I get the appeal of quieter mornings, but I’m not convinced double glazing is the magic bullet for noise. You said:
“Still, I’ll take a bit of fog over waking up to the sound of bin lorries at 6am.”
Fair, but in my place (also Victorian, single-glazed until last year), the difference wasn’t as dramatic as I’d hoped. Sure, there’s less street noise, but if someone slams a car door or revs an engine, it still comes through. Maybe it depends on the installation or the type of glazing? I went with secondary panels too and honestly, condensation is worse now because air can’t circulate between the layers. Leaving curtains open helps a bit, but it’s hardly a fix.
Honestly, sometimes I wonder if the trade-off is worth it—less noise versus more damp patches and having to wipe down windows every morning. Maybe I just got unlucky with my setup... but I wouldn’t call it a total win.
I’ve wondered about this too—how much of the noise reduction is down to the type of window versus how well it’s fitted? I went with proper double-glazed units (not just secondary panels), and while it’s better for general traffic hum, like you say, sharp noises still get through. Did you notice if your condensation problem got worse in winter, or is it year-round? I’m also curious if anyone’s tried those trickle vents or other ventilation tweaks to help with the damp.