Hope you find some peace soon!
Acoustic windows do sound tempting, but honestly, before dropping serious cash, have you tried sealing any gaps around your current windows? I did that last year—surprisingly effective and way cheaper. Might be worth a shot first...
Might be worth a shot first...
Yeah, sealing gaps can help a lot. Did that myself a couple years back when I moved into a place near a busy intersection. Definitely cut down on some of the noise, but honestly, the real game changer for me was upgrading to laminated glass windows. Cost a bit more upfront, but the difference was night and day. Curtains didn't do much in my case, but your mileage may vary...
Yeah, sealing gaps can help a lot. Did that myself a couple years back when I moved into a place near a busy intersection.
Yeah, sealing gaps is definitely a good first step. I tried curtains too, and while they helped a bit, they weren't exactly life-changing. But everyone's situation is different, so maybe start small before diving into pricier options like windows...
"Yeah, sealing gaps can help a lot. Did that myself a couple years back when I moved into a place near a busy intersection."
Sealing gaps definitely made a noticeable difference for me too—I was surprised how much noise sneaks in through tiny cracks around doors and windows. Curtains were okay, but like you said, not exactly life-changing. They're better at muffling echoes inside the room rather than actually blocking loud traffic sounds from outside.
One thing I've been considering lately is whether upgrading to acoustic windows is genuinely worth the investment or if there are other more cost-effective solutions out there. Has anyone tried adding secondary glazing panels (those removable acrylic ones)? I've heard they can be pretty effective without the hefty price tag of full window replacements, but haven't personally tested them yet. Curious if anyone has first-hand experience with those...
I've installed those secondary acrylic glazing panels for a few clients, and honestly, they're pretty decent. Not quite as effective as full acoustic windows, but you do notice a solid improvement—especially with higher-frequency noises like honking or tire squeals. Just make sure they're fitted snugly; gaps around the edges can really undermine their effectiveness. Still, if budget's tight, they're definitely worth considering before shelling out for full replacements.
Good points about the acrylic panels. I put some in my home office last year, and you're spot-on about fitting them tightly—had to redo mine twice because of tiny gaps letting noise through. Once sealed properly though, the difference was noticeable enough that I stopped obsessing over every passing car. Sure, they're not miracle workers, but for the price and ease of installation, they're a solid step up from curtains alone.
Interesting experience with the acrylic panels—I agree, sealing is crucial. I've been considering something similar, but from an energy efficiency standpoint, I'm curious about their insulation properties. Did you notice any improvement in thermal comfort or reduced heating/cooling costs after installing them? Noise reduction is great, but if they also help keep the room temperature stable, that'd be a nice bonus...
I tried acrylic panels a couple years back, and honestly, didn't notice much difference in heating bills. Noise-wise, sure, they helped...but insulation? Meh. Ended up switching to thicker curtains—cheaper and surprisingly better at keeping drafts out.
I've noticed the same thing about acrylic panels—decent for noise but pretty meh insulation-wise. Thicker curtains worked wonders for drafts in my place too, but for noise specifically, I ended up layering soundproof curtains with cellular shades. Not perfect silence, obviously, but definitely took the edge off city noise at night. Acoustic windows seem great in theory, but the price tag kept me away...maybe someday when I win the lottery, haha.
"Acoustic windows seem great in theory, but the price tag kept me away...maybe someday when I win the lottery, haha."
Haha, same here—those acoustic windows look amazing but ouch, that cost. Your layering idea is spot-on though; I've done similar with heavy curtains and honeycomb shades. Not silence exactly, but definitely helps me sleep better.