Im a tenant and i have a question (apartment, house, landlords)

[bell235]

Not sure if this is the right place for this but im renting an apartment with my boyfriend. Its the main level of a house. The landlord lives upstairs and there is another tenant in the basement. Its a high ranch so there is a door that connects our level with the landlords level. Our landlord lives alone so we rarely hear him talk but he had someone over the other day and we realized we could hear every word of their conversation which means he can hear every word of OUR conversation which we didnt realize.

Is there anything we can do to kind of "sound proof" the door? Or at least muffle the talking so he cant hear us? I was thinking of just laying a towel along the bottom but there really isnt even a crack there so its obviously not bc of that , its just the door itself. I doubt theres anything we can do but figured id ask.

Thanks !

[bizcuit]

Hey, you might try posting your question in the "House" forum. That group usually has great practical solutions to stuff like this.

Good luck.

[dontaskwhy]

Just a bit of advice, before making any physical change get you landlord's permission first. Best of luck.

[KonaKat]

You could speak to him about it and ask him to have a solid wooden door installed. The one you have is probably hollow core. He may not hear you as much as you hear him, however since sound tends to travel upwards, he probably can. Unless he's hard of hearing? I feel that if a person wants to rent out parts of their house they really should try to provide people with some privacy

[rrah]

Don't speak near the door?

[Hemlock140]

Since the door is not being used as a passage, you can insulate it without damage. Simply buy 2" thick foam insulation at the local home center, trim to fit, and use 2" wide masking tape here and there around the edges to attach to the door frame.

[bell235]

Originally Posted by rrah

Don't speak near the door?

that's impossible. the door is in our living room lol

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

Since the door is not being used as a passage, you can insulate it without damage. Simply buy 2" thick foam insulation at the local home center, trim to fit, and use 2" wide masking tape here and there around the edges to attach to the door frame.

hmm ok this could work and seems low key. i don't want to make any permanent physical changes obviously i'd have to get that cleared by the landlord.

thanks!

[bell235]

Originally Posted by DebNashua

Hey, you might try posting your question in the "House" forum. That group usually has great practical solutions to stuff like this.

Good luck.

i thought maybe it should go there

i dont know how to move it.. if someone wants to move it for me that'd be great thank you

[elliedeee]

You could also try hanging an insulated curtain over it. You need something to soak up the sound.


I have a 2 family high ranch and i can hear my husband talking and watching tv up there, but he can't hear me downstairs and I only have a french door with glass inserts separating that hall with the stairway upstairs.

So your landlord may not be able to hear you.

[Dark Unicorn]

I'd would do the combo. A cut to fit piece of insulation with a nice thick drape over it to make a nice back drop for a table or bookcase. Make it blend in.