Moved into a new apartment a few months ago, and I swear the street noise is slowly driving me insane. Cars honking, buses rumbling by, and don't even get me started on the motorcycles at 2 am... Anyway, I'm thinking about either adding storm windows or just biting the bullet and upgrading to acoustic glass. Storm windows seem cheaper but do they really make a noticeable difference? Acoustic glass sounds fancy (and expensive), but if it actually works, maybe it's worth it. Anyone tried either option and noticed a real improvement?
Honestly, storm windows and acoustic glass are decent ideas, but have you considered heavy blackout curtains or thick cellular shades first? I know it sounds too simple, but I've had clients who were shocked at how much noise good curtains blocked out. Plus, they're way cheaper, easier to install, and you won't have to deal with landlord headaches if you're renting. Might be worth trying before dropping serious cash on acoustic glass...
"heavy blackout curtains or thick cellular shades first"
Curtains can help a bit, sure...but honestly, they're more of a band-aid than a real fix. If street noise is seriously driving you crazy, acoustic glass might be worth the investment long-term. Curtains won't stop those deep vibrations from trucks rumbling by at 2am...
Yeah, gotta agree with this:
"Curtains won't stop those deep vibrations from trucks rumbling by at 2am..."
Curtains and shades are great for blocking out light, but noise? Not so much. If you're really serious about cutting down street noise, acoustic glass is definitely the way to go. I've installed it for a few clients who lived near busy intersections or highways, and the difference was night and day. Storm windows can help a bit too, but they're more about insulation and weatherproofing than soundproofing.
One thing to keep in mind though—acoustic glass isn't exactly cheap. But if you're losing sleep every night because of traffic noise, it's probably worth biting the bullet. Another cheaper trick I've seen work surprisingly well is sealing up any gaps around your windows with acoustic caulk or weatherstripping. You'd be amazed how much noise sneaks in through tiny cracks.
Anyway, good luck...street noise is no joke, especially when you're trying to get some shut-eye.
Storm windows can help a bit, but mostly with higher-pitched noises. Acoustic glass is designed specifically to dampen those deeper, rumbling sounds from traffic. Agree with the caulking tip too—small gaps really amplify noise issues.
Yeah, acoustic glass is probably your best bet if traffic rumble is the main headache. I tried storm windows first and they helped a little, but didn't touch that annoying bassy hum from trucks and buses. Caulking did wonders though—definitely worth it. Hang in there...
Totally agree on acoustic glass being the way to go. Storm windows are decent for drafts and general noise, but that deep rumble from trucks is a whole different beast. I remember when we first moved into our place—thought we'd scored big with the location until the first night rolled around. Turns out our street was some kind of unofficial trucker shortcut. Every night around 2 AM, it felt like Optimus Prime was rolling through our living room.
We tried storm windows first too, mostly because they were cheaper and easier to install ourselves. They did help a bit with the higher-pitched noises—like cars honking or people yelling—but that low-frequency hum? Nope, still there, vibrating my fillings loose.
Eventually, we bit the bullet and got acoustic glass installed in just our bedroom windows (budget reasons, you know how it goes). Night-and-day difference. The first night after installation, I woke up at 3 AM confused because it was so quiet—I legit thought something was wrong. Took me a week to get used to sleeping without background rumbling.
Caulking definitely helps too, especially if your windows are older or have gaps around the frames. We went nuts with caulk around every window frame and even sealed up some random cracks in the walls we found behind furniture. It made a noticeable difference in overall noise reduction and even helped with heating bills a little.
One thing I'd add: heavy curtains or thick blinds can also help dampen sound a bit more. Not gonna stop truck bass entirely, but every little bit counts when you're desperate for sleep.
Hang tough...street noise is no joke, but there's hope!
"Caulking definitely helps too, especially if your windows are older or have gaps around the frames."
Couldn't agree more—proper sealing is underrated. Also, consider checking your insulation. We upgraded ours last year, and it noticeably reduced noise transmission, plus our energy bills dropped nicely...win-win.
Caulking and insulation are helpful, but honestly, if street noise is your main issue, you might wanna look beyond just sealing gaps. I spent months trying to fix noise issues in my place—caulked everything, added insulation—but the real game changer was acoustic curtains. They're thick, heavy, and absorb sound surprisingly well. Plus they're cheaper than replacing windows or adding acoustic glass. Might be worth a shot before diving into pricier options...
Gotta admit, I was skeptical about acoustic curtains at first—seemed like just another gimmick—but they actually made a noticeable difference in my bedroom. Didn't solve everything, but definitely took the edge off traffic noise. Worth trying before dropping serious cash on new windows.