"Did you notice a big difference right away after sealing those gaps, or was it more gradual?"
In my experience, sealing gaps around windows and doors usually gives you a noticeable improvement pretty quickly. It's not gonna magically silence everything, but you'll definitely hear less street noise right off the bat. Acoustic windows are great if you've got the budget, but honestly, most of my clients find that proper sealing and weather stripping gets them close enough without breaking the bank.
As for caulk brands, don't overthink it too much. Just make sure you're using something flexible and durable—silicone-based caulks tend to hold up better over time. The key is thoroughness: even a small gap can let in a surprising amount of noise. Take your time, do it right, and you'll probably be pleasantly surprised by how much quieter things get.
Yeah, sealing gaps helped me a lot too. Didn't notice it immediately, but after a couple nights I realized I wasn't waking up every time a car drove by... definitely worth the afternoon spent caulking!
Sealing gaps is definitely effective, especially for minor disturbances. But if traffic noise is really persistent, acoustic windows with laminated glass can significantly outperform curtains or caulking alone. Bit pricier upfront, but the long-term comfort improvement is substantial.
Went through something similar last year. My experience:
- Curtains helped a bit, mostly muffled higher frequencies.
- Acoustic windows (laminated glass) made a noticeable difference, especially with traffic rumble.
- Cost was steep upfront, but sleeping better now... worth it imo.
I've been wondering about acoustic windows myself. Curtains did almost nothing for me...maybe they took the edge off a bit, but honestly, still heard every garbage truck at 5 AM. Did you notice a big difference right away with the laminated glass or was it more subtle at first? Also, did you have to replace the entire window frame or just swap out the glass panes? Trying to figure out if it's worth the hassle.
I went through this exact dilemma last year. Curtains honestly did nothing for me either—maybe muffled the higher-pitched sounds a tiny bit, but garbage trucks and buses were still my daily alarm clock. I finally bit the bullet and went with laminated acoustic glass, and it was a game changer. Not exaggerating, the difference was immediate and noticeable. Traffic noise dropped significantly, and I stopped waking up at every little noise outside.
As far as installation goes, it depends on your current window frames and their condition. In my case, I initially hoped to just swap out the panes (would've saved some money), but after talking to a couple of installers, I learned that if your frames aren't in great shape or weren't designed with thicker glass in mind, you'll lose out on some of the soundproofing benefits. Acoustic windows rely heavily on tight seals and proper framing to do their job effectively.
I ended up replacing the entire frame along with the panes—yeah, it was pricier upfront, but honestly worth every penny in terms of comfort and sleep quality. Plus, an unexpected bonus: my energy bills actually dropped noticeably because the windows insulate better against temperature fluctuations. So in a way, they pay for themselves over time.
If you're hesitant about cost or hassle, maybe try replacing just one window in your bedroom first to test it out? That'll give you a solid sense of whether it's worth going all-in for your whole place without committing too much upfront.
Totally agree on acoustic glass being a huge upgrade over curtains. One thing I'd add though—before you dive into replacing frames, check if your current ones can handle secondary glazing. It's basically adding another pane inside your existing window, creating an air gap that cuts down noise significantly. Did this for a client downtown who didn't want the hassle of full replacements...worked surprisingly well and saved him some cash too. Just another option to consider before going all-in.
"creating an air gap that cuts down noise significantly"
Definitely second this—secondary glazing is underrated. Plus, the air gap doesn't just tackle noise; it boosts insulation too. Saw a noticeable drop in my heating bills after installing mine...double win if you ask me.
I went the curtain route first—honestly, didn't do much except make my room darker. Nice for sleeping in, but traffic noise still woke me up at 5am. Ended up going with secondary glazing like mentioned above, and yeah, the difference was pretty huge.
Couple things I noticed:
- Noise dropped way more than curtains ever managed.
- Heating bills did get better, though not drastically for me (maybe depends on your place?).
- Installation wasn't as messy or complicated as I feared...just had to clear some space around the windows.
One downside is cost—definitely pricier than curtains—but honestly worth it if city noise is messing with your sleep or sanity. I mean, peace and quiet is priceless, right?
Yeah, curtains are pretty much just fancy blankets for your windows—great for naps, not so great for traffic noise. Glad the secondary glazing worked out for you though. I remember when I first installed mine, I was skeptical too, but after the first night without waking up to garbage trucks at 4am... total game changer. Pricey, sure, but sanity and sleep are kinda non-negotiable, right? Congrats on reclaiming your mornings.