Soundproofing a cedar or redwood fence

 I get a lot of questions regarding how to soundproof my cedar or redwood fence. This process is actually pretty simple. As a general rule, it is best to have a wooden fence that is at least 8' in height in order to get the most soundproofing possible. Some city ordinances however will only allow you to build a 6' high fence. If that is the case, then a great idea is to build up a dirt berm at least 2' high, and then construct your fence atop of the berm. This will give you the 8' height you are looking for in order to obtain the best soundproofing possible.
  Once your fence is constructed to the proper height, I recommend that you attach a product called mass loaded vinyl (MLV for short) to the the fence structural members, in other words to the posts and crossmenbers of the  fence structure. The MLV is a reflective barrier material that will basically reflect the noise back to it's source.
 If you already have an 8' fence that is already in place, then the MLV would be stapled or nailed to the side of the fence that does not have the vertical dogeared slats already installed. You would simply staple (air drive stapler) or nail the mass loaded vinyl to the fence structure itself, much like a membrane to cover the entire backside of the fence.
  On an 8' high fence you will have 2 ribbons of the MLV that are 4' wide each that will be applied to the fence fence vertically. This is recommended in order to minimize the seams in the vinyl membrane. It is essential that you caulk (acoustical caulk) any over lapped seams as well as around the perimeter of the MLV membrane to seal it and prevent the noise from migrating through seams of the MLV. The MLV is a weatherproof product, but it is advisable that you nail up a new set of vertical slats directly over top of the MLV membrane. This will give your fence a finished look and will protect the mass loaded vinyl from the elements for years to come.
 To get more in depth information on how to soundproof your fence, go to http://www.soundproofingamerica.com/  or simply call us toll free at (877) 530-0139. Thanks for reading, Bob O.