Interesting you mention mineral wool—I get why people like it, but honestly, I've had pretty good luck with spray foam around windows. Yeah, it's messy and a bit of a pain if you're not careful (ask me how I know...), but once you get the hang of it, the seal is unbeatable.
That said, Kolbe windows are solid. I installed them for a client last year, and even though we went with foam insulation, the homeowner still swears the windows themselves made the biggest difference. Definitely quieter inside, and their heating bill dropped noticeably. I'm curious though—did you go with aluminum-clad or wood interiors? I've seen both hold up well, but there's something about the wood finish that just feels warmer, you know?
Totally agree on spray foam—once you get past the learning curve, it's pretty unbeatable for sealing gaps. One tip I've found helpful is to lightly mist the area with water before applying the foam; it helps it cure evenly and reduces the mess factor (learned that one the hard way myself...). As for Kolbe windows, I've noticed a huge comfort boost too, especially with wood interiors. Aluminum-clad is great for durability, but wood just feels cozier somehow, especially in bedrooms or living spaces.
I've found the same thing with Kolbe windows, especially regarding the wood interiors. We went with aluminum-clad on the outside for weather resistance, but inside we chose wood for exactly that reason—comfort and aesthetics. One thing I noticed right away was how much quieter the rooms became after installation. Didn't expect such a noticeable difference in sound insulation, but it's been a pleasant surprise.
As for spray foam, your tip about misting is spot-on. Another trick I've learned is to always have acetone handy for cleanup. Even when you're careful, foam has a way of getting everywhere, and acetone makes quick work of any accidental overspray or drips. Just be cautious using it around finished surfaces—it can strip paint or finishes pretty quickly (another lesson learned through experience...).
"One thing I noticed right away was how much quieter the rooms became after installation. Didn't expect such a noticeable difference in sound insulation..."
Interesting you mention that—I had the opposite experience when we upgraded to Kolbe windows a few years back. Don't get me wrong, they're beautiful and the wood interiors definitely added warmth to our space. But honestly, the noise reduction wasn't as dramatic as I'd hoped. Maybe it's because our old windows weren't terrible to start with, or perhaps our neighborhood is just noisier...hard to say. Still happy overall, but sound insulation wasn't the standout benefit for us.
Weird, for me it was kind of mixed. In the bedrooms facing the street, noise dropped noticeably, but in our kitchen area facing the backyard... honestly couldn't tell much difference. Maybe it's about placement or window size? Hard to pinpoint exactly.
Had a similar experience when we upgraded ours last year. Bedroom facing the street went from noisy traffic to near silence, total game changer. But the back windows? Eh, barely noticed anything different—birds still chirping loud and clear at 6am... Maybe it's also about the type of noise? Anyway, sounds like you're not alone in this boat. Still, gotta admit it's nice not waking up every time a truck rolls by.
"Maybe it's also about the type of noise?"
Yeah, I think you're onto something there. We swapped out our windows a couple years back—noticed traffic noise dropped big time, but those neighborhood dogs barking at midnight? Still loud as ever... guess certain sounds just cut through no matter what.
- Honestly, I think it's less about the type of noise and more about frequency or pitch.
- We upgraded to triple-pane windows last year—traffic and general street noise dropped noticeably.
- But weirdly enough, higher-pitched sounds like birds chirping at dawn or kids yelling still come through pretty clearly.
- Maybe certain frequencies just slip past even the best insulation... or our ears are just tuned to pick them up easier?
We noticed something similar after upgrading our windows a couple years back. Traffic and general city rumble dropped dramatically, but we still hear the neighbor's dog barking clear as day. I think you're onto something with frequency—maybe higher-pitched sounds just resonate differently or something? Either way, it's still a huge improvement overall, and honestly, I don't mind the birds chirping in the morning... kinda peaceful actually.
"Traffic and general city rumble dropped dramatically, but we still hear the neighbor's dog barking clear as day."
Yeah, I've noticed something similar after we upgraded to more energy-efficient windows last year. The lower frequencies—like traffic noise or distant construction—pretty much vanished, which was awesome, but higher-pitched noises like dog barks or kids playing still seem to get through a bit easier. I looked into it a while back, and apparently it's because higher-frequency sounds have shorter wavelengths, making them trickier to block completely without specialized acoustic treatments.
If you're curious about reducing those higher-pitched sounds even more, you might consider adding heavier curtains or cellular shades. We tried cellular shades in our bedroom, and it helped a bit more with the occasional barking. Either way, like you said, the improvement overall is pretty noticeable... and yeah, birds chirping in the morning is actually kinda nice.