noise in the courtyard

A service of Sound Home Inspections, Inc.
Subject: 
noise in the courtyard
Topic: 
Soundproofing

Question: 

George - I have a unique situation. My home is situated along a road with significant traffic and the subsequent sounds. The interior of my home is well sound insulated with minimal sounds inside. My house has an interior courtyard with pool and spa. The sound from the road is significantly more noticeable with the open air above. Is there a way to reduce the noise via a spray dampening product or a barrier. The home owners association frowns on exterior changes, but changes within the courtyard are able to be made. The walls are made of stucco at this time and the material on the outside cannot be changed except for a spray material. A 4 foot wall has already been added, but the courtyard still receives more noise than we wish.

- Joel from Scottsdale, AZ

Answer: 

Joel,

Based upon your description the sound problem does seem to be related to the shape and location of the courtyard and the materials. Both the stucco and the swimming pool are likely contributing factors. I also suspect that you have some concrete or stone patio areas around the pool and all of these materials tend to ?reflect? sound and act like some of those whispering bowls that one finds in science museums etc.

Here are a few suggestions that might help you reduce the sound problem:

  • Various types of trees, vines and other vegetation can help reduce the reflective nature of the material inside your courtyard. You might want to talk to the folks at your local nursery or agricultural extension agency to find out what grows well in your area. Anything leafy is better that something spindly. Lawn or grasses would be fine as an alternative to a hard surfaced patio but you will also want to use plants that don't require too much water - we don't have much in Seattle at the moment, even worse in Arizona!

  • Various types of fabrics can help. You might want to use outdoor furniture with cushions, awnings, umbrellas? The awnings might also help deflect some of the noise.

  • You might want to talk to your home owners' association about building a new sound mitigation wall past the area of your patio or plant trees in that area.

  • If you have some large windows or glass doors between the patio and the house, you might want to install some fabric shades on the outside of these glass surfaces. This will add some soft and less sound reflective material, block the sound reflective properties of the glass and it might even help you cool the house but blocking the sun.

    None of this is magic or anything close to a 100% solution, but it should help.

    George

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