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Any Personal Experience with Noise Blocking Exterior Replacement Windows? Help me find Noise Reducing Windows
Most of the Windows in my house are 5x3 sliders. My #1 concern is noise blockage, but I know I don't want to pay a ton to modify my existing window opening (e.g. no interior window build out). I am not buying laminate (too much for too little) & I don't think using something like soundproofwindows.com (again, a window "additive") is what I want. Window "plugs" are also out. I need a real replacement window (Pella, Anderson, etc...) that blocks noise really well. My preference is vinyl. I also am concerned about the surrounding area around the windows where they connect to wall. Is there are good insulator, i.e. some kind of glue or foam? I don't want to overspend, but I am not afraid of trying something that is "new". I am looking for posts from people that have actually replaced their windows, not just internet search results that give information I can find myself. If you have PERSONAL EXPERIENCE with some kind of noise proof window replacement, please help me out. Good answers so far, I appreciate it. So far I have people that are happy with sears and a foreman who mentioned Milgard. Any other brand suggetions? Any new "trendy" concepts? Also, if you dont mind mentioning approx. cost, that would be great. Who do you work for Tru_blue, lol. Okay, Everything Tru_Blue mentioned about types of glass and the means for sound reduction is in line with what I have read online. That answers the technical aspect of what exactly aids in the reduction of sound. These are important aspects to cover when looking for new windows I agree. That said, I need some practical advice on where to get these types of windows at a reasonable price. I may have to ask that seperatly. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ON WHERE TO BUY HIGH QUALITY REPLACEMENT REPLACEMENT REPLACEMENT WINDOWS THAT BLOCK SOUND WELL and have some of the techincal aspects/options listed by tru_blue? Again, personal experience is king.
Public Comments
- We got triple-paned windows a few years back. Pretty happy with them. Bought them through Sears.
- I too bought Sears vinyl replacement triple pane windows. I live near an airport and they really helped. House insulation can also factor in with noise reduction.
- Two years ago I was the foreman for a construction company. We were contracted to replace old aluminum slider windows with new vinyl windows that retrofit into the existing openings. The caveat was that we were replacing thousands (no exaggeration) of windows in a variety of apartment complexes. All of the openings were carefully measured and new vinyl windows were custom manufactured.
Contact Milgard windows (who we used) or another manufacturer and inquire about your project's specifications. They can also assist you with installation techniques as well.
As for insulation, we used 'Great Stuff' and foam weather seal that was caulked with a silicone bead. All of our projects were on stucco veneered apartments though an installation on brick or siding buildings would not be much different.
In a few cases it was necessary to enlarge slightly the opening and in some we had to shrink and repair the opening due to previous structural problems. If you are a reasonably skilled carpenter you should have little difficulty accomplishing such repairs prior to installation of new windows.
I can say that the sound insulation properties were phenomenal. Double-paned glass will make quite a difference in sound as well as temperature abatement.
- Yikes! I'm afraid you've been given well-intentioned answers but somewhat misleading advice! I will attempt to give you some advice, statistics, and recommendations. I have been in the window industry for over 30 years and will remain neutral as to which brands of windows to recommend (even though you'd like such recommendations) and instead suggest what features you should be looking for.
First, to clear up a major misconception. People assume new double and triple glazed windows will be quieter than their old windows. New double glazed windows could actually be "noisier" than the windows you have. And triple glazed windows will not perform much better than double glazed windows depending on the glass system used. Do not believe someone that says triple glazing is *significantly* better than double glazing when it comes to sound reduction. It's not necessarily true! If each layer of glass is the same thickness (say, for example, a double or triple glazed window with double strength glass), each layer of glass is screening out the same noise frequency because they're all the same thickness and are all placed close to one another. I've even had people comment to me over the years that their new double glazed windows let in more noise than their old single glazed windows that had a storm window. To make a window system block out noise *significantly* better, there are several variables that will help.
1. Laminated glass. This is the single most important variable. When someone buys a window that is specifically designed for noise attenuation (such as if you live near an airport) it always should have laminated glass. If you don't get laminated glass when you're looking for excellent sound-reducing windows, then you've wasted your time and money. My recommendation would be to get laminated glass in an insulating glass unit. Laminated glass is highly effective in reducing noise. It's produced by permanently bonding two pieces of glass together with a tough plastic interlayer between them (like on a car windshield). It also blocks 99.5% of the sun's ultraviolet rays, protecting furniture, etc. from fading. So the outer layer of your glass in the insulating glass would be the laminated glass (usually about 1/4" thick overall), and the inner layer of the insulating glass would be a standard glass (usually 1/8" or so). Most manufacturers offer laminated glass.
2. As mentioned earlier, it's important for the glass layers to be of different thicknesses. Multiple layers of glass with the same thickness are all working to block out the same sound frequencies. If one glass layer is 1/8" thick and one layer is 1/4" thick, the window will be more effective at reducing outside noise because they will be reducing some different noise frequencies. Again, laminated glass is thicker than "normal" glass because it is actually two pieces of glass bonded into one.
3. Spacing glass layers farther apart aids in reducing sound. So a 1" overall insulating glass would be better than a 5/8" insulating glass if everything else is equal. That's why if someone had a single glazed window with a storm window, and that storm was about 2" away from the glass of the single glazed window, it could potentially be better at sound reduction than a modern vinyl double 3/4" glazed window.
4. Air tightness. A super-glass sound-reducing window will not perform well at reducing sound if the window is drafty. It must be installed properly and not allow sound to go around the sash or frame.
5. Insulation. I was glad to see you asked about "the surrounding area around the windows where they connect to wall." Very insightful! A low-expansion foam insulation is great for insulating around the window; it blocks noise, air, and cold. Insulating around the window should not be overlooked.
Incidentally, there is a way to measure sound performance. The ability of a window to reduce outside noise is commonly measured in 2 ways - either via its Sound Transmission Class (STC) or via the Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC). The higher the number the better the window is at reducing sound. A noise reduction of 10 decibels represents cutting the noise level in half. So a rating of 25 (which is 2-1/2 times greater than 10) means that the product reduces the outside noise by approx 25 decibels, cutting the noise in half 2-1/2 times, or cutting it by over 80%.
If memory serves, double and triple glazed windows (non-laminated) typically have an STC of about 25-30, while laminated is closer to mid 30s but can be as high as 40. Getting it up to 40 can be pretty costly though.
So to sum this up (it's already getting pretty wordy), look for a laminated glass window (about $100 more with many brands). I wouldn't personally put as much stock in what is said about brand names in the previous posts (even though that's what you asked for, sorry) as I would in the type of glass used. Since your #1 consideration was sound reduction, I would suggest that what is most important is the type of glass used, not what brands others have used in the past regardless of the glass system. Best wishes in 2008!
