the set is only 85 kg.

Accessories

From the point of view of sound insulation, the requirements for entrance door fittings consist of two points. Firstly, there should be no through holes in the locking devices. And secondly, a heavy metal sash requires reinforced hinges that will reliably keep it from sagging and distortion. The best option is hinges with so-called 3D adjustment, which allow you to adjust the canvas in three planes and thus minimize possible gaps.

"Lex" Thermo Sibir 3K Stained birch

The thickness of the canvas is 100 mm; effective insulation inside the frame guarantees flawless operation outdoors. Product characteristics:

• The thickness of the steel sheet is 1.8 mm.
• Two dependent high-strength locks from the Turkish brand KALE.
• 3 anti-burglary pins with a diameter of 16 mm.
• Eccentric for tight fit in the vestibule.
• 3 layers of insulation provide excellent sound absorption and thermal insulation.

"Lex" Thermo Sibir 3K Stained birch. Appearance. Option 1

"Lex" Thermo Sibir 3K Stained birch. Appearance. Option 2

Despite the leaf weight of more than 110 kg, reliable high-strength hinges on bearings guarantee ease of opening.

BERSERKER ACOUSTIC 81 CJAN NJAAB|VFYPJYBZ

One of the best acoustic doors on the market. It has a whole set of obvious advantages:

• A high-quality steel frame and a welded frame with transverse stiffening ribs eliminate deformation of the canvas.
• The reinforced plate guarantees protection against burglary.
• Sound insulation up to 18 dB.
• Mineral wool insulation eliminates the formation of cold bridges in the room, even when in contact with the street.
• It is impossible to find duplicate keys for high-quality Israeli-made locks.

BERSERKER ACOUSTIC 81 CJAN NJAAB|VFYPJYBZ. Appearance. Option 1

BERSERKER ACOUSTIC 81 CJAN NJAAB|VFYPJYBZ. Appearance. Option 2

The above characteristics are complemented by an impeccable appearance - the outer side of the product is covered with high-quality hammer painting, and a designer MDF panel is mounted on the side of the apartment, available in more than 15 shade options.

Door jamming as one of the reasons for noise insulation failure

Important! Before strengthening the tightness of the door leaf with the help of auxiliary materials (expansion slats, overlays, etc.), it is necessary to check whether it sticks when closing?

There are 2 ways to do this:

1. draw chalk around the perimeter of the door at the points of contact with the frame and close it; The chalk will wear off the most in places where it is jammed;
2. insert a sheet of paper into the door slot and move it up and down; Where the sheet meets an obstacle is where the door jams.

"Colosseum" (Doors of Regions)

Well, the leader of our rating is the Colosseum - a universal entrance door that is ideal for installation in apartments and private residential buildings. The most popular product on the market in 2021 among consumers. Advantages of the product compared to most competitors:

• Effective insulating material, in addition to noise absorption, provides a high level of thermal insulation. The heat transfer resistance of the leaf structure ensures unhindered installation of the door on the street.
• The strict design of the interior MDF panel looks ideal not only in residential but also in office space.
• The best price-quality ratio among the products in this category. The maximum noise level after installing the door is no more than 22 dB.
• The steel milled MDF panel is offered in more than 15 color options.

Doors of the Colosseum. External and internal side

Inside the powerful and lightweight frame there is polystyrene foam combined with soft mineral wool, which ensures increased fire resistance of the structure.

This rating is subjective, based on consumer reviews and does not serve as a direct indication to purchase the product.

The difference between soundproofing structures

Massive armored doors visually look like a structure that is not only super strong, but also as a product that provides good protection from extraneous sounds. But this is only at first glance: such doors actually do not have soundproofing properties and their installation is absolutely useless from the point of view of achieving silence in the room. What is the main difference between soundproofed entrance structures and other types of metal doors? Let's take a closer look:

1. Such entrance products have a very special installation technology: to completely eliminate the noise effect, the canvas must fit as tightly as possible to the main box.
2. Increased sound-proofing properties are achieved by the special internal design of the product: it contains seals and sound-proofing filler.

We will tell you more about the technology of manufacturing doors with a high degree of protection of the room from noise in the next subsection of the article.