Totally agree—curtains alone are pretty much just decoration when it comes to street noise. Laminated inserts or acoustic windows are the real deal. One thing I'd add: make sure your window frames and seals are solid too. I've seen folks drop serious cash on fancy acoustic glass, only to realize later their frames were leaking noise like crazy. A little caulk and weatherstripping can go a long way...and it's way cheaper than therapy for city-induced insanity.
Good point about the frames—reminds me of when I upgraded to acoustic windows a few years back. Thought I'd solved everything until one windy night I realized air (and noise!) was sneaking through tiny gaps. Weatherstripping was a lifesaver...and sanity saver too.
"Thought I'd solved everything until one windy night I realized air (and noise!) was sneaking through tiny gaps."
Ha, sounds like my first acoustic window install. Got the fancy panes, felt super proud of myself—until a garbage truck woke me at 5 AM. Turns out sealing the frames is just as crucial as the glass itself. Weatherstripping's great, but also consider acoustic caulking around the edges. Made a noticeable difference for me, especially with those low-frequency city noises like buses rumbling by...
Yeah, acoustic caulking is underrated for sure. I went through something similar—got the heavy-duty curtains first, thinking they'd solve everything. They helped a bit with echoey sounds, but didn't do much for traffic rumble or those annoying early-morning garbage trucks. Ended up adding acoustic seals around the window frames and even insulated behind the trim boards. Made a surprising difference, especially with deeper noises that curtains alone couldn't touch...
Interesting you mention acoustic caulking—I honestly didn't even know that was a thing until recently. But here's my question: is it really worth all the hassle of sealing and insulating around windows if the windows themselves are thin or old? I mean, I'm a first-time homeowner, and my place has these ancient single-pane windows that practically rattle when a bus goes by. I tried heavy curtains too, thinking they'd magically block out the city chaos (spoiler alert: they didn't). They helped with voices and echoes, sure, but garbage trucks at 5 AM still sound like they're driving through my living room.
So now I'm debating whether to bite the bullet and just upgrade to acoustic windows instead. Has anyone here actually made the jump from regular windows to acoustic ones? Is the difference noticeable enough to justify the cost? Because honestly, if I'm gonna spend a weekend caulking and insulating, I'd rather just do it once and be done with it. Plus, knowing my DIY skills, I'd probably end up with more caulk on myself than on the actual window frames...
Also, random thought—has anyone tried white noise machines or fans to drown out city noise? I know it's not exactly soundproofing, but maybe masking the noise is easier than blocking it completely? Or am I just being overly optimistic here?
I went through something similar when I moved into my current place—old windows, city noise, the whole deal. Here's what I learned from trial and error:
- Heavy curtains helped a bit with echo and voices, but like you said, they didn't do much for traffic noise. They're good for softening indoor acoustics, but not really for blocking outside chaos.
- Acoustic caulking and sealing gaps around windows made a noticeable difference for drafts and minor noises (like distant conversations or footsteps), but honestly, it didn't do much against louder sounds like trucks or sirens. If your windows are rattling, caulking alone probably won't cut it.
- Eventually, I bit the bullet and upgraded to acoustic windows in my bedroom. It wasn't cheap, but the difference was night and day. Traffic noise went from "garbage truck parade at dawn" to "distant hum." Not total silence, but definitely manageable enough to sleep through comfortably.
- White noise machines and fans are actually pretty helpful too. I still use a fan at night because it masks random noises that slip through. It's not a miracle fix, but it does smooth out sudden sounds and makes them less jarring.
If budget allows, I'd say acoustic windows are worth the investment—especially if you're planning to stay there long-term. But if that's not doable right now, combining caulking/sealing with a white noise machine or fan can at least make things more bearable in the meantime. Good luck with whatever you decide...city living definitely has its quirks!
I feel your pain on this one. When I bought my first place, I thought heavy curtains would be enough... nope. They helped with echoes inside, but the buses and motorcycles still sounded like they were driving through my living room. Ended up doing acoustic windows in just the bedroom (budget reasons), and honestly, best decision ever. Still use a fan at night though—something about that steady hum just makes everything else fade into the background.
Interesting you mention acoustic windows—I've installed a few for clients, and they usually do the trick for traffic noise. But I'm curious, did you notice any significant improvement in thermal insulation as well, or was it purely sound-related? Also, did you go with laminated glass or a double-pane setup? I've seen mixed results depending on the type of glass used...
I noticed a decent improvement in thermal insulation after installing acoustic windows—nothing dramatic, but definitely fewer drafts. Went with double-pane myself; laminated seemed pricier without enough extra benefit. Curtains alone didn't cut it for me, especially during rush hour...
Interesting take—I agree acoustic windows are a step up from curtains, but I'd argue laminated glass can actually be worth it depending on your situation. I went laminated after double-pane didn't quite tame the garbage truck symphony at 5am (city life, right?). It's pricier, yeah...but the extra quiet and slightly better insulation felt like a win-win. If your noise level isn't too extreme though, double-pane probably hits that sweet spot between cost and comfort.