Is Double Glazing for zero noise possible??

EKI

Hey everyone, looking for some advice on double glazing for sound reduction please. The house we have found & love is on a main road. To be precise, it is a main route into a city 2 lanes each way 40mph limit. So given most people’s attitude to speed limit imagine a 45mph speed of vehicles across 4 lanes. No central reservation.

The house is a solid 1930s build and is set back about 50 feet away from the road. The noise level inside currently is not something we could live/sleep with.
I’ve done some research and it appears best option would be replace in their entirety the frames and windows with laminated double glazed windows with as thick glass as possible with a larger than normal space between panes. I guess we could even then add secondary glazing after these?

So question is, does anyone have experience of such installations in such conditions and would the laminated thicker double glazing reduce road noise to a level we can’t hear?!

Any thoughts appreciated! Thank you!

lofielectronic

No experience of the windows but my thought on reading was what about in the summer time when you want open windows?

Even though we live just off a relatively quiet main road the noise, mostly from people with comedicallyloud exhausts admittedly, can be a bit trying in the warm weather.

No-name_2

I had secondary glazing fitted, as the key is a wide gap between that and the primary glazing. I paid extra for the secondary glazing to be a laminated type designed to restrict sound. It works to muffle the sound but it was not a complete solution. I think this is because sound is not just transmitted through glass some will come through the walls as well and through the window frame itself.


Generally though you might find that after a few days that your brain starts to ignore this kind of background sound.

princeofpounds

Yes I have experience.

There are several 'types' of noise. Acoustic triple glazing or secondary glazing can do a lot for general noise, as long as your walls are good and you don't have exposed vents etc. Plain old double glazing is not so great - the gap isn't big enough to be that effective for the necessary wavelengths.

But rumble at low wavelengths is very hard to improve. Some roads rumble more than others, depends on speed, surface and the materials between there and the house.

There are mitigation techniques (very deep trenches and underground barriers) but they aren't really that practical for domestic use.

So pay attention to the sort of noise that it is, really make a difference.

greenface

I fit double glazing and have almost reduced it to zero and the cutomer ( nurse on nights ) was happy . Then they put in a speed bump . Wider airspace thicker glass and secondary glazing are the answer .

ethank

I used to live on a busy B road in Luton, it was also a bus route for 8 years. Loved the flat but could never have the windows open at night during the summer as would hear the buses rumbling past from 5am! Some lorries also delivered through the night!

theEnd

I had a much less extreme scenario and the double glazing helped a lot. Previously had single, very old, wooden framed windows, with slats.

The newer triple glazing is meant to be very good.

I also noticed a big difference when I added flooring. Previously, just old floorboard, then added an acoustic layer and laminate.

Argghhh

i work in manufacturing double glazing - although some airspace matters - its not all the be all.
Triple glazing is also not the answer since you reduce the cavities to fit in 3 panes of glass.
The key to sound reduction is identifying the type of noise you wish to restrict and ask the sales person to spec accordingly. Different glass thicknesses absorb different frequencies of sound so its no benefit having 2 same thicknesses even if 10mm. Best option is to use a laminated leaf and a normal leaf (thicknesses to be determined via manufacturers capabilities)

getmore4less

if you can use rooms at the back of the place you might get away with it but you will still have noise in the garden during the summer.

what can you put in the front of the house to provide noise reductions, planting fence walls etc, stop the noise reaching the place.

G_M

Triple glazing, with secondary glazing behind.

But you do realise you'll get 'rumble noise' vibrating through the walls/floor....??

My mum's house is on a busy road (i wasn't when she bought it!), and in the front bedroom, the entire room seems to shake when buses/lorries go past. New windows won't help that.

Argghhh

i will have to dispute your triple glazing answer G_M - different glass thicknesses in a double glazed unit is the answer, secondary glazing could help a little more