Long-term window soundproofing
June 5, 2022 7:50 AM Subscribe
I'm finally settling down into a place I expect to live for a while, and I'd like to soundproof the windows in my bedroom so I can have peaceful sleep once and for all. What is the best method for this that is easy, economical, and will last a while? I'm getting lots of options when I search for the question, but would love recommendations from experience. (No blackout curtains, please - I like waking up with the sun!)
I don't believe there exists a way to soundproof a window that is easy and economical.
Effective, easy, economical isn't even a pick-any-two scenario in this case, it's pick-any-one and even if you pick Effective and go for double or triple glazing it's not actually going to be all that effective.
Bear in mind that anybody spruiking noise reduction using impressive-looking percentage numbers is doing so in order to avoid expressing that reduction in the much less impressive-looking standard units, the equivalents of 50% and 70% reduction being 3dB and 5dB respectively. You'd barely notice a 3dB reduction. 5dB you'd notice, but external noise that's bad enough to keep you awake will almost certainly still do so when turned down by 5dB.
Soundproofing necessarily involves the use of dense, limp materials (lead sheet is the classic one) and window glass and plastic film are neither of those things. Best you can do with windows is make sure any air gaps are completely sealed and arrange for as many isolated layers of glass (preferably "acoustic" glass, each pane of which is actually a glass/acrylic/glass laminate) between you and the great outdoors as you can afford and/or still see through. But don't expect miracles. No conceivable window treatment is going to keep as much traffic noise away from your eardrums as a decent set of earplugs.
posted by flabdablet at 8:23 AM on June 5, 2022 [5 favorites]
Effective, easy, economical isn't even a pick-any-two scenario in this case, it's pick-any-one and even if you pick Effective and go for double or triple glazing it's not actually going to be all that effective.
Bear in mind that anybody spruiking noise reduction using impressive-looking percentage numbers is doing so in order to avoid expressing that reduction in the much less impressive-looking standard units, the equivalents of 50% and 70% reduction being 3dB and 5dB respectively. You'd barely notice a 3dB reduction. 5dB you'd notice, but external noise that's bad enough to keep you awake will almost certainly still do so when turned down by 5dB.
Soundproofing necessarily involves the use of dense, limp materials (lead sheet is the classic one) and window glass and plastic film are neither of those things. Best you can do with windows is make sure any air gaps are completely sealed and arrange for as many isolated layers of glass (preferably "acoustic" glass, each pane of which is actually a glass/acrylic/glass laminate) between you and the great outdoors as you can afford and/or still see through. But don't expect miracles. No conceivable window treatment is going to keep as much traffic noise away from your eardrums as a decent set of earplugs.
posted by flabdablet at 8:23 AM on June 5, 2022 [5 favorites]
Are you now a homeowner? Double glazing is the only solution that works well in my experience, and would require a window replacement. This solution might actually be affordable - when I replaced windows the reasonable price surprised me, and afterward I heard only very loud sounds, like a siren right outside, and this was very muted. Normal street noise, talking, radio, etc. was inaudible when the window was closed.
posted by citygirl at 9:08 AM on June 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by citygirl at 9:08 AM on June 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
+1 to double glazing. My place came with it, so I can't speak to cost/ease. But, I live on a major/busy street in New York City and concur that it blocks out everything but very close by sirens and similarly loud noises.
posted by snaw at 11:03 AM on June 5, 2022
posted by snaw at 11:03 AM on June 5, 2022
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posted by pinochiette at 8:00 AM on June 5, 2022 [2 favorites]