Good point about the seals—I had a similar headache at my last apartment. Thought I'd outsmart city traffic with some thick curtains, but turns out physics wasn't on my side. After a weekend spent meticulously resealing every window frame (and cursing mildly), the noise dropped noticeably. Still wasn't library quiet, but definitely less honking and sirens interrupting Netflix. Might wanna give that a shot before splurging on acoustic windows...those things aren't cheap.
"Still wasn't library quiet, but definitely less honking and sirens interrupting Netflix."
Yeah, sealing gaps can really help. I tried those thick curtains too, thinking they'd magically mute the city chaos... nope. Ended up stuffing weatherstripping around the window frames and even added some foam tape—made a noticeable difference. Acoustic windows seem like overkill unless you're planning to stay there forever. Maybe start small and see if it's enough before dropping serious cash.
I was skeptical about those curtains too. Bought some labeled "soundproof" and honestly, they barely muffled the garbage trucks at 5am. Ended up doing something similar—weatherstripping and foam tape around the frames—and it helped more than I expected. Acoustic windows seem pricey, but if you're losing sleep every night, might be worth considering down the line. Maybe try the cheaper fixes first and see if you can live with it?
Had the same experience with those curtains—honestly felt like throwing money out the window. Did you notice any difference at all, or was it just placebo? I eventually bit the bullet and went for acoustic windows in my bedroom. Painful on the wallet, but gotta admit, nights improved drastically. Still wondering if I could've gotten away cheaper though...maybe thicker foam or something else DIY-friendly would've done the trick?
I totally get where you're coming from with the curtains. I tried them myself a while back, hoping they'd at least dull the street noise a bit, but honestly, it felt like they barely made a dent. Maybe a tiny bit less echoey inside, but nothing that really justified the cost. Could've been placebo, who knows?
Eventually, I went down the DIY rabbit hole and tried a few things myself. First, I experimented with thicker foam panels around the window frames—cheap stuff from the hardware store. It helped a little, but mostly just muffled the higher-pitched noises. The deeper rumbling from trucks and buses still came through pretty clearly.
Then I stumbled onto something interesting: window inserts. Basically, they're acrylic panels you fit snugly into your existing window frames. They're not exactly dirt cheap, but definitely cheaper than full acoustic windows. I built mine myself after watching a few tutorials online—just acrylic sheets, some weatherstripping, and basic framing materials. Took a weekend to put together, and honestly, the difference was pretty impressive. Not total silence, but way better than curtains or foam alone. Plus, they're removable, so you can pop them out easily if you want fresh air or need to clean.
Have you considered something like that? Might be a good middle ground between curtains and full-on acoustic windows. Or maybe you've already tried something similar? Curious if anyone else had luck with DIY inserts or other creative solutions...
Totally agree on the DIY inserts—did something similar myself and it was a game changer. Plus, bonus points for energy efficiency...my heating bills actually dropped a bit. Definitely worth the weekend project hassle.
"Definitely worth the weekend project hassle."
Haha, totally feel you on that weekend hassle...but hey, at least it's a one-and-done kinda deal. Did DIY inserts last year myself—was skeptical at first, but man, the difference was night and day. Plus, like you said, heating bills dropped noticeably. Now if only I could DIY something to block out my neighbor's lawn mower at 7am...
Haha, I hear ya on the lawn mower torture...my neighbor's dog barking at dawn is my personal nightmare. Curious though, did those inserts help much with traffic noise, or mostly just temperature control? Been debating if curtains alone would even cut it.
Curtains alone might help a bit, but honestly, inserts or secondary glazing make a way bigger difference for noise. I did a DIY acrylic insert setup last year, and it's been night and day—traffic noise dropped noticeably, plus the room stays warmer in winter. Curtains mostly soften echoes and help with minor sounds...but if you're dealing with barking dogs and traffic chaos at dawn (been there!), inserts or double-glazing are your best bet. Worth the effort IMO, especially if sleep's on the line.
"Curtains mostly soften echoes and help with minor sounds..."
True, curtains alone won't block heavy traffic or barking dogs completely, but I wouldn't dismiss them entirely. I've found that combining heavy acoustic curtains with weatherstripping around the window frames made a surprising difference in my bedroom. It's not as dramatic as inserts, sure, but it's cheaper and easier if you're renting or not up for a DIY project. Might be worth trying first before diving into secondary glazing or inserts...just my two cents.