Good points all around. I've lived near a busy intersection for years, and while curtains did help somewhat, secondary glazing was the real game changer for me. Acoustic windows were tempting but just too pricey at the time. Secondary glazing struck a nice balance—affordable enough to manage yet effective enough to noticeably reduce noise, especially those lower-frequency rumbles from trucks and buses. Hang in there...city living has its perks, and with a bit of tweaking, you'll find that sweet spot of comfort and quiet.
Secondary glazing is a solid shout—definitely hits that sweet spot between cost and performance. Acoustic windows can be amazing, but yeah, the price jump is pretty steep. One tip: make sure the secondary glazing has a decent air gap (around 100mm is ideal) to tackle those deeper rumbles. Sounds like you're on the right track...city noise can be rough, but it's manageable with the right tweaks. Hang in there.
"make sure the secondary glazing has a decent air gap (around 100mm is ideal) to tackle those deeper rumbles."
Yeah, totally agree with this. I recently moved into my first place downtown, and the noise was driving me up the wall at first. Here's what worked for me step-by-step:
1. Secondary glazing with a good-sized gap (mine's about 90-100mm). It really does help cut down on traffic noise, especially buses and trucks.
2. Thick curtains—honestly, not the fancy "acoustic" ones, just heavy blackout curtains from IKEA. They won't block everything, but they soften the sharper sounds.
3. Check your window seals too...a surprising amount of noise sneaks in through tiny gaps.
Acoustic windows sound amazing but yeah, way out of my budget right now. Maybe someday when I win the lottery or something... Until then, these tweaks have made things way more bearable. Hope this helps!
Good tips overall, especially about checking window seals—people often overlook that. I've done a fair bit of DIY soundproofing myself, and honestly, secondary glazing with a decent gap is probably your best bang-for-buck solution.
"Thick curtains—honestly, not the fancy 'acoustic' ones, just heavy blackout curtains from IKEA."
Yeah, agreed. Those "acoustic" curtains are mostly marketing hype. Heavy blackout curtains do almost the same job at a fraction of the price. Another thing you might try is adding weatherstripping tape around the window frames. It's cheap, easy to install, and helps seal out noise and drafts.
Also, if you're dealing with vibrations or deeper rumbles from buses and trucks, consider rearranging furniture a bit. Bookshelves or wardrobes placed against exterior walls can help absorb some of those lower frequencies. Won't eliminate everything, but every little bit helps.
Acoustic windows are great in theory, but unless you're renovating anyway, they're usually not worth the cost. Better to stick with practical tweaks like these first and see how far they get you.
Secondary glazing is definitely underrated. I've installed a bunch of acoustic windows professionally, and while they're great if you're already replacing windows, the cost-benefit ratio isn't always there for most folks. Honestly, sealing gaps and adding secondary glazing panels (even DIY acrylic ones) can get you surprisingly close to the same result. Curtains help with echo and higher frequencies, but won't do much for traffic rumble...just something to keep in mind.
Have you tried combining secondary glazing with heavier curtains? I did something similar in my apartment—DIY acrylic panels plus thick blackout curtains—and it made a noticeable difference. You're right though, curtains alone didn't cut the low-frequency noise from buses and trucks. Maybe pairing both methods could be a good middle ground without breaking the bank...worth a shot if you're handy!
I've been thinking about the acrylic panel idea myself, but I'm curious—how tricky was it to set up? Did you have to build some kind of frame or did you just stick them directly onto your existing windows somehow? I've seen a few DIY tutorials online, but honestly, they make it look way easier than I suspect it actually is. Also, did you notice any issues with condensation or airflow after installing the panels?
I tried heavy curtains myself a while back, and yeah, they helped with general street noise and chatter, but those deep rumbles from garbage trucks at 5 AM... nope. Still woke me up every time. I wonder if there's something specific about acrylic that helps dampen those lower frequencies better than glass or fabric alone?
Another thing I've been wondering about is whether the thickness of the acrylic matters much. Did you go for thicker panels or just standard stuff from the hardware store? I'm guessing thicker would be better for soundproofing, but then again, maybe it's diminishing returns past a certain point?
Anyway, your setup sounds promising enough to give it a shot. Just trying to gauge how much effort it'll realistically take before I dive in headfirst and end up regretting it halfway through...
I feel your pain on the garbage truck rumbles, they're the absolute worst. Tried heavy curtains myself too—great for chatter and high-pitched noises, but useless for low-frequency vibrations. Acrylic panels do seem promising, but from what I've read (and a buddy's experience), thickness definitely matters. He went with standard hardware-store stuff first, wasn't impressed, then upgraded to thicker panels (around 1/4 inch I think?), and said it made a noticeable difference.
As for installation, he built basic wooden frames with weather stripping around the edges—said it wasn't overly complicated but definitely took some patience to get the fit snug enough to block sound effectively. Condensation wasn't a huge issue for him, but airflow was noticeably reduced. He ended up adding removable panels so he could still open windows occasionally.
Honestly, acrylic panels might be worth trying if you're handy enough, but don't expect miracles without proper sealing and decent thickness. Otherwise, you might end up frustrated halfway through... just my two cents.
I've installed acrylic panels for a few clients dealing with city noise, and you're spot-on about thickness and sealing. One homeowner I worked with initially went thin to save money—didn't do much. We ended up swapping them out for thicker panels (around 1/4 inch, like your buddy), and the difference was night and day. Definitely takes patience to get the frames snug, but it's doable if you're handy. Just don't rush the sealing part... that's where most folks slip up and lose effectiveness.
I've been down this road too, and thicker acrylic panels definitely do the trick if installed right. One thing I'd add from my experience—don't underestimate the value of weatherstripping tape. When I did mine, I used a good quality foam tape around the edges of the frame before fitting the panel into place. It helps seal those tiny gaps you might not even see but that noise loves to sneak through.
Also, if anyone's tackling this project, here's a tip: measure each window individually. Even if they look identical, slight variations can throw off your fit. Cut your panels carefully, dry-fit them first, then apply your sealing material. That way you're not scrambling when the adhesive starts drying.
Speaking of sealing... has anybody tried acoustic caulk instead of regular silicone? I've heard mixed things—some folks swear by it, others say it's not worth the extra cost. Curious what people's experiences have been with it.