Studio Soundproofing- Automatic Door Bottoms

Yesterday was the day to install the door 'gaskets' for the entry into a home studio project that I've been working on for a few months. The idea is to block as much sound coming in or out of the studio as possible.

The 'gasket' is similar to fancy weatherstripping for an exterior door. The most difficult part of the installation is to mortise the cavity for the 'automatic door bottom'. This is a product from Zero International that goes along the bottom of the door and actually has a lever that drops it to the floor as the door closes.

We had discussed several ways to make the 1" wide and 1 5/8" deep hole that extends the width of the door bottom. In the end I used my circular saw with a rip fence to accurately make several cuts then I used a wood chisel to clean out the hole. It actually went quicker than I expected and the hardware fit perfectly.

A small brass knob sticks out of one end. As the door closes, it hits the door jamb and drops the seal to the floor. It's adjustable so you change the drop depending on the gap that you have. After I took this picture I installed the cover plates to make the end look pretty.

In addition to the door bottoms I installed the thresholds and strips along all the edges. In the end the doors will be sealed tightly and ready for rock 'n roll!

-Peter

www.CarpentryGuy.com