DIY Acoustic Shiplap Fencing

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Acoustic Fences are sometimes used to help reduce noise from traffic and other noise producing sources. Although they are not the ideal solution to screen noise, Acoustic Fencing will help people enjoy their garden and protect them from some of the noise currently being experienced. Because noise flows like air and water, it will of course flow over the top of any fencing so it is best to Acoustic Fences constructed as high as possible for maximum benefits.

We are often asked how an acoustic fence can be constructed to enable noise from nearby sources to be screened and help reduce traffic noise from nearby roads. This is quite simple for anyone used to working with basic carpentry tools and these instructions will enable them to construct a fence using M20AD a recycled soundproofing material with a sound insulation value in excess of 30dB. Listed below are some of the tools likely to be required to construct an effective acoustic fence.

Tape Measure
Crosscut Saw
Hammer
Sharp Stanley type knife
Spirit Level

The acoustic fence would be of close board shiplap type and quite simply erected using normal 4 x 4 inch (100 x 100mm) fence posts fixed into either concrete or a dry steel fence post spike driven securely into the ground. Whichever preference is used, the base of the fence posts should be well soaked with a good quality wood preservative before fixing. For fences over 1.8m high, thicker wooden posts or concrete posts would give greater stability.

Installation instructions for a close board shiplap fence now follow. Note! It is advisable to use only timber panels that have been treated with a wood preserver for the entire construction.

1. Fix the fence posts suitably spaced apart and to give stability.
2. Once the posts are secured and stable, screw a 7 x 1 inch rail or ‘Gravel Board’ to the bottom of the fence posts ensuring they are level with the aid of a spirit level and on the outside of the posts.
3. Fix more rails one near the top of the posts and another just above the first rail fitted near the bottom and more if required between to give support in the middle but this time all of them flush with the outside surface of the posts.

4. More panels can now be added ensuring each one overlaps the previous one by at least 25mm and as shown below.

5. A suitably sized small piece of wood can be used to ensure the overlaps remain constant.

6. Once the first side of the fence has been finished, 20mm recycled M20AD can be screwed to the side that will ultimately be hidden between the posts. Be sure to cover all of the area where the reverse side of the shiplap fencing is visible.

7. Once the M20AD soundproofing panel for fencing has been fitted, the fence can be completed by fixing more feathered edge shiplap fence panels to hide the M20AD and installed as detailed for the side already completed.

8. When both sides of the fence have had the shiplap fence panels fitted and the M20AD soundproofing pad is sandwiched between the two outside layers of fencing, all that remains is to cap the fencing with a timber cap that will cover both sides of the fence in one. This will help protect the fencing from the weather and will preserve its life.

9. Your soundproof fence is now complete so enjoy.

TO READ MORE ABOUT SOUNDPROOFING FENCES PLEASE SEE HERE