"I went laminated after double-pane didn't quite tame the garbage truck symphony at 5am (city life, right?)."
Haha, "garbage truck symphony"—perfect description. Laminated glass definitely helps with those early-morning concerts, but have you considered the seals and frames too? Even the best windows won't do much if the installation leaves gaps or if the frame material isn't dense enough. Sometimes upgrading the seals or adding acoustic caulking around the edges can make a surprising difference...might save you a few bucks compared to going full laminated.
"Sometimes upgrading the seals or adding acoustic caulking around the edges can make a surprising difference...might save you a few bucks compared to going full laminated."
Good point on the seals—seen plenty of folks drop serious cash on fancy glass but skimp on proper sealing. A couple more quick tips from experience:
- Check window frames closely—older wood frames can warp and create tiny gaps you wouldn't notice at first glance.
- Acoustic caulk is great, but don't overlook insulation foam behind trim and moldings. It absorbs vibrations that sneak through.
- If curtains are still on your mind, thick fabric helps a bit, but honestly, it's minimal compared to sealing and glass upgrades.
Had a client swear by heavy velvet curtains once...until we sealed up their frames properly. Curtains looked nice, but didn't do much for noise. Just my two cents from seeing this play out a bunch of times.
"Had a client swear by heavy velvet curtains once...until we sealed up their frames properly."
Yeah, curtains are mostly cosmetic in my experience too. One more thing to consider—weatherstripping tape around the window sashes. It's cheap, easy to apply, and cuts down on drafts and noise surprisingly well. Helped me finally sleep through morning traffic after trying just about everything else. Worth a shot before dropping serious money on laminated glass.
Totally agree on weatherstripping—it’s underrated. Another trick is sealing electrical outlets on exterior walls; you'd be surprised how much noise sneaks in through those little gaps. Learned that the hard way after months of thinking I had ghostly whispers in my walls...
Weatherstripping and sealing outlets definitely help, but if city noise is still bugging you, I'd suggest tackling your windows next. Acoustic windows are great, but they're pricey and a bit of a hassle to install. Before going that route, try this first:
1. Check your window frames for gaps or cracks—fill them with acoustic caulk (regular caulk won't cut it).
2. Add heavy-duty soundproof curtains. They're affordable, easy to hang, and surprisingly effective.
3. If that's still not enough, consider window inserts. They're cheaper than full acoustic replacements and pretty simple to install yourself.
I went through this myself when I moved downtown—thought I'd never sleep again with all the sirens and late-night chatter outside. Curtains plus inserts did the trick for me without breaking the bank or my sanity...and no more ghostly whispers either.
"Curtains plus inserts did the trick for me without breaking the bank or my sanity...and no more ghostly whispers either."
Haha, glad you managed to banish those ghostly whispers—city living definitely comes with its own brand of spooky surprises. Your advice is spot-on, especially about the acoustic caulk. Regular caulk is fine for drafts, but sound waves are sneaky little devils and squeeze through gaps you'd never even notice.
Personally, I've seen a lot of folks underestimate how well soundproof curtains can work. Sure, they won't turn your downtown apartment into a countryside retreat, but they do take the edge off traffic noise and random street chatter. The key is getting heavy, dense fabric and making sure they're wide enough to cover beyond the window frame—otherwise, you're leaving a gap for noise to sneak around.
One thing I might add: if you're handy and feeling adventurous, DIY window inserts can save you even more cash. I've built a few myself—just acrylic panels with some weatherstripping around the edges—and they slide right into the window frame. They're surprisingly effective at muffling noise, and you don't have to be Bob Vila to pull it off. Plus, they're removable, which is handy if you're renting or just testing out solutions.
But here's a thought: have you checked your doors yet? Windows get all the attention, but you'd be amazed how much noise slips under and around doors. A simple door sweep or some weatherstripping tape around the edges can make a noticeable difference. It's a cheap fix that complements your window efforts nicely.
Out of curiosity, has anyone here tried white noise machines or fans to mask city sounds? Some people swear by them; others say it just adds another layer of annoying sound. I'm in the 'fan on medium' camp myself—helps drown out sirens without making me feel like I'm sleeping beside Niagara Falls.
Totally agree about doors being overlooked—I spent ages fussing over windows, then realized half the noise was sneaking under my front door. A cheap sweep made a surprising difference. Curious though, do those DIY acrylic inserts fog up in colder weather?
"Curious though, do those DIY acrylic inserts fog up in colder weather?"
They can, yeah... especially if your place has humidity issues or poor ventilation. I've seen some DIY inserts fog up pretty noticeably when the temp drops outside. One trick is to add a small silica gel packet or two between the insert and window frame—sounds silly, but it actually helps absorb moisture. Also, making sure they're sealed tight around the edges cuts down on condensation big-time. Not perfect, but hey, beats waking up to foggy windows every morning.
"One trick is to add a small silica gel packet or two between the insert and window frame—sounds silly, but it actually helps absorb moisture."
Haha, wish I'd known that trick last winter. I DIY'd some acrylic inserts to block out street noise (city buses at 5am are no joke...) and woke up to windows looking like a sauna. Tightening the edges helped a bit, but honestly, I ended up just cracking the window slightly for airflow. Kinda defeats the purpose, but hey, at least I wasn't waking up in Silent Hill every morning.
Haha, the Silent Hill reference got me good... been there myself. DIY acrylic inserts are a solid idea for noise reduction, but yeah, condensation can be a real pain if airflow isn't managed properly. The silica gel trick mentioned earlier is actually pretty clever—it's basically a mini dehumidifier in packet form. It won't completely solve heavy condensation issues, but it can definitely help keep things manageable.
One thing I've noticed from installing acoustic windows professionally is that moisture buildup usually happens when there's a significant temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, combined with limited ventilation. Acrylic inserts or secondary glazing panels are great for soundproofing, but they can trap moisture if they're sealed too tightly without any airflow. Cracking the window slightly does help, as you've discovered, but like you said, it defeats the purpose of soundproofing somewhat.
If you're still dealing with this issue, you might consider adding some weatherstripping around the edges of your inserts to create a tighter seal while leaving just a tiny gap at the top or bottom edge for minimal airflow. It sounds counterintuitive, but even a tiny bit of controlled ventilation can significantly reduce condensation without sacrificing much noise reduction. Alternatively, placing silica gel packets strategically around the edges (as previously suggested) can absorb excess moisture and reduce fogging.
Also, don't underestimate the power of indoor humidity control—running a small dehumidifier or even just keeping indoor plants to a minimum near windows can make a noticeable difference. I once had a client who swore by placing bowls of uncooked rice near his window frames during winter months... sounded weird at first, but hey, whatever works!
Anyway, props to you for tackling the DIY route—city buses at dawn are no joke indeed. Hope you find that sweet spot between silence and clear windows soon!