The car noise is killing us
Q: We bought a house near a busy road. At times the sound of traffic is overwhelming. What can we do to buffer the noise?
A: To reduce noise transmission, you have to break up sound waves. Generally, if a barrier blocks your view of the road, it will reduce the noise level.
Trees will work. Evergreens are better than hardwoods because they are fuller and stay that way all year long. Plant a screen of them as close to the roadway as possible to act as a noise barrier.
A fence is another option. It should be solid, such as a stockade-type fence, to block the noise. Again, you want it as close to the noise source as possible.
Depending on where you live, the community might have a noise specialist who could be helpful.
Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-9033, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies.
