Shameela sent in a good question. She writes: I have a question about interior soundproof windows. We live on a bit busy street in San Jose. Sometimes I wake up due to the noise (especially early in the morning). I tried to cover up the windows with curtains. But still there is noise. So, I am looking for sound proofing options. I found this option recently "interior soundproof windows". So, my question to you guys is "Are interior soundproof windows worth the price? Will they really work?"
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
sf(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)
If so, do you have any recommendations for companies in Bay Area, CA?
Please share any info, reviews and opinions with Shameela in the comments below...thanks!
Image: CitiQuiet Windows
Comments (18)
Yes, they do work, but it is my understanding they are fairly expensive. I don't know which companies are best but hopefully, some other poster may.
likely only part of the solution. depending on what you want to spend, you might want to evaluate a product like quietrock(dotcom) in addition to replacing your windows. good luck.
Yes! They do work. I used to live on Lexington Ave in NYC and the amount of noise the interior sound proof windows blocked out was amazing. With them open I could hear the subway (from the 4th floor) but with them closed it was perfectly quiet. They were 1/2" thick glass.
I live right behind an office building and the trucks and back up beeps and honking start before the sun comes up. I find that a good set of earplugs works wonders.
Effective soundproofing would probably require that you address the walls as well as windows to really make a difference.
Yes, they really do. I live in a tourist neighborhood that, in the summer, is similar to the French Quarter of New Orleans. The soundproof windows are the only thing that saves my sanity when the drunken tourists start singing at 3 am.
I live on a very busy street in SF and had soundproof windows installed 2 years ago. I can honestly say that it was the best purchase I've ever made. Went through soundproofwindows.com. We really had to stay on top of them to get the windows in a timely way, but they did a good installation job. One recommendation- I installed them on the outside as I already had custom blinds inside. Having seen them done either way, outside is much better- it's weird losing your windowsills, and it's a pain to put curtains over them.
Yes, soundproof windows do work. I had doulble pane replacement windows installed and it reduced the noise by about 30%. My neighbor had her windows upgraded to 1/2 inch and she doesn't hear the neighbors dogs barking or the car alarms anymore. The upgrade cost about $200.00 more per window, but was worth it. The brand of the windows is Milgard from Costco.
Penguin triple pane windows are the best for sound-proofing. The government is also offering a rebate for these windows because they are so energy efficient!
I was doing a renovation on a hotel near the Louisville, KY airport. Very near, the only thing between the runway and the hotel was a very busy expressway. I was told the windows were triple pane. You never heard the traffic and the jets were just a slight hum.
Let me illustrate.
We (the crew) usually worked in the rooms with the door closed and the tv on. There were thunderstorm warnings but nothing serious expected.
I'm vacuuming up some drywall dust when I noticed the vacuum sounded 'funny', an ever-so-slight whine had developed. After a minute or so I turned off the vacuum to investigate. The whine was still there and now I could hear the television. It was the local weatherman going on about 'take cover immediately', 'line of storms', 'tornado sighted' and worst of all 'AIRPORT'. All along I still hear the whine.
I decided to round up the crew to take cover. As soon as I opened the door I was nearly knocked down by the noise. That whine was in fact an enormous tornado siren mounted on a pole across the street. I've never heard anything that loud and I've worked around military jets.
So, like any good construction crew, we knocked off work, grabbed a beer (it was noon) and stood at the railing of the 2nd floor and watched a funnel cloud wiggling around beneath the cloud deck as it wandered down the road and out of range.
In summary: yes, sound proof windows work.
I don't know if the windows actually work, but I can imagine they are quite expensive. As a cheaper option, I've been using a white noise machine since I moved into the city about 15 years ago. I'm currently living on a busy street with buses (with squeaky brakes) going by at all hours, and the white noise machine blocks it all out. I've had my current one for about 10 years now, and I paid about $100 for it, but I've seen them at Target for around $30 recently. I'd recommend trying it first -- you might end up saving a bunch of money...
You can read this article on soundproof windows.
http://soundproofingwithdave.com/2007/09/soundproof-windows.html
It covers the use of soundproof windows or if your on a budget purchasing a regular window and placing it behind your current window. It also covers the best type of frame material you windows should be made out of.
do the ssoundproof windows also help with temperature/draught control?
Yes, sound proof windows work. There are several options for windows. You should get enough information from this link.
http://index.seriouswindows.com/residential/quietwindows.html
David, last night you posted on at least 6 other websites, where you purport to be a consumer. Maybe you are a consumer, but on other forums you assert some expertise in sound isolation. This makes me think you are actually selling quiet solution products. All of your posts end with a reference or link to quiet solutions.
I've been in the soundproofing field for 11 years and have yet to see lab data on the inexpensive quiet rock panels. No company has any business describing a product as having acoustic benefits if there's no test data.
Thought i'll speak out the fact and try not to be salesy.
I accept that Quiet Solutions has full TL data by frequency available for their expensive drywall and not for the inexpensive panels.
As a consumer of their product they save a lot of time, money and they work well.
David, you are not a consumer. That's the point.
They were definitely worth it for me. I got an interior window from CitiQuiet installed a few months ago and I'm really, really happy with them. Check their website in the post in the picture or at www.citiquiet.com
Can someone tell me WHERE to get soundproof windows in NYC. I live on Lex & Third Aves & the noise is awful. However, I'm not a millionaire so want to find 'cheap-ish' ones. Thanks