Blocking sound through hit and miss fencing?

DaveyDave

Our garden has hit and miss fencing which looks nice but the gaps allow you to see through to the neighbors garden, seeing through the fence isn't an issue but the sound is. The neighbors have a super aggressive dog that barks and tries to get through the fence whenever we're outside, at the bins, cutting grass etc. The issue is that our outdoor furniture is in the corner of the garden beside them so the dog barking is literally right in your ear. We don't want to move the furniture as we have a tree in the other corner and there's less sun in that corner.

Is there anything I can do to block sound beside our furniture? Maybe some sort of outdoor acoustic panel to put over the fence? I know we will still hear the sound as the garden is open, just need to block the sound of the dog directly in our ears.

Talking to the neighbors isn't an option...

looksee

Could you just fill in the 'misses' on that section?

49801

Pack of sausages or a bone
https://www.petworlddirect.ie/c/dog-bones/13

SouthWesterly

6x6ft paneling and maybe some insulation sheets in the middle to absorb the sound

DaveyDave

looksee wrote: »

Could you just fill in the 'misses' on that section?

Yeah we could just put planks over the gaps but while we're at it I was thinking something to dampen sound in between would help as wood isn't as solid as brick.

Only problem is something like mass loaded vinyl doesn't seem to be sold in Ireland so not sure what layer to put in between.

Noo

Fibre cement panels, not too thick, like 6-9mm.

KaneToad

Would something like this be an option?

https://radiofence.ie/dazer-ii/61-dazer-ii-professional-dog-chaser.html

Outkast_IRE

Rather than fluting around with the fence would you not just consider replacing the panels to a shiplap option or similar . Insulation and similar is a recipe for disaster and will hold moisture for a long time .

Even if you insulate the panel the sound of the dog will be almost as clear coming over the panel .

Jim_Hodge

Even a brick wall won't kill the sound of a barking dog the other side of it.

5uspect

Sound insulation will do pretty much nothing outdoors when the dog is barking on the other side. The sound will just propagate over the top of the fence.

Have you spoken to your neighbours about their dog’s behaviour?

Outkast_IRE

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Even if you insulate the panel the sound of the dog will be almost as clear coming over the panel .

This. It's a pointless exercise.

DaveyDave

Jim_Hodge wrote: »

Even a brick wall won't kill the sound of a barking dog the other side of it.

I'm not expecting to get rid of the sound I was just hoping to get rid of the harshness if that makes sense as with the hit and miss fencing I'm looking directly at the dog through the fence and it's barking less than a foot away from my ear. I thought blocking the panel gaps would lessen the impact of the noise as the sound wouldn't have a direct path.

I would have thought closing the gap would make a difference, but if people seem to suggest otherwise then I'll need to resort to something else.

5uspect wrote: »

Sound insulation will do pretty much nothing outdoors when the dog is barking on the other side. The sound will just propagate over the top of the fence.

Have you spoken to your neighbours about their dog’s behaviour?

I know talking to the neighbor is usually the most obvious solution and a lot of people aren't aware of noise issues but they don't care. We've let them know in the past about excessive noise from shouting at each other in the middle of the night and they're aware of the dogs excessive barking as they tell it to shut up when it's out in the evening.

looksee

Just casting about but is there something that would reflect sound, like insulated foil reflects heat, and send it back to their side? It would have to go between the hit and miss layers so would be vulnerable to being removed, but I have visions of a narrow panel angled towards their garden, just above the fence on your side, that would echo the sound back (and reduce it on your side).

Or you could just get in the habit of chucking a bit of meat in for it when you sit down outside.

Outkast_IRE

looksee wrote: »

Just casting about but is there something that would reflect sound, like insulated foil reflects heat, and send it back to their side? It would have to go between the hit and miss layers so would be vulnerable to being removed, but I have visions of a narrow panel angled towards their garden, just above the fence on your side, that would echo the sound back (and reduce it on your side).

Or you could just get in the habit of chucking a bit of meat in for it when you sit down outside.

Yeah you will reflect sound by having a solid barrier. But that doesnt stop it coming over it but it will reduce the direct in ear barking you are experiencing.

The crowd below in the UK specialise in it and you may be able to take some of their ideas and DIY it.

https://www.jacksons-security.co.uk/blog?category=acoustic

As i already said in my previous post - all they are really doing is putting in a better quality fence - Shiplap or tongue and groove. Get rid of the hit and miss would be a good start.

looksee

There is also the point that if the dog cannot see you (through the fence) it might be less inclined to bark.

TheFairy

Just start talking to the dog, build up a relationship with him, he wont bark at you then.

CelticRambler

looksee wrote: »

you could just get in the habit of chucking a bit of meat in for it when you sit down outside.

That'll only reinforce the behaviour - the dog'll come to associate barking with getting a reward! :cool:

TheFairy wrote: »

Just start talking to the dog, build up a relationship with him, he wont bark at you then.

Yeah ... maybe. It depends on why the dog is barking - attention seeking, defending its territory, just a bit mental? If it lives in household where the owners bark at each other (which seems to be the case) then simply befriending it may not be the solution either.

@OP : the solution does lie with the dog, not the owners, and definitely not a fence. You might get more info on a practical, long-term solution if you make an enquiry in the pets forum (once the mods there have kicked out the animal abusers and other idiots that usually turn up on that kind of thread)