Double Glazing - noise

pocketsnooker

Hi Everyone, this is my first post, so please be gentle (I have done a search first and can't find an answer to this).

The problem is that I have bought a house with my wife on a main road, and it's noisy. The house has standard wooden (leaded) casement windows and, on some windows, aliminium sliding secondary glazing.

The issue is twofold: some of it is old (and ugly) and some windows don't have this at all. One has been replaced as a sealed wooded double glazed unit, but it just doesn't work in terms of noise reduction.

I passionatly don't want some wideboy camped on my sofa for three days if I call a double glazing co - so what can I do? I'm happy to keep the windows and replace the secondary (I understant that it's actually the gap I need) but not many places seem to do this. Maybe there's not enough money in it for them. One architect recomended secondary wood windows that opened inwards but said that they were very expensive.

Has anyone got any ideas? Will some placse overhaul my secondary glazing and fit new stuff? Can I paint what's there? As I said, noise and looks are most important as it's a fairly old house. I'm in kent if that helps.

thanks

economiser

Welcome to the site.

Your are quite right that it is the gap that matters with acoustic double glazing - 100 to 150mm I think is the ideal. However they must fit well, any air gaps or cracks will significantly reduce the effect. I would think you would keep the outer windows and replace or refurbish the secondary glazing depending on its state and your budget. I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem to get someone to do that. Contact a few suppliers and get some quotes.

pocketsnooker

Many thanks for that. Has anyone used a secondary glazing place in Kent they could recomend? I'm looking for someone to overhaul the secondary glazing rather than just fit new UPVC.
Thanks guys

williamrobb88

OK, before I go any further, I am in Manchester, so I probably can't help you with supply. However, I can offer you advice, because I run a window manufacturing company (Jackson Joinery Manufacturing Ltd. 0161 745 8376). No, this is not an advert!
As for your query, it will NEVER be cost effective to replace the secondary glazing! There are not many companies that do it, so the ones that do, can charge what they like really. Also, the problem is, the exterior windows are still old and will always let noise in! We make PVC, Softwood and Hardwood windows here, and we sell to the trade, so I know what I'm talking about.

You are correct about the double glazing salesman being camped at your house, and no matter what he tells you, if you don't want PVC you don't want it, it's as simple as that!

My advice is this. If you can afford the secondary glazing, you can afford new Softwood windows.

Steer clear of the adverts in newspapers offering free windows, free glass etc. There is an advert in our local paper saying 'Buy a house full of windows and get the glass free'. Who would buy a house full of windows without the glass? Another says 'We supply Low E glass as standard'. Big deal! It is the law to supply Low E glass!. It's like Vauxhall saying 'We supply seat belts as standard'

OK, I'm waffling now.

My FINAL advice is this: Check out the price of new softwood windows at a joinery. You'll be surprised at the cost comparing against secondary glazing! I know! We supply to customers in the South, because of the ridiculous costs down there.

Best thing to do is actually draw the windows on the back of a fag packet and send, fax or email a company for a quote on NEW windows. A good company will price them for you and should never ring you back mythering for business.

Hope this helps!

babyangel10

Some great advice there Williamrobb88, BUT I think you may find that your company name and tel number get removed, because you aren't allowed to display info for your own company. I was reading a thread earlier whereby someone had done a similar thing (albeit innocently) but the info was removed.

So, it's up to you - either beat the mods to it, or wait and see if anyone (other than me! ) notices...

Just thought I'd let you know so you don't get into strife with the mods!

williamrobb88

Yeah, no probs, if they wanna remove it that's fine! They can remove the whole reply if they like. I'm only trying to help out! In future I will not post numbers!

babyangel10

S'pose you never know how long it'll take em to notice, and in the meantime you may get a couple of calls in with big jobs

We all gotta earn a crust eh?!

Just wanted to pre-warn you, that was all...:)

dora37

williamrobb88 wrote:

mythering

A bit off topic...... but what a great northern word!

When we first got together my OH (being a southern softie), didn't have a clue what it meant.


....sorry, I'll go now!

pocketsnooker

thanks or this williamrobb88. Sounds good, but the inital responder said that I needed the gap - surely in that case, I don't need new softwood windows (even sealed double glazed units) as this isn't going to cut down on the noise. My windows are in fairly good nick, so I'm reluctant to have them out if it's only going to make a marginal difference in sound reduction.

Then again, I think I do need at least one new window so may call!!

williamrobb88

ok, what about triple glazing?

Can be made up of:
4mm glass/6mm spacer/4mm glass/6mm spacer/4mm glass

24mm overall

Will your rebates accept units this thick?

If so, this triple glazing option is excellent for sound reduction. My company supply these to customers who have recording studios at home etc, or where customer wants to create a 'Quiet room'

Please, get this secondary glazing idea out of your head. They're bad, expensive, promote condensation, ugly and just plain old rubbish!

Hope this helps.

Moneymaker

williamrobb88 I hope I'm not "teaching you how to suck eggs" but I'm sure I read that noise reduction is more effective if the glass is of different thicknesses or materials, because this reduces the "resonance" that occurs at certain (low) frequencies.

Many years ago (in Yorkshire) I fitted 3mm polycarbonate secondary glazing with foam strips and clips. It actually looked quite neat but, of course, it never sealed well and we had to take it down at least annually for a clean. It was good for noise reduction, however, since the gap was at least 50mm.