How do wooden shutters compare to secondary glazing for noise insulation?

Hennymore

I realise this might be a bit of a “how long is a rope question”, but I just want to get a rough idea if possible.

We’ve got single a glazed sash window in our master bedroom overlooking the train station. It can get pretty noisy.

Considering either secondary glazing or wooden shutters for noise insulation. My guess would be that wooden shutters (when closed) would generally give better noise insulation from being thicker. Though then again if they’re louvred and not solid maybe that would reduce the level of insulation.

Any other reasons to pick one over the other worth considering, other than the obvious one that the glazing would let us reduce noise while being able to see out the window? We’re mostly only bothered by the sound in there at night, so I think that wouldn’t be a big factor either way.

lindze

I have wooden plantation shutters and they do absolutely nothing to reduce noise from outside. I would think that secondary glazing or laminated glass would be a better bet.

bearshare

I have both DG and plantation shutters. The shutters do reduce sound a bit, but very little compared to DG.

slinga

Secondary glazing is useless, imo.

Hennymore

slinga, why so?

Hennymore

bearshare, thank you! I’ve also considered double glazing but have heard that secondary glazing does more for sound insulation.

Mojisola

slinga wrote: »

Secondary glazing is useless, imo.

My parents' house had secondary glazing throughout when they bought it - it worked fine - it was worse for insulation but better for noise reduction than the modern double glazing they replaced it with.

getmore4less

Won't be cheap but you could get a sound insulated exterior roller shutter.

Sound problems are often airgaps and some will be through the fabric of the building, they are hard to eliminate.

Ken68

Hi Henny....have you tried 2" insulation boards, put up inside the window reveal at night times and taken down in the mornings.

slinga

Hennymore wrote: »

slinga, why so?

Well I used to live under the flightpath to Heathrow and the previous house owner had installed secondary glazing, paid for with a grant iirc, and it was obvious that with the secondary glazing in place there was absolutely no reduction in noise from when the secondary glazing was open.


Personal opinion of course and totally subjective so take it as you will.