Which are the Best Soundproof Windows for Home?
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It is understandable that you want it to be as silent as possible with the best soundproof windows for home. After all, your home is your resting place after a long day of work.
The best soundproof windows for home are double and triple-glazed. They are airtight, so they do not have gaps for noises to enter. Between the glasses is argon gas, making them suitable for insulation. Other window types don’t work as well for soundproofing.
Check out my guide on soundproofing windows.
Soundproof windows are effective soundproof materials. But other window types can help you make your home quiet as well, but they may not be as effective. Apart from that, there are things that you can do to improve the soundproofing capabilities of these windows.
Best Soundproof Windows (Types) for Your Home
Soundproofing is a vital step for every home. It allows you to enjoy a quiet time whenever you are resting. But before starting to install soundproof windows, you should first find out which type will work best for you.
There are four different types of soundproof windows:
- Double-glazed windows
- Triple-glazed windows
- Laminated windows
- Acrylic windows
However, the best and most effective are the double and triple-glazed ones.
Double-Glazed Windows
Double-glazed or double-paned windows are ideal for homes that do not have too much noise pollution around them. They contain two layers of glasses. Although those glasses are not much of a heat insulator, they can seal and maintain noises from the outside.
Additionally, this window type offers excellent benefits in terms of energy efficiency. The reason is that it provides an excellent barrier against external temperatures.
The gap between the two layers of glasses has inert gas in it. The gas can either be argon, xenon, or krypton. However, the majority of manufacturers use argon in some of the best soundproof windows.
The gases mentioned above work by increasing the resistance of the double-paned window to energy transfer. Windows filled with gas are more expensive than the ones filled with air. But since gas is denser than air, it makes your home comfortable while adding soundproofing value to your window.
Triple-Glazed Windows
As the name suggests, triple-paned windows have three layers of low-emissivity glass. This type of window works excellently in terms of insulation. For this reason, triple-glazed windows work perfectly in areas with extreme weather conditions.
More than that, triple-glazed windows have excellent resistance to condensation. They also reduce the transmission of sound more than double-glazed windows do. So, this window type is ideal for homes near areas that have extreme noise pollution, such as an airport.
Additionally, the three layers of glass provide more security compared to single-paned windows. They are thicker, which makes them more challenging to break. Triple-glazed windows also provide excellent energy efficiency.
Similar to double-glazed windows, triple-glazed ones also have argon between each layer. For this reason, they make it more difficult for heat to escape. As a result, you will be able to maintain the temperature of your home efficiently.
Furthermore, double and triple-glazed windows are effective because the glass layers weaken the strength of soundwaves. For this reason, by the time that the noise gets through your home, it is already quieter and less noticeable.
However, it is essential to note that these two window types do not entirely block noise. Instead, they reduce sound until it is almost unnoticeable to the human ears.
What are the Other Types of Best Soundproof Windows?
The majority of regular windows in the market do not come with soundproofing ratings. However, that does not mean that they do not have noise-reduction capabilities.
Most glass windows are not thick enough to reduce the strength of soundwaves. So, they allow sound to penetrate your home and travel freely. As a result, noise pollution continuously disturbs you.
The trick for finding a window that can soundproof your home is to find the ones with thick glasses. It is worth noting that you will never find a genuinely soundproof glass. However, choosing a window type with enough thickness can certainly make your home quieter.
Below are some of the window types that can help you have a less noisy home.
Laminated Glass Window
Laminated glass adds thickness to your home’s windows. So, they are more soundproof compared to regular glass windows.
This type of window has regular window glass. However, the difference is that laminated windows have an additional layer of lamination between two layers of traditional glass. So, it has more soundproofing capabilities than regular windows.
Acrylic Glass Window
The biggest issue when it comes to regular glass windows is their thinness. They are not thick enough to reduce external noise and reduce the amount of sound vibration that infiltrates your home.
On the other hand, acrylic windows are thicker than regular windows. So, they can reduce the sound waves that get into your home.
Acrylic windows cost more than regular ones. But they are more durable, making them cost-effective. They are also suitable insulation materials.
Making Your Best Soundproof Windows More Efficient
Every type of window has different soundproofing capabilities. If your home has a boisterous environment and you have double-paned windows, then that might not be enough to soundproof your home.
Fortunately, there are additional steps that you can take to make your windows more efficient in soundproofing.
1. Use noise-reducing curtains
Noise-reducing curtains are one of the most inexpensive soundproofing solutions for your home. Choosing the best soundproof windows and then adding noise-reducing curtains hits noise in the face with a one-two punch. These curtains are thick, which means they have more density than regular curtains. According to physics, materials with great density work excellently for absorbing noises.
Noise-reducing curtains come in thick and heavy fabrics like velvet. The majority of them have a lining like vinyl, which even adds up to their sound-absorbing ability.
However, since these curtains only work to absorb sound, they only work well for light noise pollution.
Moreover, many noise-reducing curtains also work as blackout curtains.
Today’s market provides you with tons of noise-reducing curtain options. For this reason, you will undoubtedly find one that will blend with the interior of your home while making it quiet.
2. Locate and plug gaps
Sometimes, windows have poor installations. So, gaps may be present between the window frame and the window itself.
Try checking your windows. If you find even a tiny gap, that means it allows soundwaves to pass through. Plug these gaps using caulk, an adhesive material that works well in sealing gaps within a structure.
3. Install window inserts
If you have regular windows at home, then soundwaves and noise pollution will infiltrate them freely. To prevent the sounds from penetrating your windows, you can install window insets.
Window inserts are custom-made glass panels. You add them to your existing window frame, and they will work effectively to regulate temperature and reduce noise.
However, it is essential to note that window inserts do not work as effectively as windows dedicated to soundproofing.
4. Adding furniture can also help
Windows should not be your only focus when trying to soundproof your home. Furniture like couches, bookshelves, tables, and couches also have a part in limiting the soundwaves that circulate your home.
5. Add double-cell shades
Honeycomb shades or double-cell shades have two rows of cells. These cells are hexagonal fabric tubes that sit on top of each other. They work by absorbing the sound that vibrates in your home and prevents indoor heat gain during the summer. They also retain heat within your home in the winter, making it less cold than the outside environment.
Apart from that, honeycomb shades are excellent materials for reducing echoes. They are ideal for homes that experience low levels of external noise, aiding the best soundproof windows (assuming you have one of the best) in doing their job.
Furthermore, making your home less noisy is a lot easier than you think. But you need to have suitable materials for your soundproofing efforts to work.
Sources
- Juan Rodriguez, Why to Consider Triple Glazed Windows for Your Home, The Balance Small Business, https://www.thebalancesmb.com/triple-glazed-windows-844733/
- Lee Wallender, What Is a Double-Paned (or Double-Glazed) Window?, The Spruce, https://www.thespruce.com/double-glazed-windows-1821739/
- Juan Rodriguez, Why to Consider Triple Glazed Windows for Your Home, The Balance Small Business, https://www.thebalancesmb.com/triple-glazed-windows-844733/
- Alisa Harvey, How Do Double Glazing And Triple Glazing Compare?, How it Works Daily, https://www.howitworksdaily.com/how-do-double-glazing-and-triple-glazing-compare/
- 16 Different Types of Soundproof Windows, Home Stratosphere, https://www.homestratosphere.com/types-of-soundproof-windows/#types-of-soundproof-window-glass/
- Alisa Harvey, How Do Double Glazing And Triple Glazing Compare?, How it Works Daily, https://www.howitworksdaily.com/how-do-double-glazing-and-triple-glazing-compare/
