It transmits sound through windows through direct movement within the glass. The air space that is created by secondary glazing dissociates the movements of the inside and the outer glass. This makes them act as distinct barriers, which reduces resonance, and performs better than conventional sealed unit double glazing.
Sound from the air is a huge issue when windows are not properly fitted – a 1 % gap in the entire window’s area could reduce the sound insulation by as much as 10dB. A specially-designed best window glass to reduce noise covers the entirety of the exterior window by using frames that are bonded with an acrylic sealant, and opening panels with high-performance seals.
Key Benefits
Noise is an unwanted sound, and is a type of pollution which has negative consequences on wellbeing and health. Controlling high levels of noise can be taken to reduce the amount of noise.
- Reduce sleep disturbance
- lower stress levels
- Increase productivity and concentration
- Assistance in meeting noise-planning limitations
Noisy streets, noisy neighbours, noisy roads, and even nearby industrial activity could cause a high level of sound that can be heard through your windows. There are a variety of fairly simple methods that are available to DIY’ers to silence windows.
How to Soundproof Windows Effectively?
The application of double glazing or additional layers of glass are the most effective method to make windows soundproof. The most affordable options are window plugs sealing, storm windows or soundproof curtains.
That’s the quick answer.
Based on research and experience here are 7 efficient methods to make windows soundproof:
Each technique has its pros and disadvantages; however each is effective, particularly when utilised in conjunction. Let’s talk about the pros and cons to help homeowners make the right choice and take a nap!
How do you soundproof windows?
1. Double Glazing
Double glazing provides the most effective insulation, but the primary concern is the price. CUIN Glass windows require making the frames of windows with two glass panes leaving a space of 12mm to 16mm between.
Double-glazed windows with soundproofing
Space between panes and frames is sealed to ensure it’s airtight. The dead air between them acts as an excellent space for insulation. The median value from STC from the different types is listed below. The impact from every STC value is shown in brackets based on information taken from Wikipedia.
- Single pane windows Average STC30 (Loud speech is able to be heard)
- Laminated windows The mean STC is 35 (Loud speech that is audible, but not understood)
- Double-glazed windows: Mean of STC 41 (Loud speech that is audible as murmur)
As you will see, double glazed windows are a significant improvement but , as I mentioned they can be expensive. We’ll look at some lower-cost alternatives.
2. Make A Window Plug
This is the most straightforward solution to the issue of noise from windows. Window plugs are very simple to construct, they are constructed out of inexpensive material, as well as extremely efficient.
They fill in the area in the front of your windows by layers of acoustic foam wood and matting that is soundproof. The foam on the front of the windows absorbs sound waves.
Any sound that passes through the insulation is obstructed by the mat as well as the wood backing board. Handles are added to wood’s backside to make it easy to install and remove.
3. Cover The Air Gaps
If you’re blessed with decent triple- or double-paned windows, and you’re still hearing sound coming from outside, it’s worth looking for any air leaks within your window which are allowing the sound.
For this to be done correctly, you must remove the trim of the windows. This will let you gain access to the exterior edge of the windows’ frames. Fill all gaps, cracks, or holes with a good acoustic sealing agent. Acoustic sealants are specially-designed polymers to fill in holes and stop the propagation of sound waves across the air.
Be aware of the actions you’re taking. It is important to avoid applying sealant on areas that might interfere with the normal functioning for your window. This technique is also a good one to be used together with other techniques for additional security from noise.
4. Include Soundproof Curtains
Similar to a window plug, soundproof curtains are relatively simple to put up, especially when you already have curtain rods. Because curtains made of fabric look more appealing than a window plug that is made of wood. However, they’re not as effective at preventing unwanted noise.
Contrary to best windows for noise reduction that also blocks and absorbs noise however, curtains are only able to absorb. The amount of absorption is determined by the curtain’s thickness and the material’s density and whether or not there’s an inner liner for layers and thickness.
If you’re struggling with heavy background noise the use of sound curtains alone will not solve your issue However, they can offer some additional security when used with other options. Along with the added benefit of noise reduction, they could make unattractive solutions such as window plugs look more appealing by concealing their location behind drapes.
5. Install A Quilted Fibreglass Panel
To reduce noise from outside The more dense and thicker the material you choose to use the more effective. Curtains are thin. Fabric panels that are quilted are significantly more dense and thicker. A sheet which is four feet wide 8 feet in height two inches thick weighs in excess of 12 pounds!
The weight of the curtain is perfect since it is prone to lie flat against the window frame when hanging by hooks that extend from above. This is a solution to another issue with curtains. They can be a source of noise at their bottom and top, where the curtain folds do not hold tightly against the windows.
The soundproof window panel is equipped with eyelet holes that are reinforced with metal. To hang the panel, you can attach hooks of heavy-duty to the frame of your window and then insert these into eyelets. To make the panels more efficient, you can join the edges with velcro. This will create a strong sealing around the outside of the window, allowing the least amount of sound.
6. Add Storm Windows
If you own wood windows, and especially older single-pane windows, you can enhance their ability to block out noise with storm windows in front of them. The additional layer of glass as well as the air space that is created between the two windows create additional barriers to the transmission of sound.
There’s a caveat to be aware of. If you own window replacements made of vinyl, installing storm windows isn’t advised. In certain situations temperatures can rise between the windows to the extent that the frame of the vinyl window may bow, bend or even sag, eventually damaging the window.
7. You Can Add An Extra Layer On Top Of The Glass
Another option to add protection is to apply an acrylic layer to the current window. It’s not as efficient as storm windows, as there’s a smaller air gap between the layers, however it’s still fairly efficient and considerably cheaper.
You’ll have to take measurements of the insides frame of the window then have the Plexiglas panels cut to the dimensions of your window frames. For installation, you’ll need to build a basic wooden or metal frame. Make it to the depth that your window frame allows. This creates dead air between your window and your Plexiglas sheet.