"Curtains and foam boards are decent for quick fixes, but honestly, they're more placebo than anything else when it comes to serious city noise."
Gotta disagree a bit here. Yeah, curtains alone won't silence the garbage truck symphony at 5 am, but calling them placebo might be a tad harsh. I lived in a downtown apartment right above a bar (great life choices, I know...) and thick blackout curtains actually made a noticeable difference—not perfect, but enough to keep me from losing my mind completely.
The real game changer for me though was adding some white noise. Got one of those cheap little white noise machines online, and honestly, it masked the street chaos better than expected. Sure, acoustic windows are probably the gold standard if you've got the budget and patience to deal with installation headaches. But if you're renting or just not ready to commit that kind of cash yet, curtains plus white noise can be surprisingly effective. At least it kept me sane until I moved somewhere quieter...
I hear you on the curtains—they're definitely better than nothing. When we first bought our house, traffic noise was brutal, especially during rush hour. We tried thick curtains first, and they helped a bit, but eventually bit the bullet and upgraded to acoustic windows. Night and day difference. Pricey, yeah...but worth every penny if you're staying put long-term. If budget's tight though, your white noise machine idea is spot-on—used one myself for years before finally upgrading windows.
"We tried thick curtains first, and they helped a bit, but eventually bit the bullet and upgraded to acoustic windows. Night and day difference."
I completely agree with this point. Curtains can certainly help dampen sound a little, but they're more of a band-aid solution rather than a long-term fix. When I moved into my current place, I faced a similar issue—busy street, constant traffic noise, and it was really affecting my sleep quality. Initially, I went the curtain route too, opting for heavy-duty blackout curtains marketed as "soundproof." They did reduce some echo and muffled the higher frequencies slightly, but honestly, the low-frequency rumble from trucks and buses still came through loud and clear.
After doing some research into soundproofing methods (and energy efficiency improvements at the same time), I decided to invest in acoustic-grade double-glazed windows. The difference was remarkable—not only did they significantly reduce noise pollution, but they also improved thermal insulation noticeably. My heating bills dropped by about 15% that winter alone. So yes, they're pricey upfront, but if you're planning to stay in your home for several years, the investment pays off both acoustically and financially.
If budget constraints are tight right now though, you might want to consider some intermediate solutions beyond just curtains or white noise machines. For example, sealing gaps around existing windows with acoustic caulk or weatherstripping can help reduce noise infiltration significantly at a fraction of the cost. Also, adding secondary glazing panels (basically an extra pane of glass or acrylic mounted inside your existing window frame) can provide decent noise reduction without breaking the bank.
In short, acoustic windows are definitely the gold standard for noise reduction and energy efficiency combined—but if that's not feasible right now, there are still practical steps you can take to improve your situation incrementally.
Interesting points here. I've been dealing with city noise for years, and while acoustic windows sound great, I'm still hesitant about the cost.
"sealing gaps around existing windows with acoustic caulk or weatherstripping can help reduce noise infiltration significantly"
Did sealing really make a noticeable difference for you? I've tried curtains too, and yeah...they barely touched the deeper rumbling sounds. Wondering if sealing gaps might be enough improvement to hold off on pricier upgrades for now.
I've experimented quite a bit with sealing gaps myself, and honestly, the results were mixed. It definitely helped with higher-frequency noises—like traffic hum or distant chatter—but those deeper, bass-like rumbles from trucks or buses still came through pretty noticeably. Curtains, as you mentioned, barely make a dent in those low-frequency sounds, and sealing alone might not be enough either.
One thing I found surprisingly effective was adding secondary glazing panels. They're cheaper than full acoustic windows and easier to install yourself. I was skeptical at first, but the extra layer of air between the existing window and the panel really dampened those annoying low-frequency vibrations. Not a perfect solution, but it might buy you some peace without the hefty price tag of acoustic windows.
Have you considered something like that? It might strike a decent balance between cost and effectiveness...
"One thing I found surprisingly effective was adding secondary glazing panels."
Secondary glazing can help, sure, but honestly, its effectiveness really depends on your existing window frames and how well they're installed. I've seen cases where people put in secondary panels but still had issues because the original windows were poorly fitted or too thin. If your frames are flimsy or old, even secondary glazing won't fully stop those deep vibrations. Might be worth checking your current setup closely before investing more money into it...
Good points about the frames—hadn't really thought about that. When I added secondary glazing, it did help a bit, but honestly, heavy curtains made a bigger difference for me. Maybe it's frequency-related? Curious if anyone else noticed certain solutions work better for specific types of noise...
Interesting about the curtains—I noticed something similar. I think lower-frequency noises (like traffic rumble or bass-heavy music) seem tougher to block with just glazing. Maybe curtains absorb those frequencies better somehow? Acoustic windows helped me more with higher-pitched sounds like sirens or barking dogs.
You're onto something there—curtains and soft materials, in general, do have a bit of an edge with lower-frequency sounds. Glazing alone usually struggles with bass-heavy noises because those sound waves just pass through rigid surfaces more easily. Curtains, especially thicker ones, can absorb and diffuse some of that energy, making things feel quieter. Acoustic windows are great for higher-pitched disturbances, like you've noticed, but pairing them with dense curtains often gives you the best of both worlds. Good observation!
"Curtains, especially thicker ones, can absorb and diffuse some of that energy, making things feel quieter."
This is spot-on. I remember working on a client's apartment downtown—right above a busy intersection. They'd already installed acoustic windows, which helped with traffic noise, but the bass from passing trucks was still driving them crazy. We ended up adding heavy velvet curtains, and honestly, the difference was night and day. Sometimes it's those softer materials that really do the trick...