How to Find the Best Soundproof Window for Your Home?

After a hectic day from your daily routine, you need a tranquil and noise-free environment that is crucial in reducing mental fatigue. But with rapid urbanization and high population density, cities face problems like noise pollution. The sounds around busy streets are higher than recommended noise levels for humans. That's where there's a dire need to use soundproof or acoustic glass for windows in apartments, commercial, and residential buildings.

A standard glass window conducts sound pretty well, and a single pane of untreated glass doesn't prevent noise from entering your home. So, if you have such windows around your home, you'll be annoyed by the busy outdoors, and that's where you need to invest in the best soundproof windows.

What are the Best Sound Proof Windows?

Excess noise and sounds from the outside can cause stress and loss of sleep, contributing to hypertension, hearing loss, and other health concerns. On the other hand, a soundproof window significantly reduces sound, regardless of the design you have for your windows.

These windows help you get a better night's sleep with no disturbance from your annoying neighbors. They help create a healthier environment inside your home and make it more inviting. Anyhow, you need to put more thought while buying soundproof windows.

So, let's see how you can choose the best type of window for your needs:

How to Sound Proof Windows?

Apart from the glazing, the window's frame also takes part in setting the soundproofing feature of a window. A uPVC window might be an affordable option, but it is not an ideal material for soundproofing. So, you should invest in a type of frame that minimizes noise and improve energy efficiency. Window frames like Aluminum and Wood are sometimes preferred.

In the US, all exterior wall configurations like partitions, ceiling, floors, doors, and windows are rated based on STC (sound Transmission Class). It's a number that rates how well a building attenuates airborne sound. Nowadays, manufacturers have adopted this scale to guide customers about the soundproofing capabilities of their products.

Manufacturers and experts regard a window as "soundproof" if it can block 90 to 95 percent of airborne sounds and noises. On the STC scale, you can rate these windows between 45 to 40. A single-pane window has an STC of around 21, while a double-pane window has 26, and Triple-pane windows have an STC of 31.

So, what factors affect the sound-blocking properties of a window? A quality sound reduction depends on factors like the thickness of the glass and the amount of space between multiple panes. A double pane window with excessive space in between would have better soundproofing quality than a single pane window, and Lamination also offers enhanced soundproofing qualities to the window.

Laminated Windows-How Do They Block Noise?

Laminated glass is a special feature that goes a long way in making your windows soundproof. Such windows consist of two glass panes with a sandwiched interlayer between Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB). You can replace the pane of ordinary glass with laminated safety glass that can attenuate the sound by about 33 dB. The PVB provides excellent acoustic performance by dampening sound waves.

Anyhow, the use of laminated glass can instantly increase the cost of your window replacement project. Compared to a standard double pane window, the laminated glass will cost you 950$ additionally. However, the use of laminated glass does come with a plethora of benefits other than soundproofing. Laminated glass is a high-end option that is more difficult to shatter than standard glazing.

Does Triple Pane Glass Reduce Noise?

Now that you know the intermediate space between multiple panes of windows helps block unwanted noise from outside, you may assume triple-pane windows are best in business. However, things won't work like that. Double-paned windows are considered the best option for soundproofing. By replacing regular windows with triple-paned ones, you will have to pay for additional costs of installing these windows, which is not worth it. Acoustic experts have revealed that triple pane windows won't offer much more reduction in sound when compared with standard double pane windows.

So, you have two options in hand. You can go for laminated windows – if the hefty price tag is not a concern for you. On the other hand, you can go with double pane windows unless you live in exceptionally noisy areas like next to train tracks or across from the airport.

Other Options: Reduce Outside Noise

The quality of window frame material is an important consideration when purchasing new windows for your home as the glazing. The material used in these windows should be durable and will be able to seal gaps around the jamb, and they should be durable. In case they are not, you can always get replacements.

A window with airtight install can be made with adequate weather stripping and creating a barrier to keep out noises. Some vinyl frames also come with foam filling that helps in blocking outside noise and have a soundproof impact.

Also, try to buy a window with a nonmetal spacer system. These windows have a nonmetal spacer that keeps the two planes separated. The spacers are silicone rubber covered with a sealant, and such windows offer efficient insulating properties.

Conclusion

Choosing a type of window is an important decision. You need to decide whether you are interested in the aesthetic appearance or the window's functionality. If you are looking for a more efficient option, consider buying high-end windows with multiple panes. These windows add a separate layer of glass to the window, which adds to insulation and soundproofing.

Alternatively, you can use laminated glass windows that are perfect soundproof windows. Aside from soundproofing, these windows also provide incremental benefits. They also increase your home's thermal efficiency and reduce outside noise. If you live near an airport, the noise of planes can be as loud as 60 decibels. A good soundproof window can also provide thermal efficiency to the interior of your home.