If you live near a busy road or a business with heavy traffic, you may be wondering if there is anything you can do to restrict the noise from reaching your home. Excessive noise can cause anxiety and sleeplessness. Better insulation and sealing for your home will help reduce noises but you may be wondering about a fence. Can a fence stop or restrict noises from reaching your home?
Although a fence will not be able to shut out noises completely, it can reduce noises by absorbing and reflecting the sound waves as they travel toward your home. A few conditions must be met in order to provide any measurable noise reduction:
1.) The fence should be solid – There should be no gaps in the fence. This will include in between boards or panels as well as towards the bottom of your fence. Because sound travels much in the same way as water does, it will find the path of least resistance. If there are gaps, sound will travel through them. Be sure your fence contractor understands your reason for having a fence. It is customary to leave a slight gap at the bottom of wooden fences to prevent the boards from absorbing ground moisture. However, if you communicate your wishes with your contractor, you can ensure that the fence is installed specific to your needs and situation.
2.) The fence should be thick – The more mass that the fence has, the better it will be at reflecting noises. Stone, brick, or concrete is the best material for the job. However, it tends to be a little impractical for use in a residential setting. A more practical and cost-effective option is wood.
3.) The fence should be tall – You should choose the tallest option that is allowed in your specific neighborhood and/or city. For most homeowners, this will be 6’. Some will allow a height of 8’. To determine if a fence will be effective at limiting sounds ask yourself “If I have a fence at this height, will I still be able to see the noise-source?”. If you can still see the source, your fence will likely not be an effective noise-barrier.
4.) The fence should be close to the noise source – The closer the fence is to the noise source, the more effective it will be at reflecting sounds.
If your future fence can meet the above criteria, it will likely be effective at reducing noises. Keep in mind that no fence will be able to shut out noises completely. However, a fence can be a great first line of defense in many situations.