Did you notice a big difference in noise levels too, or mostly just temperature? We've been considering Kolbe but haven't pulled the trigger yet... curious if they're worth the extra cost compared to other brands.
I've heard good things about Kolbe, especially for insulation and build quality, but I'm curious—did you compare them directly with Marvin or Andersen? I've been eyeing Marvin myself because a buddy of mine swears by their noise reduction. Wondering if Kolbe's noticeably better or if it's more subtle... Noise is a big deal for me since we're near a busy street. Did you have similar concerns when choosing?
Kolbe makes solid windows, no doubt, but honestly, noise reduction differences between Kolbe and Marvin aren't night and day. I've installed both brands plenty of times, and here's my quick take:
- Kolbe's build quality is impressive—tight seals, sturdy frames—but noise-wise, they're pretty comparable to Marvin.
- Marvin does have some specialized acoustic glazing options that can make a noticeable difference if traffic noise is your main concern. Had a client near an airport swear by Marvin's acoustic glass upgrade.
- Andersen isn't bad either, but in my experience, their standard offerings don't quite match up to Kolbe or Marvin for sound insulation. You'd definitely want to opt for their upgraded glass packages if you went that route.
- Honestly though, if your street noise is really intense, I'd recommend looking into laminated glass regardless of brand. Laminated glass makes a bigger difference than brand choice alone.
- Also worth noting: installation matters just as much as the window itself. Even the best window won't help much if it's not sealed properly.
Bottom line: Kolbe's great for overall quality and insulation, but if noise reduction is priority #1, consider specialized acoustic glazing or laminated glass upgrades from whichever brand you choose.
Yeah, gotta agree on laminated glass being the real game changer. Had Kolbe windows put in last year—energy bills dropped nicely, but noise-wise...meh. Wondering if Marvin's acoustic upgrade would've been worth it now.
Went through something similar myself—got Kolbe windows about two years ago. Energy-wise, they're champs, no complaints there. But noise? Yeah, still hear the neighbor's dog serenading the neighborhood at 6 am. A buddy of mine went with Marvin's acoustic upgrade, and honestly, it's quieter but not exactly soundproof. If you're chasing total silence, might wanna invest in earplugs or move to the countryside...step one: pack bags, step two: wave goodbye to city noise forever.
Had Kolbes installed last summer—great for keeping energy bills down, but yeah, they're not miracle workers with noise. I think a lot depends on your wall insulation and how well-sealed your doors are too. My neighbor upgraded windows hoping it'd silence traffic sounds, but turns out his old hollow-core front door was the real culprit. Swapped that out, and it made a bigger difference than the windows alone. Just something else to consider before packing your bags...
Good point about doors—I hadn't really considered that before. When we upgraded our windows (not Kolbes, but similar double-pane ones), we noticed some improvement in noise, but it wasn't as dramatic as we'd hoped. Later, we found out our attic insulation was practically nonexistent... fixing that made a surprisingly noticeable difference. Makes me wonder how many people overlook insulation when chasing noise issues. Seems like it's always a combination of factors rather than just one fix.
Good catch on insulation, but in my experience, attic insulation mostly helps with thermal issues rather than noise. When we upgraded our siding and added exterior foam board, that actually did more for sound dampening than attic insulation ever did... might depend on the house though.
"When we upgraded our siding and added exterior foam board, that actually did more for sound dampening than attic insulation ever did..."
That's been my experience too. Attic insulation is great for heat retention, but soundproofing is a different animal altogether. When we replaced our windows with Kolbe, the difference in noise reduction was noticeable immediately—especially traffic noise. Windows seem to be the real game changer there, probably due to better sealing and thicker glass panes. Good move upgrading yours; it's definitely worth the investment in terms of comfort and quiet.
We recently replaced our windows too (not Kolbe, but still a pretty solid brand), and I was honestly surprised by the difference. Before we upgraded, I figured attic insulation would be the main thing to cut down on noise—since everyone always talks about insulation like it's the holy grail for comfort. But nope, windows changed everything. We live near a busy street, and suddenly it felt like someone turned down the volume knob outside.
Funny thing though, my neighbor swears by adding thick curtains or blinds to improve soundproofing even more. I'm a bit skeptical about how much extra difference curtains can really make after you've already got good windows installed...but maybe there's something to it? Has anyone tried combining upgraded windows with heavy-duty window treatments? Curious if that's overkill or actually worth looking into.
Also, speaking of siding and foam board upgrades—didn't realize those could help with noise too. Our siding is getting pretty worn out, so maybe that's another project to put on the list. Seems like home improvement never really ends, does it?