How I soundproofed my old windows with laminated glass (and what I’d do differently)

Heavy curtains definitely work, but I’ve seen a lot of folks get stuck with condensation issues behind them, especially in older homes where air leaks are everywhere.

I hear you about condensation - had a similar issue when I tried thermal curtains in my old place. But honestly, a simple fix that worked for me was leaving a small gap at the bottom, just an inch or two. That way, air still moves and it cuts down on moisture. Not perfect, but less hassle than dealing with damp walls every winter. Sometimes it’s about finding that middle ground between energy savings and not creating new problems.

That’s actually a solid workaround - I did something similar after my first winter with blackout curtains. Left a small gap at the bottom and, weirdly, it made a noticeable difference with condensation. I guess total insulation just traps too much moisture unless your windows are super tight to begin with. It’s always a trade-off, right? Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth just biting the bullet and getting proper storm windows instead of fighting with all these band-aid solutions...

- Totally agree about the trade-off with moisture - full blackout or insulation can make things worse if your windows aren’t airtight.
- I tried the “gap at the bottom” thing too after getting tired of wiping down puddles every morning. Helped a bit, but not perfect.
- Storm windows are a bigger upfront cost, but honestly, I wish I’d just done them first instead of fiddling with DIY fixes every winter. They cut drafts, reduce noise, and you don’t get that weird damp feeling.
- Laminated glass is great for sound, but doesn’t do much for condensation unless you address the airflow.
- If you’re in an older house like me (mine’s 1920s), nothing’s ever truly airtight... sometimes it’s about picking your battles.

I’ve had similar issues with condensation, especially after adding heavy curtains for sound and insulation. It’s a constant balance - block out noise and drafts, but then you’re wiping down the glass every morning. I did try vent locks to leave the windows cracked just a bit at night, but that only helped so much.

Storm windows seem like the logical upgrade, but I’m curious about installation. Did you go with interior or exterior storms? I’ve read that exterior ones do a better job with drafts, but they’re more of a hassle to fit on older frames. Also, how did you handle any existing rot or frame damage before installing them? My sills are pretty rough in spots, and I keep putting off repairs because I’m not sure if it’s worth patching or just replacing the whole thing.

I’m in the same boat with old, drafty windows and some pretty sad-looking sills. I went with exterior storms because the drafts were brutal, but yeah, fitting them was a pain - nothing’s square in this house. I did some patching with epoxy wood filler on the worst rot spots instead of replacing whole sills, mostly because I just couldn’t face that project yet. It’s held up for a couple years so far, but I’m sure I’ll have to do a bigger fix eventually. Honestly, storms cut the condensation way down, but I still get a little if I keep the curtains closed tight overnight.

I hear you on the storms - nothing’s square in my 1920s place either, so getting a good seal was a headache. Honestly, interior storms or even just heavy-duty caulk made a bigger dent in drafts for me than the exterior ones. Condensation’s always tough with old windows, though... I found cracking the curtains just a bit helps, but it’s not perfect. I’d say you’re spot-on holding off on full sill replacement until you really have to. The epoxy patches last longer than most people think.

I found cracking the curtains just a bit helps, but it’s not perfect.

Yeah, that little trick with the curtains helps a surprising amount. I’m with you on the interior storms making more of an impact - I tried exterior first and it was honestly just a pain to keep sealed. Ended up going wild with caulk and foam tape inside, and it cut the drafts way down. Fwiw, I’m also holding off on replacing sills... my last epoxy patch is still hanging in there after three winters. Old windows are never gonna be 100% tight, but you can get them close enough to make things comfy.

It’s honestly kind of wild how much those little tweaks add up. I did the same thing with caulk and foam tape last year - just worked my way around every sash and frame, didn’t expect much, but the difference was immediate. The room felt less drafty, and the old rattling was mostly gone. I’m with you on the exterior storms being a hassle; mine never quite lined up right and I got tired of fighting with them every fall.

I haven’t pulled the trigger on new sills either. There’s something satisfying about stretching out another season with a patch job. As long as it holds, why rush? Old windows have their quirks, but like you said, get them close and it’s pretty comfortable... plus, there’s a certain charm to all those layers of “fixes” over time.

If you ever want to push things further, I found adding a heavy curtain made a noticeable dent in both drafts and noise - nothing fancy, just thick fabric hung close to the wall. Not perfect, but it stacks with everything else. Sometimes you just have to accept good enough and enjoy the character.

There’s something satisfying about stretching out another season with a patch job. As long as it holds, why rush? Old windows have their quirks, but like you said, get them close and it’s pretty comfortable... plus, there’s a certain charm to all those layers of “fixes” over time.

Totally get this - sometimes the patchwork solutions are more satisfying than a full replacement. I’ve been tinkering with my 1950s casements for years, and honestly, half the fun is seeing what combination of weatherstripping, sealant, and “creative” fixes actually work. I did try the heavy curtain trick too (used a couple of old moving blankets at first, not exactly HGTV-worthy but they did *something*).

Curious if you noticed any measurable drop in outside noise after your tweaks? I’m always interested in the technical side - like, did you ever try a decibel app before and after? I found the laminated glass made a bigger difference for low-frequency stuff (traffic rumble), but not as much for higher-pitched sounds. Foam tape helped with drafts, but I had to double up in some spots because the frames weren’t square anymore.

The “good enough” approach definitely grows on you... especially when you can’t justify the cost of new windows yet. Sometimes it’s all about stacking those little improvements and calling it a win.

I’m with you on the patchwork approach, but I’ll admit I’m a little skeptical about how much difference some of these “fixes” really make. I tried using those thick weatherstripping rolls on my living room windows (house is 1948, frames are a mess) and it helped with drafts, but noise-wise? Not so much. Maybe a tiny bit less street noise, but nothing dramatic. I did mess around with a decibel app once - honestly, the readings were all over the place depending on whether a truck was going by or not, so I kind of gave up on that.

The laminated glass upgrade was the only thing that actually made a noticeable dent in the rumble from the main road. High-pitched stuff like sirens or kids screaming? Still comes through, just slightly muffled. Curtains and blankets helped a bit in winter but felt like living in a bunker. At the end of the day, it’s always a tradeoff between what you can live with and what you can afford to fix right now. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough... at least until something finally gives out for good.