Good method of sound proofing a garden fence and fence toppers?

[ax222s]

Hi all,

I currently have this fence on my parking bay:



Theres a busy road the other side of that fence that I want to screen as much noise from as possible. Does such a thing exist?

Youll see the existing fence (that I dont want to remove) has big gaps in. So perhaps some planking going horizontal (or vertical) will block out the gaps and prevent some of the rumble of cars going past?

I also want some fence toppers to the garden fence. I have a couple of neighbors' windows that look over me. Ive found some lattice trellis you can add to the top of fencing panels, but I cant find any 'solid' fence toppers that obscures all view. I think I need the fence toppers to be about 60cms high.



Any advice/guidance greatly appreciated.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Hedge or trees are your best bet for noise suppression. And for privacy. Sticking extra bits on your existing fence will increase the odds of it falling over in the next big storm, plus you'd need pp to go higher than 2m agl

 

[Lower]

You can buy specialist acoustic fencing that absorbs and reflects sound. Its not cheap. If you google acoustic fencing you'll find plenty of suppliers.

 

[Deleted member 292770]

you need a ……wait for it…… drum roll……..bbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…..hedge.

 

[Tigercubrider]

yup. hedge/bushes absorb sound way more than a fence.
hedges have far less in the way of rules governing them

 

[ax222s]

Thanks guys. Just been looking at that acoustic fencing. It is expensive isnt it?

Hedge isnt going to be an option unfortuantely (as much as Id like on!) becuase the parking bay is on compacted hardcore, so theres no soil there.

Noice insulation would be great, but also just closing up the gaps between those boards would be good, so I cant see the cars as they pass. What are the options for that? I was thinking some sort of pannelling that I can screw onto th eexisting fence?

 

[JohnD]

a solid and dense barrier will block noise in line of sight. It's effectiveness is greater if the source of noise, or recipent, is close to the barrier.

think of the noise passing in a wave over the barrier, it takes distance to flow downwards after passing over the top.
the ply hoardings round building sites also work, although they are only wood, because they have no gaps.

In Germany, I was surprised to see some towns have fencing beside busy streets that, instead of metal railings as here, is concrete slabs like our fence gravel boards. Ever though only about a metre high, it makes a big difference because it is at the edge of the road and blocks the noise from wheels and exhausts.

the problem with making your fence higher is that it will catch more wind, and may break or blow over. I expect the hit-and-miss design was used to let the wind blow through. You could add creepers, climbing plants, beans, vines or tomatoes from the border on your side to block the sight of traffic. Ever tomatoes can grow remarkably high and fast in summer if you train them and ties them to netting or mesh.

I have recently made a fence using decking boards, run horizontally on edge. It is solid and an effective noise barrier. however it is very heavy for a wooden fence. It is storong and unlikely to be damaged. As the weight is all vertical it passes down the posts and into the concrete spurs and concrete lumps in the ground. If it ever tilted in strong winds the weight might pull it over. I'm considering adding anchored guy cables on the weather side.

have a look at whatever posts or other supports you have, and how deep and strong they are.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Some unrelated advice first: wipe the lens on your camera next time you take a picture
You've already got bamboo in front of there that will grow up before long [and need careful supervision to keep under control]. I don't know if it will grow tall and dense enough to do what you want.

You could plant some sort of climber in that bed and train it up the fence. It will take years, but if you pick the right one you will get some nice flowers as well as screening.

Maybe "temporarily" [we're probably talking a few years here] relocate the bamboo into troughs on the road-side of the fence whilst your climber gets established. That will stop the bamboo getting out of control too.

 

[ax222s]

@Why Not Indeed : Lol - tell me about it! I spend half my life wiping that lens! I think its the actual camera rather than the lens. Its an old iPhone 6. Time for a new phone I think!
Good idea about the bamboo!

@JohnD : The fence blew down in Storm Eunice! So I know that the fence posts concrete and quite solid. The panel that I replaced was with a fence post.

Ideally Id like something solid, but will use hit-and-miss if thats the only option.

Regards the sound insulation: I hoped that the staggered boards would help break up/disperse the soundwave. Perhaps thats not the case. Anyway, I thought that - as a budget solution - would be to just screw in that feather boarding stuff? The affect on the noise will be negligable Id imagine, but at least I would be able to see the cars through the gaps.