Just wanted to say this thread is gold! 🤩 So many useful insights. We’re looking to replace our windows next year mainly because of the street noise in our Tampa neighborhood, and reading all these experiences is super reassuring. Thanks to everyone who shared their story. 🙏
One thing to consider in the overall soundproofing picture: doors. I know we're talking windows, but if you have an old hollow-core front door or a flimsy sliding patio door, those can leak noise too. In my case, when I did my window upgrades, I also replaced an old hollow metal front door with a new fiberglass door with a solid core and better seals. That change surprisingly cut down on the traffic noise coming through the front of the house even further.
I noticed it because before the door replacement, if someone was talking on the porch or if there was street noise, I'd still hear a bit of it, seemingly from the front hallway area. After I got the new front door, that area got quieter too, in addition to the window improvements. So, while windows will make the biggest impact, don't overlook doors if noise is still sneaking in.
For those with sliding glass doors (like many of us in Florida have), treating those like windows (as some have mentioned above) is key. My neighbor changed his old slider to an impact-rated one and said it made a big difference in both noise and insulating the house.
So yeah, windows are #1, but once you do those, the door might be the next thing to check if you're chasing maximum quiet. Every little bit helps!
I'm in a slightly different living situation (high-rise condo in downtown St. Pete). We had to replace our windows last year to meet updated hurricane codes (the old ones were original from the 80s and not up to current standards). The funny thing is, we weren't even thinking about noise at first – it was all about hurricane safety and our condo association mandated it – but the noise reduction has been a fantastic bonus.
Our unit faces a pretty busy street and also we get a lot of city noise (sirens, downtown traffic, occasional protests/marches, you name it). With the old single-pane glass sliders and windows, we heard everything even from the 10th floor. After installing new impact-rated windows and sliding glass doors (with heavy laminated glass), the difference is huge. The sirens are now a faint wail instead of a jarring blast, and general city buzz is barely noticeable. Even the loud music from the park concerts down the road is much less of a nuisance.
Some of our neighbors commented that their ears even "popped" a little with the new windows because the sound insulation was so much better (kind of like when you go into a really quiet, sealed building – your ears notice the pressure change from silence). Not sure if it’s true or just psychological, but it made me laugh.
So even in a condo scenario, new windows (especially impact ones) make a world of difference in noise. A friend of mine in the building joked that it turned urban living into suburban-library quiet. 😄
For anyone in a condo or apartment: if you have the ability to upgrade your windows and noise is an issue, it can be well worth it. Just check your building rules and such; in our case it was a building-wide project, but individual owners could probably do it too with approval.
I have a question about window styles and noise: Is there any difference in noise reduction between different types of windows (like casement vs. double-hung vs. sliding windows)? I'm going to replace my windows and I have the option to change styles (currently mostly double-hung windows, but considering maybe awning or casement windows in some rooms). I've heard casement windows might seal better since they have a crank that pulls the sash tight against the weatherstrip, whereas sliders and double-hungs have tracks that can have more air gaps.
Has anyone noticed if a casement or awning window is quieter than a sliding or double-hung one, all else (glass, etc.) being equal? I don't want to overthink it, but if one style inherently blocks sound a bit better, I might lean that way for the noisier side of the house.
Curious if any of you have insights or have done a mix of styles and noticed differences in sound. Thanks!
@matthewcoder3090 Good question! There actually can be some differences. In my research/experience:
Casement/Awning Windows: These tend to have a single unbroken seal around the entire sash that gets pressed tight when you latch or crank them closed. This can make them slightly better at keeping out air and potentially sound compared to windows that slide. There's less opportunity for sound (or air) to leak through because the seal is continuous.
Double-hung/Sliding Windows: These have more moving parts and typically use sliding seals or weatherstripping along the tracks. Even when closed and locked, there might be tiny gaps or just less compression on the seals compared to a casement. It's not that they're bad (good quality double-hungs seal pretty well), but there's inherently a break in the seal where the two sashes meet (in a double-hung) or where the slider closes, etc. That can be a minor weak point for sound.
In practice, if you're using the same glass and same frame material, a casement window can have a bit of an edge in soundproofing simply because of that tighter seal. I've seen some window manufacturers tout slightly higher STC ratings for the casement version of a window versus the double-hung version for this reason.
However, the difference might not be huge unless your current windows are leaky. If your double-hung windows are well-made and installed, the glass is going to be the main factor (like laminated vs not). But if you were open to casements anyway, it could be a nice little bonus for noise to go with them on the loud side of the house.
One thing to note: casements open outward, which is fine unless you have space constraints (like a walkway outside that the window would open into). Awnings (top-hinged crank-out windows) also seal like casements and can be left open a bit even in rain, but they might be smaller.
I actually did a mix in my house: I put casements in our front (street-facing) room and double-hungs on the side/back. The front casements (with laminated glass) are super quiet. The side double-hungs (also laminated glass) are nearly as quiet, though I think the casements might be a hair better. It's hard to tell because the noise exposure is different on each side, but my gut says the casements seal in sound slightly more.
So, short answer: Yes, casements/awnings can be slightly better for noise because of the compression seal. If noise is a big concern and you don't mind the look/operation difference, it’s worth considering using them at least on the noisy walls of the house. 🙂 Hope that helps!
@hcarter30 That helps a lot, thank you! I might do exactly what you did: casements on the loud side of the house. Appreciate the insight!
I also want to add how new windows helped with something important in our household: sleep! My husband works night shifts at the hospital, so he sleeps during the day. Before we got new windows, daytime sleeping for him was rough – the garbage truck, delivery vans, lawn mowers, all that daytime neighborhood noise used to wake him up or at least disturb his sleep regularly. We also have a toddler who napped during the day, and it was a struggle to keep the house quiet enough.
After we replaced our windows (we went with double-pane impact glass windows for reference), it made a world of difference for daytime quiet. Now when the garbage truck comes by at 10 AM, it's not an event in the house anymore. It's a distant sound instead of sounding like a warzone outside our window 😅. Our toddler can nap through almost anything now (well, as far as outside noise is concerned – he still wakes up if we step on that one creaky floorboard, lol). And my husband actually sleeps through the day without needing white noise machines cranked up.
It’s one of those quality of life improvements that you don't fully appreciate until you experience it. We knew it'd help, but didn't realize it would help that much. My husband says it's probably the best home upgrade we've done for his sanity. Night shift workers out there, if you're losing sleep due to daytime noise, new windows plus blackout curtains can be a game changer.
So yeah, not just for comfort when you're awake, but for getting good rest too, new windows can really pay off!
On a lighter note, something funny happened after I got my new sound-reducing windows: I realized I couldn't hear the ice cream truck anymore 😅. I used to always know when the ice cream man was rolling through the neighborhood because I'd hear that jingle loud and clear from inside. After the window upgrade, one afternoon my kids were upset that they missed it because none of us heard the music until it was already turning the corner. Oops!
So, downside: you might miss out on the ice cream truck (or other harmless noises you actually want to hear). Now I crack a window open a bit on weekend afternoons if the kids are on high alert for ice cream, haha. Small price to pay for all the quiet we've gained though. Just thought I'd share that little anecdote. Sometimes peace and quiet means you have to be a bit more alert for the things you do want to hear.
Has anyone here also tried using soundproof curtains or heavy drapes in addition to new windows? I'm thinking of doubling up on noise reduction. I plan to get my windows replaced soon (thanks to all the advice here), but I'm also considering thick acoustic curtains, at least for the bedroom, to make it even quieter when needed. Not sure how much extra benefit curtains provide once you have good windows. Anyone have experience with that?
@puzzle5701092 I have heavy blackout curtains (marketed as noise-reducing) in my master bedroom along with new double-pane windows. In my experience, the curtains do help a little, but the windows do 90% of the work. Before the window upgrade, the curtains made a slight difference (mainly muffled some high-pitch noises and reduced echo in the room), but I could still hear most outside noise through the old windows. After I got new windows, the outside noise was already much quieter, and drawing the heavy curtains maybe adds a small extra muffling effect.
I’d say if you already want blackout curtains for light or aesthetics, go for it and consider any noise dampening a bonus. But if you have good windows closed, the difference with curtains closed vs open is not huge for sound (at least to my ears). It might take the edge off something like a siren a tiny bit more.
Every little bit helps, but if budget is a concern, prioritize the windows first (as you are). Curtains can be the cherry on top if you still need a tad more quiet or just want the light blocking. I like having both, personally.