Good point about rugs, they definitely help with reflections indoors. But out of curiosity, have you looked into heavy curtains or acoustic blinds? They can tackle noise right at the windows, which might give you a bit more control over street sounds...
Heavy curtains definitely help, especially if they're dense enough to absorb sound waves. Acoustic blinds can be good too, but honestly, their effectiveness varies quite a bit depending on the material and fit. Another angle worth considering is sealing gaps around windows—sometimes street noise sneaks in through tiny cracks or poor seals. I found some improvement just by adding weatherstripping around my older windows. It's cheap, easy, and gives a nice little boost to energy efficiency too...
Good points about sealing gaps—it's surprising how much noise sneaks in through tiny cracks. Have you noticed a big difference with weatherstripping alone, or did you pair it with curtains too? I've been debating acoustic glass myself, but the cost is making me hesitate... Wondering if storm windows might be a decent middle-ground solution. Either way, sounds like you're already on the right track tackling those smaller fixes first.
"Wondering if storm windows might be a decent middle-ground solution."
Storm windows actually made a noticeable difference for me. I debated acoustic glass too, but yeah, the price tag was steep enough to make me pause. Ended up installing storm windows last fall, paired with some heavy blackout curtains I already had—honestly, the combo cut street noise down quite a bit. Not total silence or anything, but enough that traffic sounds faded into the background instead of constantly bugging me. Weatherstripping alone helped a little, but it wasn't until I added the storms that I really felt relief. Acoustic glass might be ideal if budget allows, but from my experience, storm windows can get you pretty close without breaking the bank.
Storm windows definitely help, but honestly, a lot depends on your specific setup. I installed them a couple years back—mostly to deal with drafts—but was pleasantly surprised by how much quieter things got. Didn't eliminate noise completely, but it toned down the garbage trucks and late-night motorcycles enough that I stopped waking up every time they rolled by.
One thing I wonder about though is whether the frame material or thickness of storm windows makes a noticeable difference in noise reduction? Mine are aluminum-framed and fairly basic, but I've heard vinyl or wood frames might dampen sound better. Not sure if that's legit or just marketing hype... Has anyone noticed a real difference between frame materials when it comes to cutting down street noise?
I think frame material can make a difference, but probably not as much as the marketers want us to believe. I switched from aluminum to vinyl frames last year, mostly because the aluminum ones were rattling in heavy winds—super annoying. The vinyl frames did seem to dampen vibrations better, and there was a noticeable reduction in noise overall, though nothing dramatic. Honestly, I suspect the glass thickness and proper sealing play bigger roles than frame type alone...
Vinyl frames can help a little, sure, but honestly you're better off investing in heavier acoustic glass. I swapped mine two years ago—night and day difference. Frames are just icing on the cake...glass thickness and sealing do 90% of the work.
Gotta agree that the glass does most of the heavy lifting. I went down the rabbit hole a couple years back—street noise from buses was making me twitchy. Tried the “cheap and cheerful” route first: added some weatherstripping, then swapped out the old wood frames for vinyl. It helped a bit, but honestly, the real magic happened after I installed laminated acoustic glass. Not cheap, but worth every penny if you’re losing sleep.
Here’s how I did it: measured twice (still messed up once), ordered custom panes, and spent a weekend wrestling them into place. Sealed every edge with acoustic caulk—don’t skip that step or you’ll still get leaks. If you’re not ready to shell out for new glass, storm windows can help, but they’re more of a band-aid than a cure. They’ll knock down some noise, especially if you go double-pane, but nothing like swapping in thick glass.
One thing I didn’t expect: the house stays warmer in winter too. Bonus round. If you’re handy and patient, it’s totally doable...just maybe budget for pizza and a few curse words along the way.
If you’re not ready to shell out for new glass, storm windows can help, but they’re more of a band-aid than a cure.
That’s been my experience too. I put up interior storm panels last winter, thinking it’d be a quick fix. Helped a little with the noise, but honestly, low frequencies still got through. Once I bit the bullet and put in laminated glass, it was night and day. Not cheap, like you said, but the peace and quiet is worth it. If you’re on a budget, storms are better than nothing, but they won’t get you all the way there.
Not sure I’d call storm windows just a “band-aid.” Here’s my take:
- I’ve got a 1950s brick house with original single-pane windows. Street noise was a nightmare.
- Put in exterior storms (not interior panels) and honestly, it made a bigger difference than I expected. Not perfect—can still hear trucks rumble by—but normal traffic is way quieter.
- Laminated glass is probably better, yeah, but for me the price was just out of reach. Also didn’t want to mess with the look of my old wood frames.
If you’re on a budget, storms are better than nothing, but they won’t get you all the way there.
Fair, but I’d add: depends which kind you get and how tight they’re installed. Mine have a solid air gap and seal up well—big improvement for not a ton of money.
Other random perks:
- Helped with drafts (unexpected bonus)
- Didn’t have to rip out or replace anything, so less mess
- If you ever do decide to upgrade your main windows later, storms can be reused or sold
Low frequencies still sneak in sometimes, especially motorcycles or big trucks. But for regular city noise? Storms plus heavy curtains got me 80% there. Not perfect silence, but also not $10k.
Guess it comes down to how much noise you can live with and what your budget looks like. For me, storms were a pretty decent middle ground—definitely more than just a temporary fix if you do them right.