Soundproofing window

[Woodywoodchuck]

Hi, I have a noisy road near me for about 1 hour in morning.Prime sleeping time.Only traffic driving by an in the inwter its worse due to no greenery.
Its currently a 95 inch wide window (3 pieces) that is double pane. Is there a way to make this more soundproof?
Triple pane?
Foam?
Thanks

[wbrooks]

Make up with wife so you don't have to sleep on the couch in the living room:p
I live about 400' from a highway and our windows keep the sound out, even the sliding door. I do have a bunch of pine between me and the road that helps so perhaps plant a few rows of evergreens. My windows are decent quality, double pane argon filled with vinyl frames and foam sealed. If yours are just tacked in an stuffed with fiberglass, replacing the fiberglass with foam will make the window more rigid within the building frame and may cut down on vibration transmission.

[garager]

Are you looking to replace your window, or trying to solve what you have???

Try to solve it by

Take off your trim (interior), take out old insulation, then use spray foam. If you cannot get the straw in there between the wallboard and framing, cut some of the wallboard out, let foam dry and cut off.

Replace your weather stripping's on your windows, that is if the are operational windows.

Adding a 3rd pane can possibly be done, but without a picture, to difficult to tell you how, but I don't think a 3rd pane would solve a lot of your problem.

Its the insulation and stripping and it could be your walls are not up to standard for insulation also.

If your looking to replace your window, I can let you know of a brand that is great for noise reduction......

[Woodywoodchuck]

Are you looking to replace your window, or trying to solve what you have???

Try to solve it by

Take off your trim (interior), take out old insulation, then use spray foam. If you cannot get the straw in there between the wallboard and framing, cut some of the wallboard out, let foam dry and cut off.

Replace your weather stripping's on your windows, that is if the are operational windows.

Adding a 3rd pane can possibly be done, but without a picture, to difficult to tell you how, but I don't think a 3rd pane would solve a lot of your problem.

Its the insulation and stripping and it could be your walls are not up to standard for insulation also.

If your looking to replace your window, I can let you know of a brand that is great for noise reduction......

If theres a cheap way great.I can remove the trim and spray foam in there.Very hesitant to cut wallboard due to lack of experience patching (zero).I guess I could just add larger trim to vover that area.
They are operational. I will add a pic.Center stationary. Two sides are sliders. House was built in 1992 by a well known builder that is known for quality here.

Could you give the name of the window company please.

[garager]

No need to patch the wallboard. Trim will cover what little you need to cut out. You need to get into the rough opening that the window was placed into. So you should only be trimming off the wallboard no more than 1/2", if you even need to trim any off. This part is a heck of a lot easier to do then replacing the weather stripping around the two operating sections. If you know the Make and Model # of your existing window, you maybe able to down load on how to replace the weather stripping.

Milgard windows, is doing a great job in the noise reduction area.

Here is they're link, contact them and find out who sells them in your area. If you do want to replace your window, tell the sells person exactly what your needs are.

http://www.milgard.com/

[woodenstickers]

I used to install for Renewal by Anderson. I have nothing else to offer on the soundproofing, the foam is the best idea I could give you too, but I can tell you that I have installed triple pane windows for folks with sound issues. They do help a bit, without a doubt, but not nearly as much as one would hope for the extra cost, which for Anderson was quite a bit.

The problem is even if you fill in around the window with foam, or triple up the panes,if they are vinyl or composite windows they are likely hollow inside the frame.


So I say do what you can with what you have and don't bother replacing them until you have to. Put up heavy curtains. I think that would give you better results than buying new windows. It really does help.

[garager]

Heavy curtains is a really good idea, I really think your problem is an old window that needs some care to it and around it. Check your walls too, you just may have an area that is not insulated, or it was blown in insulation and after time goes bye, the insulation has settled. Buying a new window should be your last option, replacing what you can, can give you a new window and much cheaper.

Is the window all wood or not????

[Goodrich_Mike]

If you do replace the window get double strength glass. That will do more for reducing sound than anything. When you order the replacement window specify double strength glass for the thermo pane sash. If you know the manufacturer of the window you have you may be able to order a replacement sash made with double strength. Also be very cautious using the foam around windows. Use it sparingly it can distort the frame and make it difficult to raise and lower the window.

[Woodywoodchuck]

Heavy curtains is a really good idea, I really think your problem is an old window that needs some care to it and around it. Check your walls too, you just may have an area that is not insulated, or it was blown in insulation and after time goes bye, the insulation has settled. Buying a new window should be your last option, replacing what you can, can give you a new window and much cheaper.

Is the window all wood or not????

Nah window is all synthetic. Where the window slides the it seems like a soft (pushes in, probaly hollow) casing.
We installed some velvet curtains for light.Ill look inot a liner now too.

[garager]

Keep us posted on what your doing, I don't know what else we can do for you, but if you have more questions, shoot em out.

[Woodywoodchuck]

Keep us posted on what your doing, I don't know what else we can do for you, but if you have more questions, shoot em out.

Thanks. I will need to post a few pics.

[staab29]

make sure you use DAP non expanding foam. it is meant to be used for windows and doors. GREAT STUFF foam could possibly expand too much and cause your window not to operate correctly

[Woodywoodchuck]

make sure you use DAP non expanding foam. it is meant to be used for windows and doors. GREAT STUFF foam could possibly expand too much and cause your window not to operate correctly

THanks for the tip.

[toolaholic]

Years ago I was big time into windows. Also was a certified Pella Cont.
Millguard and others make quiet windows.
Here's how the best are made. 2 double lites of glass seperated with a plastic sheet. Airbar [spacer ]between the 2 double glass So the glass is laminated. These are very affective and are Very heavy. Not cheap

[Peter18v]

If you can, replace the panes / sashes with double-strength laminated glass. I did this in my house, and the traffic noise was cut dramatically.

[rockinrandy]

sound has a memory,if it goes through 1/8 inch glass it's pattern will change and will go through the next pane much easier.In the recording studio im building we used two different thickness of glass,so that it has to change frequency with each piece of glass the sound goes through.We also installed the glass at angles,so that some of the sound would bounce off,It travels straight through at 90' degree angles.
I am just learning about sound, This is the 3rd studio i've built,But this one is state of the art.Some big wig in nashville designed it.
I like the curtains idea. Check with music stores,about sound curtains.Most clubs the have bands with windows or smooth walls around the stage have heavy thick curtains. Good luck

[BlindPro]

I recommend an operable treatment that allows you to use it when you need it and have full view of your window when you need that. There are many sound deadening window coverings available such as a thick lined drapery or a cellular (honeycomb shade). Hunter Douglas makes a Triple cell product called "Phenomena 3" and I would recommend looking into that. Good luck.

[Newman]

The cheapest solution is to get some ear plugs... :p

[RiR]

This can be very dependent on the construction of the window, & Rockinrandy had some very relevant points. However, a method I once helped a glazier with, in Denmark, was to use Argon between the glass instead of air or vacuum. Anyone who has tried to breathe Argon can tell you, It,s heavy & soggy. (Argon is non poisnous, but heavy, & stays in the lungs- you drown more effectively than in water - Dont try this at home. If you see an apprentice in Denmark getting "wuzzy" & pale while TIG welding, you hang him upside down in a crane, & wait about 2 minutes. When he's feeling well enough to protest, you let him down gently, & send him on a long break)
Perhaps someone with your ingenuity, helped by the available knowhow of this forum can use this.

[GilBeQuick]

So how did this turn out? What did you do to solve your problem? What worked best for you?

[new guy]

SKip it all and go for what your wife would like the most. We too live near a busy street. I found that a waterfall near the window makes for a great noise distration. I haven't heard of nor do I believe in a single product that totally eliminates traffic noise but a fall 1/3 way up the window is nice and soothing. Yes, you still hear some of the traffic noise but the waterfall makes it that much easier to handle.