We've been in the house a couple years now, and since I full time work from home the noise gets tough on the family with calls, etc.

Looking for ideas on door options to be able to close the door(s) to the office while working, but also minimize the space it takes and the ease/cost for paying someone to do it.

Located in Tomball area if anyone has contractor recs. I'm also fairly handy, so if it's more a plug and play option I'd be interested in hearing that. Opening is about 8ft tall in the middle and about 6.5ft wide

Love the look of metal doors like this but they get to be pretty expensive. https://blackdiamondirondoors.com/products/light-6-double-interior-arriving-10-1?variant=44410343882999

Without getting rid of the arch, a sliding barn type door is probably easiest

I had this company build me some custom doors. I have been very pleased. Photos are from when I was moving into the house, so that's why it is bare.

https://www.slidingdoorco.com/room-dividers/

NOISE penetrates ANY open space ala a needle opening like field mice which most rooms use as necessary HVAC Return Air UNDER the door-to-floor cuts = defeats of your needs of SILENCE from the Get-go
+
Anything arched & DOORS gets extra do-re-me $$$ thrown at it be it doos, etc = also screwed $$$$ and better not be glass = no slience here

Thoughts, form most effective to not:

• move office to another room w/solid core doors or pre-fab back yard building + no one screws w/your FAX, other machines
• garage office (fire door to home will be sound proof enough)
• UGH but ... heavy drapes kill the sound ala theaters do

Dallas, I would do it for you.

The wall is thicker than a 2x4, so you can leave the arch and frame in the opening with 2x4 wall. Leave the opening for a single or double door. If you want light get full glass doors and add sidelites if desired.

Set the framing in the center to keep the arch on both sides or flush the framing to within 1/2 inch of the side you would like to not have the arch.

Easiest and cheapest way is to get really thick curtains and put them across the door. You can try that first for cheap.

Get a thick outdoor door and a solid wood frame. That way when the kids are really pushing your buttons, you can get the deep boom when you slam the door so they know it's important.

I'll leave the door suggestions to others, but think about also adding some more "stuff" into that room to get sound reflections down - it'll really help with audio on calls (assuming you don't use a headset with dedicated mic). You can do this with literally bunches of stuff, furniture, or dedicated sound absorbers (4" thick rock wool ,etc).

I really appreciate all the suggestions/feedback. I'd say the sound isn't a huge deal one direction or the other; wife wants to stress less about the kids making sounds downstairs while I'm home (so sound coming in) but I also feel bad when I'm louder on a call (so sound going out).

I like the thought of more items in the room making a difference, that's certainly something I can work on. Not sure the wife would go for curtains, etc. There'd be a cost-benefit analysis for the doors, but good to know complete silence may not be a possibility (which isn't required either).

For most of the door options, the arch at the top seems to jump out as the most unique part. Seems like adding an arch top window with a straight bottom, to square off the area the door(s) would go makes the most logical sense.


Appreciate all the feedback so far and keep them coming. May get a free quote from that website as well in the meantime (start to get real data points on cost options)

I used those guys as well. Not sure what their solution would be for the arch but worth reaching out.

I feel like I'm stroking out reading them...

A pair of barn doors would by far be the easiest, and should be a DIY. That said, this would be the least effective option for sound reduction.

I think your best bet would be to square off the opening. Then your possibilities are endless for the doors. If it were me, I'd look at a pair of custom iron/glass doors similar to some shared above.

For my setup, the noise dampening is somewhat helpful, but not a ton. It is glass after all.

The more useful aspect was that when I close the doors, everyone knows I'm in a meeting and not to be so damn loud.

It was an expensive way to signal that, but it's worked well for us.

txag2008 said:

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tgivaughn said:

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NOISE penetrates ANY open space ala a needle opening like field mice which most rooms use as necessary HVAC Return Air UNDER the door-to-floor cuts = defeats of your needs of SILENCE from the Get-go
+
Anything arched & DOORS gets extra do-re-me $$$ thrown at it be it doos, etc = also screwed $$$$ and better not be glass = no slience here

Thoughts, form most effective to not:

• move office to another room w/solid core doors or pre-fab back yard building + no one screws w/your FAX, other machines
• garage office (fire door to home will be sound proof enough)
• UGH but ... heavy drapes kill the sound ala theaters do

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I'm not new around here so I'm used to this......but I don't know that I'll ever be convinced these aren't some AI generated responses.

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yea, there is some seriously terrible AI involved with these posts.

gabehcoud said:

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This is exactly what I need. You have this done or just find a pic of one?

Had it done. Wasn't smart enough to take a before pic but pretty much exactly what u posted

This is easy with it being paint grade. Just get a piece of fixed glass for the transom.

In the Houston area by chance? Would appreciate a recommendation

sorry, dfw