Totally agree with you on the noise reduction. We upgraded ours about two years ago—only double-pane, but still noticed a big improvement. Didn't realize how much background noise we'd been putting up with until it was gone. Heating bills dropped too, but honestly, that quietness alone made it worth every penny. Glad you're seeing similar results...makes you wonder why we wait so long to upgrade these things, huh?
We did ours last fall—triple-pane, mostly because winters here get brutal. Definitely agree on the quietness factor; we live near a fairly busy road and the difference was night and day. Funny thing is, we initially hesitated because of the upfront cost, but now I wish we'd done it sooner. The heating savings alone are noticeable enough that I think it'll pay for itself quicker than expected.
One thing I've been wondering about though is window treatments. Did you guys find you needed to change curtains or blinds after upgrading? Our old curtains seem a bit bulky now, and I'm thinking lighter shades might be better to let in more natural light, especially since the new windows already do such a good job insulating. Curious if anyone else had a similar experience or suggestions on window coverings that complement the upgrade without sacrificing privacy...
We upgraded to triple-pane a couple years back and had the same curtain dilemma. A few thoughts:
- Switched from heavy drapes to cellular shades—still insulating but way lighter visually.
- Privacy-wise, top-down/bottom-up shades are awesome. You can let in natural light without feeling like you're on display.
- Honestly, we kept curtains in the bedroom for blackout purposes (sleep is sacred, lol), but everywhere else feels brighter and more open now.
Might be worth trying one room first to see how you like it before committing everywhere...