Noise Insulation

ispookie666

We live close to a main road and there is a lot of ambient noise.  The indoor noise is very very variable, in some rooms the outdoor noise is really intrusive.  The windows are either wooden or aluminium frame.  I'm thinking of replacing all this with uPVC.  Should I go with normal uPVC or UPVC with acoustic glass or get a professional noise insulation window installers?  

Has anyone done noise insulation or any pointers?

rentalforever

Do the existing doors and windows have any rubber seals on the inside edges?

I ask, because I’m gradually working around my house to replace all of the old rubber seals/gaskets which are there to keep draught and noise out. I replaced them for my main front door and it made a massive difference to both sound and draught.

Before the replacement, I could hear outside as though my front door wasn’t shut. With the new seal in place, you either can’t hear it or it’s very faint and muffled. Might be worth trying this in the rooms where you hear the most noise.

I used this product: https://www.stormguard.co.uk/stormguard-products/universal-pvcu-seal/ and it’s available to buy from most DIY stores at varying lengths.

FreeBear

ispookie666 said:

We live close to a main road and there is a lot of ambient noise.  The indoor noise is very very variable, in some rooms the outdoor noise is really intrusive.  The windows are either wooden or aluminium frame.  I'm thinking of replacing all this with uPVC.  Should I go with normal uPVC or UPVC with acoustic glass or get a professional noise insulation window installers?

If you replace the windows facing the main road, be careful who you use to do the installation. Most DG salesmen will tell you that trickle vents are mandatory on all replacement windows now - Partly true is so much that minimum levels of background ventilation is now a requirement under Building Regulations. There are various ways of achieving this without resorting to trickle vents,. But there is an exemption for windows facing sources of high amounts of noise (e.g. busy roads). If you can find an installer open to discussing whether trickle vents are a must, then that is half the battle.

No point in fitting triple glazed windows to reduce the amount of noise only to have holes punched through the frames allowing the noise to still get in.

ispookie666

Good points.. 
I'll check the seals on the wooden window. The aluminium framed ones will need to be fixed, either by changing the glass or something better. 
I do have PIV unit and not had any condensation even at the depths of winter.