"Before dropping big bucks though, try combining storm windows with secondary glazing panels; they're cheaper and can get you pretty close to acoustic glass performance without emptying your wallet."
Interesting point about combining storm windows with secondary glazing. Have you actually tried this yourself? I'm genuinely curious because I went through something similar last year—busy street, constant traffic noise, and it was seriously messing with my sleep. I initially thought storm windows would do the trick, but honestly, the difference was minimal for noise. Insulation-wise, fantastic, but noise... not so much.
Eventually, I bit the bullet and installed acoustic glass in just my bedroom window. Pricey, yeah, but the difference was night and day. Now I'm wondering if I could've saved some cash by trying your suggestion first. Did you notice a significant improvement in noise reduction with the storm window-secondary glazing combo, or was it more subtle?
I actually did this exact thing last summer. First, I installed regular storm windows—like you said, insulation improved, but noise barely budged. Then I added secondary glazing panels with about a 3-inch air gap, and honestly, it made a noticeable difference. Not acoustic glass levels, mind you, but enough to finally sleep through rush hour traffic. If budget's tight, it's definitely worth trying before splurging on acoustic glass.
Interesting to hear your experience—I was actually leaning toward acoustic glass myself. I get the budget thing, but honestly, after dealing with street noise for months, I'm thinking it might be worth biting the bullet upfront. A friend of mine tried secondary glazing too, and while it helped a bit, she still ended up upgrading later anyway. Maybe it's just me being impatient, but I'd rather spend a little extra now than risk doing the job twice...
I hear ya on wanting to get it done right the first time. I went through the whole secondary glazing thing myself—sure, it helped, but I kept waking up at 5 am to garbage trucks anyway. Ended up biting the bullet and upgrading after a year (my wallet still hasn't forgiven me). Curious though, has anyone tried combining acoustic glass with thicker curtains or blinds? Wonder if that combo makes a noticeable difference...
I've actually experimented with acoustic glass paired with heavy blackout curtains in my bedroom, and the difference was noticeable—especially with higher-frequency sounds like voices or car horns. Garbage trucks and buses, though, still managed to rumble through somewhat. Makes me wonder if anyone's looked into how much the curtain fabric or density matters... maybe a thicker, denser material could help dampen those lower frequencies better?
"Garbage trucks and buses, though, still managed to rumble through somewhat."
Yeah, curtains and acoustic glass help a bit, but honestly, those low-frequency rumbles are stubborn. Tried thicker curtains myself—ended up feeling like Dracula's bedroom with zero sunlight and still heard the garbage truck at 6 AM. Density helps some, but there's a limit. Might be worth looking into sealing gaps around windows or even checking wall insulation... noise sneaks in everywhere.
"ended up feeling like Dracula's bedroom with zero sunlight"
Haha, been there... blackout curtains made my room a cave and didn't even solve the rumbling. Honestly, sealing window gaps and adding weatherstripping helped me way more than thicker glass ever did. Worth a shot maybe?
I totally get the Dracula vibe, haha. When I first moved into my place, I thought thicker glass would be the magic fix too, but honestly it didn't do much for the deeper street noises—especially trucks and buses rumbling by.
"sealing window gaps and adding weatherstripping helped me way more than thicker glass ever did."
This is spot on. I spent a weekend sealing up every tiny gap around my windows with weatherstripping and acoustic caulk, and it made a noticeable difference. Not perfect, but definitely better. Also, weirdly enough, rearranging furniture helped dampen some of the echoey sounds bouncing around inside. Might sound silly, but placing a bookshelf or heavy curtains strategically can absorb some noise without turning your room into a total cave.
Storm windows might help a bit too, but I'd try sealing gaps first since it's cheaper and easier to test out before committing to pricier solutions like acoustic glass. Good luck—street noise is seriously annoying to deal with...
Have to disagree slightly on the storm windows thing. Yeah, sealing gaps helps a lot with drafts and higher-pitched noises, but if you're dealing with deeper rumbles (like trucks or buses), storm windows can actually be pretty effective. They create that second barrier of air space, which dampens those lower-frequency sounds better than just weatherstripping alone.
"placing a bookshelf or heavy curtains strategically can absorb some noise"
True, but it mostly helps with indoor echoes rather than blocking street noise directly. Worth experimenting though...every little bit counts when you're desperate for quiet sleep.
Good points on storm windows helping with low-frequency noise, hadn't really considered that angle. Wondering though, has anyone tried combining storm windows with acoustic glass panes? Seems like it might be a bit overkill (and pricey...), but could it be worth it if you're dealing with constant heavy traffic? Curious if the extra cost actually translates into noticeably quieter rooms, or if diminishing returns kick in pretty quickly.