I live on a highway. What fencing can I use to serve as a noise barrier?

Question: I live on a highway. What fencing can I use to serve as a noise barrier?

Yes, our privacy requirements often include relief from external sounds, as well as from sights. For information on fencing for noise barriers, please see below....

Answer: Fencing intended to serve as a noise barrier or "sound barrier" often uses thick tongue-and-groove boards, in order to form an impervious barrier. These boards are nailed to heavy rails, which in turn are supported by heavy posts. The operative word for noise barriers is obviously "heavy." That's because, as a rule of thumb, mass dampens sounds best -- so fencing serving the purpose of muffling sounds needs to be heavier than most other fencing. [Source for information on noise barriers: Lawrence Winterburn, GardenStructure.com.]

Back to > Fences FAQ Index

Back to > Index to All FAQs