I finally caved and swapped out my old double pane windows for triple pane last month, mostly because the street traffic was making me lose it. Honestly, I noticed a difference, but it wasn’t quite the “dead silence” I’d hoped for—still some rumble from trucks, just less harsh. Anyone else made the switch? Did you feel like it was worth the extra cost, or am I expecting too much?
Honestly, I noticed a difference, but it wasn’t quite the “dead silence” I’d hoped for—still some rumble from trucks, just less harsh.
That lines up with what I see a lot—triple pane’s great for softening higher-pitched stuff, but those low-frequency rumbles just have a way of sneaking in. The glass helps, but sometimes the real culprit is the wall itself or even the window frames. I’ve had clients swap out windows and then realize the noise is coming through the gaps around the frame, or even vibrating through older walls.
Did you notice any drafts or cold spots around the new windows? Sometimes installers skip air sealing, and that can really undermine the whole upgrade. Also, what kind of siding do you have? Brick, vinyl, stucco—it all plays into how much outside noise gets through.
I’d say triple panes are worth it for energy savings and a bit of quiet, but if you’re expecting total silence, it’s not always realistic. Ever think about adding heavy curtains or looking into soundproofing the walls themselves? Sometimes it’s a combo that finally gets the peace you’re after.
I had a similar situation after a job in an older brick house—triple panes helped, but the client could still hear the subway rumble. Turned out there were gaps behind the trim and even a weird cold draft near the sill. We ended up pulling the casing, sealing everything tight, and it made a bigger difference than the glass upgrade alone. Sometimes it’s those little details that get missed. Heavy drapes helped too, but yeah, total silence is tough unless you start tackling the walls themselves.
Interesting you mention sealing behind the trim—I’ve always wondered how much of a difference that actually makes versus just swapping out the windows. Did you use spray foam or caulk, or something else to fill those gaps? I keep hearing mixed advice about what’s best for older brick houses, especially if there’s any moisture risk. Also, did you notice any change in temperature inside after sealing everything up, or was it mostly just noise reduction?
Also, did you notice any change in temperature inside after sealing everything up, or was it mostly just noise reduction?
We used low-expansion spray foam around the frames, then caulk over the top for good measure. Honestly, it made a small difference with drafts—house feels less chilly near the windows now. Noise-wise, it helped a bit, but not a miracle cure. Our place is 1960s brick, and I was worried about trapping moisture too, but so far, no issues. I think sealing helps, just don’t expect total silence.
I was worried about trapping moisture too, but so far, no issues.
Yeah, that's the big one with brick houses—moisture can get you if you're not careful. I’ve used that low-expansion foam myself and it does help with drafts, like you said. Noise? Meh, marginal improvement unless you go for heavier glass or secondary glazing. The foam's great for sealing up gaps, but it's not magic. Still beats feeling that cold air sneaking in around the frames every winter.
Yeah, sealing up those gaps with foam definitely helps with drafts, but I agree—if you’re hoping for a big drop in street noise, it’s not really going to cut it. I live right by a busy intersection and after trying foam and weatherstripping, the real game-changer was adding a laminated glass storm window. Not cheap, but I finally stopped waking up to garbage trucks at 5am.
On the moisture thing, I was nervous about that too. My house is 1920s brick and I’ve seen what trapped moisture can do... didn’t want to mess around. Ended up leaving a few small weep holes at the bottom just in case—maybe overkill, but haven’t had any damp spots or peeling paint since.
Honestly, if you’re chasing both warmth and quiet, secondary glazing or heavier glass is where it’s at. Foam’s good for those little cold breezes though—can’t argue with that when winter sets in.
- Tried foam strips and weatherproofing tape on my 1950s windows—helped a bit with drafts, but noise? Not much difference.
- Was skeptical about secondary glazing, but gave it a shot last winter. Used acrylic panels with magnetic strips. Install wasn’t too bad, but lining up the magnets was fiddly.
- Street noise dropped maybe 50%. Not silent, but I stopped hearing every car horn and siren at 2am, so that’s something.
- Cost was manageable compared to full window replacement, but it’s not invisible—there’s a slight gap, and cleaning’s a pain.
- Moisture: agree, it’s a real concern. Didn’t see condensation, but I left small gaps at the corners just in case. Maybe that’s overkill, but I’ve seen paint bubble before... not risking it.
- If you’re expecting total silence, you’ll be disappointed, but it’s a solid middle ground. Foam’s fine for drafts, but for noise, heavier glass or a second layer is really the only thing that moved the needle for me.
My experience was almost identical—foam strips made a dent in drafts but barely touched the noise. I tried laminated glass inserts after reading about mass-air-mass principles (basically, more layers = better sound dampening). Install was a pain, and honestly, the visual bulkiness is a tradeoff. But I did notice a distinct drop in low-frequency rumble from buses outside. Still, like you said, total silence is unrealistic unless you go full acoustic-grade, which gets pricey fast. Cleaning between panes is definitely annoying... I ended up just ignoring it half the year.
Yeah, cleaning between those panes is a lost cause for me too... I just let the dust have its way until spring. Laminated glass did more than I expected, but like you said, it’s not magic. I still hear the occasional siren, but at least my windows don’t rattle anymore. The extra thickness looks a bit clunky from the street though—guess that’s the price of peace and quiet.