No more rattling windows - my upgrade to laminated glass paid off

Man, old doors are the worst for drafts - especially when nothing in the house is square anymore. I’ve put in a few threshold plates, and they help, but getting them to sit right is a pain if your floor’s uneven. Sometimes I think the chilly breeze is just part of the house’s “charm.”

That drafty old-house vibe is both charming and maddening, right? I totally get what you mean about threshold plates not sitting flush - my 1920s place has floors that slope like a ski hill in some spots. I ended up using one of those adjustable sweep seals on the bottom of my back door, and it helped a bit, but honestly, nothing’s ever perfect unless you start tearing out frames and rebuilding everything square (which... no thanks).

Funny thing, after swapping to laminated glass for the windows, I noticed way less rattling and even a drop in those chilly gusts sneaking in around the panes. It was pricier than regular glass but worth it for the noise reduction too. Have you looked into weatherstripping or those foam tape kits for your doors? They’re not fancy, but sometimes the low-tech fixes work best.

Curious - did you notice any difference in room temperature after your window upgrade? Or was it mostly about cutting down on noise?

- Love this:

“nothing’s ever perfect unless you start tearing out frames and rebuilding everything square (which... no thanks).”

- Laminated glass sounds like a smart move. I’m still debating if it’s worth the cost for me, but hearing about the noise drop is encouraging.

- I’ve tried those foam tape kits around my doors. They helped a bit, but there’s always a draft somewhere... old houses keep you humble.

- Curious if you noticed any actual warmth difference or if it just felt cozier because it was quieter? Either way, seems like a win.

I hear you on the quirks - my place is 1920s, so nothing’s square and drafts are just part of the deal. I did the laminated glass in my living room a couple years back. Honestly, the noise difference was immediate, but for warmth? It’s subtle. The main thing is fewer cold spots near the windows, not a massive jump in overall temp. I still use heavy curtains in winter, but it all adds up. Foam tape helped a bit around my doors too, but yeah, there’s always a sneaky draft somewhere...

Interesting you mention the cold spots - did you notice any condensation issues after installing the laminated glass? Sometimes I see folks get better soundproofing but end up with moisture on the inside pane, especially in older frames. Just wondering if that’s been a thing for you.

Haven’t really had any major condensation since I put in the laminated glass, but my frames are newer aluminum, so that probably helps a bit. I did notice a little fogging on super cold mornings, but honestly, it’s less than what I had with the old single panes. If your frames are wood and not well-sealed, though, I could see moisture being more of an issue. Soundproofing’s been great - just wish it did something about drafty sills...

Soundproofing’s been great - just wish it did something about drafty sills...

Curious if you’ve tried any fixes for the drafty sills? I’ve got a similar issue - laminated glass helped a lot with noise, but cold air still sneaks in around the edges. Wondering if weatherstripping actually makes a difference or if it’s just a band-aid.

Weatherstripping is useful when the draft comes through a sash that opens and closes. If the sill itself is fixed, weatherstripping the sash may not address air coming through the joint between the window frame and the wall, or around the trim. The draft’s path matters more than the fact that it’s near the sill.