I hear you on the heritage window thing—had a similar battle with our 1930s bay windows. We looked at slimline double glazing too, but honestly, I’m still not convinced it’s worth the price unless your frames are in really good shape. Ours needed so much repair that by the time we factored in all that plus the glazing, it was almost as much as new units. Sound-wise, it helped some, but don’t expect miracles if you’re on a busy street. If you’re attached to the old woodwork though, I get it... just be ready for some ongoing maintenance.
Yeah, totally with you on the cost vs. benefit thing. I’ve seen folks sink a fortune into slimline double glazing, but if your sashes are rotting or warped, the soundproofing’s only as good as the weakest spot. Sometimes secondary glazing (the kind you fit inside) gives better bang for your buck—especially if you’re not ready to rip out the old woodwork. Maintenance is a pain, though... I’m constantly touching up paint on mine.
Secondary glazing definitely has its place, especially in older properties where you want to retain the original sashes. The air gap you get with a proper secondary system can outperform slimline double glazing for noise reduction, provided the installation’s airtight. But you’re right—if the timber’s already failing, you’re just masking the problem. I’ve seen people spend a lot on acoustic glass, only to realize later that a warped sash or loose putty lets half the street noise through anyway.
On the maintenance front, constant repainting is a real issue. If you’re dealing with flaky paint or soft spots in the wood, it might be worth looking into resin repairs before another round of painting. Epoxy consolidants can stabilize soft timber and give you a better base coat—less sanding down the line. Not a permanent fix if there’s deep rot, but it’ll buy you time.
One thing I’d add: draught-proofing strips make a bigger difference than most folks expect. Even a cheap brush seal can cut both noise and heat loss if fitted properly. It’s not glamorous, but sometimes it’s the small stuff that actually works. I’d prioritize getting the frames structurally sound and sealed before investing in new glazing units.
I’ve worked on Victorian terraces where owners went all-out on triple glazing, but skipped over basic frame repairs. The results were... underwhelming. If you’re not ready to replace the sashes, secondary glazing plus some decent weatherstripping is usually the most cost-effective route. Just be prepared for a bit of ongoing upkeep—old windows will always need a bit of TLC.
Couldn’t agree more about draught-proofing strips—those things are seriously underrated. I slapped some on my 1930s sashes last winter and the difference was wild. Didn’t fix the ancient rattles, but at least I’m not heating the whole street anymore. I’ve tried resin repairs too… messy, but they really do buy you a year or two if you’re not ready to go all-in on replacements. Honestly, if your frames are decent, secondary glazing plus a bit of TLC is hard to beat for city noise.
I tried the stick-on strips too—definitely not glamorous, but they made a bigger impact than I expected. Didn’t totally kill the street noise, but my heating bill dropped and that’s good enough for now. Resin repairs were a headache for me, honestly... I think I got more on my hands than the window. Secondary glazing is tempting, just wish it wasn’t so pricey. Still, anything’s better than those rattly frames in January.
Totally hear you on the resin repairs—had a similar mess last winter, ended up with more sticky fingerprints than actual fixes. Those stick-on strips aren’t pretty, but like you said, they’re surprisingly effective.
Same here, I noticed my old boiler didn’t have to work as hard. I did bite the bullet on secondary glazing for the bedroom after a few too many cold nights. Pricey, yeah, but it actually stopped the frames from rattling when trucks go by. Still, wish there was a middle ground that didn’t cost an arm and a leg...“Didn’t totally kill the street noise, but my heating bill dropped and that’s good enough for now.”
- Totally get the struggle with finding that sweet spot between cost and comfort.
- Secondary glazing’s a solid move—seen a lot of folks surprised by how much it helps with both noise and drafts.
- Those stick-on strips aren’t glamorous, but hey, if they cut the chill and save some cash, why not?
- There are some DIY acrylic panel kits out there that aren’t as pricey as full glazing, might be worth a look if you’re handy.
- It’s always a trade-off... but even small upgrades can make city living a bit more bearable.
I’ll admit, I was pretty skeptical about those stick-on strips at first—figured they’d peel right off in a month. But honestly, mine have held up through two winters now. Not a miracle cure for city noise, but less drafty for sure. Secondary glazing’s tempting, but the quotes I got were no joke... acrylic panels might be my next experiment if I’m feeling ambitious.
Those stick-on strips surprised me too. I put them on a drafty sash window in my old place, half-expecting them to give up after the first rain. They actually hung in there for over a year—just had to press the corners back down once or twice. Not a huge dent in the street noise, but made winter mornings less brutal.
Secondary glazing quotes made me laugh... and cry. If you try acrylic panels, let us know how it goes—I've heard mixed things but never got around to it myself. Sometimes the DIY route is just more satisfying, even if it’s not perfect.
Those stick-on strips are kind of the unsung heroes, aren’t they? I’ve seen folks use them on everything from 1920s casements to modern tilt-and-turns. They’re not magic for noise, but for drafts—they’re solid. I once had a client swear by bubble wrap over acrylic panels for a winter, which looked... interesting, but did cut down the chill. Secondary glazing quotes really do make you wonder if you should just buy earplugs and a thicker duvet instead.