How to cut down on SOUND transfer through windows
- Thread starter wren57
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58Yeoman
Well-known member
My first home was built across the street from a redi-mix/construction plant. After a short time, I never heard the noise. Can you plant shrubs or put up a wall?
Lightning rod
Well-known member
Depending on the house construction details, noise also comes thru
Walls, soffits, attics but your correct, mostly windows
Heavy drapes in front of windows will help at night for sleeping
Walls, soffits, attics but your correct, mostly windows
Heavy drapes in front of windows will help at night for sleeping
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RegeSullivan
Well-known member
Very heavy multi layer drapes/window treatments do a lot to cut down on noise when they are closed. Evergreen trees and shrubbery eventually help outside but take a long time to mature. Properly designed physical barriers do well by are often unsightly and very expensive.
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engineer2
Well-known member
Arbor vitae trees grow pretty fast.
Laminated glass is sometimes used to suppress sound, but there may be less expensive solutions.
Laminated glass is sometimes used to suppress sound, but there may be less expensive solutions.
homelessdespot
Well-known member
Ground level or second story? Check for air leaks anywhere on the wall, an air leak will transmit a ton of sound. Other than that you can't do anything but add layers of material like a window insert, more sheetrock, or decoupled wall (the best option).
spotco2
Well-known member
I was born on 180 acres on a dirt road and our closest neighbor was 5 miles away. It was quiet. We moved when I was a kid to a new house on the side of a very busy 4 lane highway and nobody could sleep for weeks. After a few months we grew used to it and it was never a problem again.
Tall, full trees (Leyland cypress, etc) will absorb and suppress a lot of noise but you will probably get used to it by the time the trees get tall enough to make a difference.
Tall, full trees (Leyland cypress, etc) will absorb and suppress a lot of noise but you will probably get used to it by the time the trees get tall enough to make a difference.
sweetk30
Well-known member
airport is in my backyard . i am 90* o the runway so its not as bad as direct flight path traffic . few weeks and i dont even notice them anymore .
also my job now is at the airport so i have to watch for them now and see who is coming in for fuel / service / ramp service needs . i find my self now at home picking out each planes sound and were its going based of that and the time for the reg scheduled flights .
also my job now is at the airport so i have to watch for them now and see who is coming in for fuel / service / ramp service needs . i find my self now at home picking out each planes sound and were its going based of that and the time for the reg scheduled flights .
Justind97
Well-known member
Give it a week. I moved from the country to the city when I was 17. The road that was just over 100 yards away sounded like it was running through my bedroom.
A week later I didn’t hear them anymore
A week later I didn’t hear them anymore
PCMusicGuy
Well-known member
That's a problem with newer windows. They are certainly more energy efficient, however the glass is much thinner than in older windows. I would say the most cost effective option would be heavy drapes or ear plugs until you get used to it.
rlitman
Well-known member
I can't say I've seen that at all. The problem is builder basic cheap windows, even if double pane, are just cheap. They're almost certainly not energy efficient windows either.
laser3kw
Well-known member
booze and lots of it
administer hourly until sound is no longer heard
administer hourly until sound is no longer heard
senlow
Well-known member
Make sure that your existing windows are well sealed. Noise control windows are quite costly.
Heavy curtains will help. Especially if they vinyl lined.
A tightly fitted sound suppressing foam plug works well. Unfortunately, it's no longer much of a window. It's kind of hard to see through the foam.
A brick or concrete wall between your windows and the noise source will help a lot. Trees and bushes, not so much.
Heavy curtains will help. Especially if they vinyl lined.
A tightly fitted sound suppressing foam plug works well. Unfortunately, it's no longer much of a window. It's kind of hard to see through the foam.
A brick or concrete wall between your windows and the noise source will help a lot. Trees and bushes, not so much.
Bogie1632
Well-known member
Try living on fighter jet bases for years on end.
Seriously though, after you give it a while you'll hardly notice and as others have said, try trees and some sound deadening curtains...something like AcousticCurtains. Both will make a difference.
Check out a well known nursery near your location and see what they have that's already got some height, at least to your window height. Plenty of sites out there to look at to help decide what works and looks good for your property.
AcousticCurtains are just over $100...likely a bit cheaper than new windows, trees, or walls built outside options.
Good luck.
V/R
Bogie
V/R
Bogie
Seriously though, after you give it a while you'll hardly notice and as others have said, try trees and some sound deadening curtains...something like AcousticCurtains. Both will make a difference.
Check out a well known nursery near your location and see what they have that's already got some height, at least to your window height. Plenty of sites out there to look at to help decide what works and looks good for your property.
AcousticCurtains are just over $100...likely a bit cheaper than new windows, trees, or walls built outside options.
Good luck.
V/R
Bogie
V/R
Bogie
Have you considered a white noise generator (sound machine)?
https://www.hammacher.com/product/a...1XRJa8jhcXp-fOMX58NDQmaX7ahelU7RoCBr8QAvD_BwE
https://www.hammacher.com/product/a...1XRJa8jhcXp-fOMX58NDQmaX7ahelU7RoCBr8QAvD_BwE
laser3kw
Well-known member
(Hotel scene) "So often, you won't even notice it"
Jake figures it out...
Jake figures it out...
malibu101
Well-known member
Can't help with the OP's problem, but this above made me laugh because....
I grew up next to train tracks and the trains always blew the horns at our house for the crossing right up from us. As a young (pre-married) man living there I most often fell asleep with the TV playing.
Met my now wife and moved into an out of the way apartment. At bedtime it was dark and quiet.
I had a hard time adjusting to sleeping when it was dark and quiet.
I guess it was for the best, now I can sleep though anything.
Sound control is multifaceted and can be tricky. You need MASS to block sound and high density fiber to 'absorb' ie. turn sound energy into heat.
If the windows are truly the weak spots, I would pull the trim, check for gaps in insulation, caulk, re-insulate with rockwool, then add an additional pane if possible.
There won't be a cheap solution. Heavy curtains may help.
Just for reference; in a recording environment to block sound the floor is isolated from the joists and subfloor. The walls are doubled up and decoupled by using a staggered 2x4 and 2x6 framing pattern covered with 2 layers of drywall. The inside of the walls are treated with absorbent material and the room is designed to minimize parallel walls to avoid reflections. any glass is doubled up as are doorways (like an airlock).
If the windows are truly the weak spots, I would pull the trim, check for gaps in insulation, caulk, re-insulate with rockwool, then add an additional pane if possible.
There won't be a cheap solution. Heavy curtains may help.
Just for reference; in a recording environment to block sound the floor is isolated from the joists and subfloor. The walls are doubled up and decoupled by using a staggered 2x4 and 2x6 framing pattern covered with 2 layers of drywall. The inside of the walls are treated with absorbent material and the room is designed to minimize parallel walls to avoid reflections. any glass is doubled up as are doorways (like an airlock).
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Denwood
Well-known member
There are two "easy" solutions to the double pane glass issue in my experience. I find random noise extremely irritating so have done a lot of work in my business and home with regard to noise control.
1. Replace with triple pane. They perform significantly better than doubles with respect to noise transmission.
2. Add acrylic/magnetic inner storms. I live on a busy street and have quite a few double pane sliders..each is about 2ftx4ft. The magnetic acrylic storms (they go on the inside) cut sound about 50% (a surprising difference). We have them installed about 2" away from the interior glass.
If you have an older home with no insulation, blown in cellulose is also quite effective at dropping noise transmission through an older wall.
There is lots more you can do, but the above is low hanging fruit. Street noise in our upper story went from very evident (bothered me falling asleep) to barely noticeable. The cellulose insulation and magnetic acrylic storms were the two most dramatic improvements.
1. Replace with triple pane. They perform significantly better than doubles with respect to noise transmission.
2. Add acrylic/magnetic inner storms. I live on a busy street and have quite a few double pane sliders..each is about 2ftx4ft. The magnetic acrylic storms (they go on the inside) cut sound about 50% (a surprising difference). We have them installed about 2" away from the interior glass.
If you have an older home with no insulation, blown in cellulose is also quite effective at dropping noise transmission through an older wall.
There is lots more you can do, but the above is low hanging fruit. Street noise in our upper story went from very evident (bothered me falling asleep) to barely noticeable. The cellulose insulation and magnetic acrylic storms were the two most dramatic improvements.
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Superbec
Well-known member
call the window manufacturer and ask if you can fit triple-pane in your frames, it makes a big difference and is not that expensive, installation is also quick
Horror Business
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2014
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Laminated glass.
Prospecter
Well-known member
There are two "easy" solutions to the double pane glass issue in my experience. I find random noise extremely irritating so have done a lot of work in my business and home with regard to noise control.
1. Replace with triple pane. They perform significantly better than doubles with respect to noise transmission.
2. Add acrylic/magnetic inner storms. I live on a busy street and have quite a few double pane sliders..each is about 2ftx4ft. The magnetic acrylic storms (they go on the inside) cut sound about 50% (a surprising difference). We have them installed about 2" away from the interior glass.
If you have an older home with no insulation, blown in cellulose is also quite effective at dropping noise transmission through an older wall.
I can vouch for these suggestions. I'm kinda obsessive about insulation, so FG batts, then added more cellulose, and later foam board inside. Then replacement triple pane. Each step produced noticeably quieter interior. If I was starting over, I would go with mineral wool batts and high density cellulose.
1. Replace with triple pane. They perform significantly better than doubles with respect to noise transmission.
2. Add acrylic/magnetic inner storms. I live on a busy street and have quite a few double pane sliders..each is about 2ftx4ft. The magnetic acrylic storms (they go on the inside) cut sound about 50% (a surprising difference). We have them installed about 2" away from the interior glass.
If you have an older home with no insulation, blown in cellulose is also quite effective at dropping noise transmission through an older wall.
I can vouch for these suggestions. I'm kinda obsessive about insulation, so FG batts, then added more cellulose, and later foam board inside. Then replacement triple pane. Each step produced noticeably quieter interior. If I was starting over, I would go with mineral wool batts and high density cellulose.
Prospecter
Well-known member
BTW, I also have a 20' to 50' border planting (I live in the country.) It helps, but not as much as you might think. Can't converse in the front yard if we are not looking at each other and within 10 ft.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Marctrees
Well-known member
If you stop making loud noises in the BR, then you don't need to worry about bothering those on the Interstate.
Seems "Dohhhh" to me, but no one thought of that yet.
Google Images - "********" - for a low cost helpful tool.
Marc
Seems "Dohhhh" to me, but no one thought of that yet.
Google Images - "********" - for a low cost helpful tool.
Marc
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acer66
Well-known member
Plants do almost nothing to absolutely nothing when it comes to noise reduction.
RegeSullivan
Well-known member
It seems that way but as trees evergreens and heavily planted landscapes mature they do reduce the noise a good bit. I think because they mature so slowly you don't realize... until you clear a such a lot or landscape.
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acer66
Well-known member
Could be but they also seem to like to put up concrete walls etc. at freeways for noise reduction, at least around here they do.
Or this for a home.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Could be but they also seem to like to put up concrete walls etc. at freeways for noise reduction, at least around here they do.
Or this for a home.
I disagree. I can clearly hear the highway 1 mile away from me in the winter when the leaves area off the trees. It's much quieter in the summer.
BTW, independent studies have shown the ridiculous $1mil/mile concrete "sound walls" we have in NJ actually amplify the noise.
I know it's louder at my house with them than it was without and I know people who moved after the state installed them in their back yard because it got so bad.They were really only installed because of cronyism. The CEO of the company that got the lions' share of the contracts was a good friend of the politicians on the EPA board who pushed for the wound walls.
Tommy
acer66
Well-known member
I disagree. I can clearly hear the highway 1 mile away from me in the winter when the leaves area off the trees. It's much quieter in the summer.
BTW, independent studies have shown the ridiculous $1mil/mile concrete "sound walls" we have in NJ actually amplify the noise.
They were really only installed because of cronyism. The CEO of the company that got the lions' share of the contracts was a good friend of the politicians on the EPA board who pushed for the wound walls.
Tommy
If they have em on both sides the noise might bounce back and forth and get amplified that way.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
If they have em on both sides the noise might bounce back and forth and get amplified that way.
Yup. The soundwaves collide and literally pour over the top of the walls instead of being diffused by the softscape.
Tommy
Denwood
Well-known member
Of these, the single most noticeable decrease in sound is definitely the acrylic magnetic storm. You can't tell they are there (optical acrylic) but that extra 2" additional air gap is very, very effective...particularly with double hung sliders that don't seal very well regardless. I've also measured very large differences with FLIR thermal imager on -25C mornings. A treated window is easily 10C warmer on the inside surface.
homelessdespot
Well-known member
Marctrees
Well-known member
"They were really only installed because of cronyism. The CEO of the company that got the lions' share of the contracts was a good friend of the politicians on the EPA board who pushed for the wound walls."
OP is in NJ.
We are watching "Sopranos" so I understand.
Marc
OP is in NJ.
We are watching "Sopranos" so I understand.
Marc
DC73
Well-known member
I replaced the windows in my house a few years ago. I ended up specifying "security laminated" glass in the bedroom windows. These windows blocked sound transmission much better than the standard glass inserts. I'm extremely happy with them.
Get a security laminate window film and put it on the inside of the windows. Security film is thicker than standard window tint film and will dampen vibrations through the glass. It should help with the sound transmission.
As already mentioned, heavy drapes and interior storm windows will help as well.
A small table top size air cleaner used as a white noise generator will also help. I started using one years ago for allergy reasons but kept using it for the white noise benefit. Try to find one with a 3 speed fan and choose the setting that's most pleasing to your own ears.
DC
Get a security laminate window film and put it on the inside of the windows. Security film is thicker than standard window tint film and will dampen vibrations through the glass. It should help with the sound transmission.
As already mentioned, heavy drapes and interior storm windows will help as well.
A small table top size air cleaner used as a white noise generator will also help. I started using one years ago for allergy reasons but kept using it for the white noise benefit. Try to find one with a 3 speed fan and choose the setting that's most pleasing to your own ears.
DC
SGKent
Banned
wooden frame made from 3/4" wood the size of the window opening. Add a hinge if it is a large window to fold it, or just make 2 that nestle. Heavy plastic stapled to it on both sides. You can add a couple handles over the inner plastic to grab it to remove it. You won't be opening those windows very often, and will only need to get behind it for dust, bugs and clean the window. Cost to make minimal. Add solid drapes over it if you want more reduction but you'll lose sunlight and possibly throw your body time clock off every day and feel crappy because of it.
DC73
Well-known member
Just happened to come across this article today on sound transmission through windows: http://www.wixsys.com/images/Noise.pdf
DC
DC