"Curious if anyone's tried laminated glass for windows? Heard it's pricier but supposed to be even better for soundproofing."
I've actually installed laminated glass in my home office last year, and it made a noticeable difference. Definitely pricier, but worth it if noise is a big issue. Still, I can faintly hear the garbage truck rumbling by on trash day, but it's way less intrusive. Wondering though, has anyone experimented with adding heavy curtains or blinds on top of upgraded windows? Might be a cheaper extra layer to dampen sound even more...
I went with laminated glass a couple years back, mostly because my street gets pretty busy during rush hour. It definitely cut down on the traffic noise significantly, but yeah, it's not 100% silent. I still hear the occasional motorcycle or loud truck passing by, though it's more muffled now.
About your curtain idea—I actually added some thick blackout curtains afterward, and it did help a bit more. Not dramatically, but enough to notice. I think the curtains absorb some of the higher-frequency sounds that slip through even good windows. Plus, they help with insulation in winter too, so that's a nice bonus.
If you're looking for another small improvement without breaking the bank, you might also check your window seals and frames. Even tiny gaps can let sound leak through surprisingly easily...
Good call on checking the seals and frames—it's surprising how much difference those tiny gaps can make. I've seen cases where people upgraded to premium windows but still had noise issues, and it turned out to be just a few small gaps around the frame. A quick fix with some acoustic caulk or weatherstripping usually does the trick.
Also, curtains definitely help, especially thicker ones like you mentioned. Another thing I've noticed is that adding some soft furnishings or rugs in the room can absorb sound bouncing around inside, making things feel quieter overall. It's subtle, but every little bit helps.
And yeah, laminated glass is great for traffic noise, but motorcycles and trucks are always gonna be tough—they're just loud by nature. Still, sounds like you've made some solid improvements already...nice work!
Great points about the acoustic caulk and weatherstripping. I've found that even after sealing gaps, sometimes noise still sneaks in through unexpected spots—like electrical outlets or recessed lighting fixtures. If you're still noticing some stubborn noise, you might want to check those areas too. Outlet gaskets or foam inserts behind switch plates can help seal off those sneaky little entry points.
Also, totally agree on the soft furnishings. Rugs and curtains are great, but don't overlook wall hangings or bookshelves—they can break up sound reflections nicely. I once helped a friend who had a really echoey living room; we added a couple of large canvas prints and a bookshelf filled with books and knick-knacks, and it made a noticeable difference. It wasn't dramatic, but it definitely softened the harshness of the sound bouncing around.
One thing I'd add about laminated glass: it's fantastic for reducing noise, but thickness matters too. If anyone's considering upgrading windows specifically for noise reduction, going with different thicknesses of glass panes (like one pane thicker than the other) can help disrupt sound waves more effectively. It's subtle physics stuff, but it works surprisingly well.
Motorcycles and trucks though...yeah, they're tough. I live near a busy intersection myself, and no matter how much I've improved my home's insulation and window seals, there's always that occasional loud bike or diesel truck rumbling by. At some point you just have to accept that certain sounds are part of urban life—but every improvement helps make them less intrusive.
Sounds like you've already tackled most of the big stuff though—nice job getting things quieter overall.
Good call on the outlet gaskets—I overlooked those for years until a friend pointed them out. Definitely noticed a difference after installing them. And yeah, motorcycles...sometimes you just gotta shrug and accept a little urban soundtrack as part of life.
Interesting you mention the outlet gaskets—I tried them a few years back, but honestly, didn't notice much difference in my place. Might depend on how drafty your walls are to begin with, I suppose. For me, the bigger game changer was sealing around window frames and door jambs. Once I tackled those areas, the house felt noticeably cozier.
And yeah, motorcycles...I get it, they're part of city life. But after upgrading to triple-pane windows, I hardly hear them anymore. Funny thing is, now I sometimes miss that faint background hum—it was kinda comforting in a weird way. Guess you can't win either way.
I've been thinking about triple-pane windows myself, but the price jump from double-pane has me hesitating. Did you notice a significant difference in heating or cooling bills after upgrading? I've already sealed around doors and windows, and that helped a ton, but I'm wondering if triple-pane is really worth the extra investment. Also curious if anyone's tried those heavy thermal curtains—do they actually help much with drafts or noise reduction? Seems like a simpler fix, but I'm skeptical they'd make a noticeable difference compared to new windows.
I've wondered about triple-pane too, but honestly, after putting up thermal curtains in our bedroom, the drafts were noticeably less. Noise reduction wasn't huge though... maybe windows are better for that? Curious if others had similar curtain experiences.
"Noise reduction wasn't huge though... maybe windows are better for that?"
I had a similar experience when we first moved into our older home. Thermal curtains definitely helped with drafts and heat retention, but noise-wise, the improvement was minimal at best. Eventually, we upgraded to double-pane windows (not triple-pane, as the cost-benefit didn't quite justify it for us), and the difference in sound reduction was immediately noticeable. Traffic noise from the street became significantly quieter, and those occasional loud neighbors weren't nearly as intrusive.
Curtains are great for thermal comfort, but their fabric just doesn't have enough mass or density to effectively block sound waves. Windows, especially those designed with laminated glass or special acoustic layers, are engineered specifically to dampen vibrations and reduce noise transmission. If noise is a primary concern for you, investing in quality windows might be worth considering down the line.
Had pretty much the same experience here. We put up thick curtains hoping they'd help with noise from the busy road nearby, but honestly... it barely made a dent. After biting the bullet and upgrading to double-pane windows (nothing fancy, just standard double glazing), the difference was night and day. Curtains are nice for warmth, but if you're serious about cutting noise, windows seem like the way to go. Just wish they weren't so pricey though, haha.