This article is all about helping you out with soundproofing windows.
Living in cities can be very irritating if you have constant noise exposure.
Windows and doors are significant culprits in making the noise enter your house.
To return peace and quiet to your home, you need to adopt some strategies for soundproofing.
So, here you go!
Window inserts
Installing window inserts is one of the most effective ways of soundproofing your existing windows.
You must install window inserts about five inches before the existing window’s frame.
These window inserts are made of glass and provide one of the best soundproofing techniques.
The five inches of space between the window and the insert provides air space that stops most of the noise and helps keep most of the vibrations from passing through the glass.
You will notice a lot of noise reduction if you adopt this strategy.
When you buy the inserts, try buying the one made up of laminated glass.
They consist of two layers forming a thick glass, with an intervening layer of plastic that will help block most of the vibrations, making the window soundproof.
All the noise of honking cars, blasting music, and wailing sirens will remain out of your window.
Double pane windows
Next, you can try converting your windows to double pane if your house has single-pane windows installed.
If you notice, all the older houses built around fifteen to twenty years back have single-pane windows.
However, these days all modern construction prefers having double-pane windows.
The gap between the two pieces of glass provides air between them.
That air gap helps make a barrier for the noise and the vibrations to enter through the window.
Whereas single pane windows provide no barrier for the noise, they virtually permit the vibrations to pass through them, making the house interior noisy.
So if you’re building a new house for yourself, prefer double pane windows.
But if you have an older house with single-pane windows, replace them with double-pane windows.
You will notice a lot of noise reduction.
Seal gaps along windows
You might not notice any gap in your windows unless you look for the gap.
Gaps or any empty spaces present in your windows, however small they may be, are one of the biggest culprits of making the noise entering through your window.
Sealing gaps is not only important for the windows, but it is also essential to seal all the gaps in the room’s walls, ceiling and doors if you want to make it soundproof.
If you can’t find any gap even after searching for it, I have a technique by which you can easily find the gaps.
Close all the lights from the inside and make your room fully dark.
Place a light outside the window; you’ll notice more light coming inside from the gaps than the glass.
After you find the gaps, seal them with acoustic caulk.
It is cheap and easy to use.
You won’t need any help from a professional; you’ll be able to do it yourself.
Making the window airtight and sealing all the gaps will block most of the noise from entering the window.
If your window already has silicone caulk around the frame, remove it using a putty knife.
Take acoustic caulk and cut a quarter-inch opening.
Use a caulking gun; it will make applying the acoustic caulk around the frame effortless.
Seal all the edges and gaps between the interior window frame and the interior window.
Acoustic caulk functions a bit differently than standard silicone caulk.
Acoustic caulk is more durable and last several years before it gets damaged.
It is more flexible and bonds quickly on most surfaces, including wood, drywall, door and window frames and other wall materials.
You’ll often find it in white, but sometimes it’s also available in different colours.
If you can’t find it in your required colour, you can always get it painted to match the colour of your interior walls.
Soundproof curtains
Soundproof or sound-dampening curtains are helpful in absorbing and dampening most of the noise.
They also help in softening sharp sounds and minimizing echoes.
Usually, they are made up of thick materials like velvet and lined up with vinyl.
They alone are not enough to block all the noise from outside, but they help reduce most of the noise.
When combined with other strategies, soundproof curtains work perfectly.
Along with blocking most of the noise, they also help block sunlight from the outside if you have a routine to sleep in the daytime, especially those who work at night shift and sleep all day.
These soundproof curtains are suitable for almost all the windows in your house, including your bedroom.
You can rely on sound-dampening curtains if you have too much roadside noise and face noise from the children playing outside in your street.
Double cell shades
Installing double-cell shades is another great option.
They are also known as cellular shades or honeycomb shades.
These shades serve us for multiple purposes.
Along with absorbing the noise and dampening the sharp sounds, they also help in reducing echo.
And while they block out the noise, they also block out most of the light and heat from the outside in summer.
And when you want your room to be warm in winter, they help retain heat.
Again, like sound-dampening curtains, they cannot make the window fully soundproof.
They work best when combined with other strategies.
Single-cell shades have a single layer of cells, while double-cell shades have a double layer of cells.
So, double-cell shades work better than single-cell shades when you need to block the noise and light from the outside.
But, they are best suited in places that experience a low level of sound pollution.
If you face enormous sound pollution and too many vibrations, then even double shade cells cannot work properly.
Storm windows
Adding storm windows is another great option to soundproof your existing windows.
Obviously, if you don’t have the budget, you cannot go for replacing all your windows.
Storm windows will also require a bigger budget, but adopting this strategy will work very efficiently.
These windows are made up of specialized glass that works better than regular glass.
They get fixed outside your existing window and work to block most of the noise coming from outside.
Window plug
Make a window plug that will help block most of the noise passing through your window.
This is not a permanent solution, but it works efficiently to soundproof.
But it will cover all your window and make your room darker.
To make a window plug, cut a thin board, acoustic mat and acoustic foam the same shape and size as your window.
Attach the acoustic mat and foam to the thin cardboard with any glue or bond available.
Fix this thing you made to the inside of your window, and you will definitely notice a significant difference in noise reduction.
Conclusion
Sound pollution is one of the most dangerous kinds of pollution, which can cause mental and physical damage to all living things, including humans.
But unfortunately, sound pollution is often neglected by officials.
We need to make our houses and workplaces soundproof to deal with all the sound pollution.
The first thing we need to pay attention to while trying to make our house soundproof are the windows.
Windows and doors bring in most of the noise from the outside.
In the above article, we have discussed some very easy and cheap strategies to make your windows soundproof.
Try these strategies if you have gotten fed up with all the noise.
These strategies will cost you minimum time, energy and money.
Most of these will also not require any help from a professional; you can do it on your own.
FAQs
1) Can I soundproof a window myself?
There are many techniques to soundproof your window; some are easy, while others may require professional help.
For instance, caulking, weather-stripping, hanging soundproof curtains and double-cell shades can be done by yourself easily.
While if you need to replace your windows, you might need to call an expert.
2) What is the least expensive way to soundproof a window?
The least expensive ways of soundproofing a window include weather-stripping, blinds/ shades, creating a window plug, soundproof curtains and acoustic caulking.
3) Can I make my window 100 percent soundproof?
To be honest, no.
You cannot make your window 100 percent soundproof even if you adopt all the soundproofing strategies.
Even if you buy a noise-reduction window, it will only block up to 90 to 95 percent of the noise.
4)What materials can I use to soundproof my windows?
A: There are several materials you can use to soundproof your windows, including acoustic curtains, window inserts, weatherstripping, and acoustic sealant.
Q: How effective are soundproofing windows?
A: The effectiveness of soundproofing windows depends on the materials used and the extent of the noise problem. Properly installed soundproofing materials can significantly reduce outside noise levels.