NOISE ISSUES WITH NEW DOUBLE GLAZING INSTALLATION

Bluesky1987

Hi
I am a Building novice and would really like some advice on some new windows I had fitted to my late 1800's property by a local installer. The reasoning for the replacement were that the windows were at least 30 years old and defo at end of lifespan. I also wanted a reduction in noise from the front of our house due to the busy road outside, which are large bay windows. Since the replacement i have continued to have noise issues in terms of traffic, etc. Its a busy residential road but not a main road,

The original windows would of been sash wooden windows same as neighbouring properties for the age of the property, the ones taken out were UPVC fitted early 80's according to the seller when we moved in.

History;
I had a quote from the local installer to replace my old UPVC windows in November 2021. At the time I noted the road noise issue and what could be done frame wise to reduce this a lot/get rid completely and also for heat loss reduction. It was suggested to me to have triple glazed windows, which sounded a good idea. The quote come through not long afterwards - two prices depending if I just wanted usual double glazed, and then triple glazed, which was a difference just over 1k, then also if I wanted a colouring it was more, so just plumped for usual white. Wooden was noted to be about 20-30% more, and didn't have the budget for these.

I decided to go for the triple glazed option Spring 2022, and the fitting then took place in late summer 2022.

When the windows arrived and started to be installed by the company, they appeared to be just double glazed units. I'm not a window expert, but even I could tell this. The fitters confirmed they were double glazed units, which I said was incorrect they should be triple glazed. I asked how this would be sorted - they confirmed they would fit the new windows as usual with the double glazing, and after a discussion with the office (and agreement it should have been triple glazed) - confirmed they would order the new glazing and then revisit the property to fit the new glazing units when they arrived.

This was done in a few weeks and all seemed good. However I noted there was still a lot of noise coming into the front of the house despite the new frames. Also, there felt to be air gap in the bedroom bay window frame, as could clearly hear the noise coming through. The manager come in late Autumn 2022, agreed about the bay and noted it was likely just needed sealed correctly when they replaced the units, and was sorted. For the overall noise, he suggested 50mm installation board in the wall between the windows (as per the attached picture, it looks to be not solid brick wall but a form of coving. It was confirmed they could source someone to do this, which sounded ok and they would contact me.

Time progressed and I haven't heard from the fitters since albeit I have been a bit slack myself (family bereavements) so not progressed it. The company are still trading with no issues. My partner has recently shown me photos which she took at the time of the front of the house between the two days the windows were fitted, which I wasn't aware of at the time until now! I note that there appears to be large gaps between the frame and the wall and either filled with expansion foam or not at all (more in the upstairs windows compared to the downstairs frames), and they just had the coverings put over the top to conceal it/trim when they were finished.

I wonder now if there is actually something more serious here and the windows haven't been either measured properly and/or fitted correctly at all for the front of the house?! For the rest of the property the fitting appears to be ok, albeit a couple of the windows feel slightly 'rubbing'(?) when you open them ajar, but for the back of the house.

I would be grateful of some advice as to what to do next and whether there is something for the firm to rectify as feel they haven't delivered what they promised and the photos look like something isn't right. Some photo's attached (the cats modelling the inside of the main bedroom for assistance!)

Many thanks, phil.

Bluesky1987

to update - all the photo's were taken at the end of the first day of fitting. These photos show the 2nd day finishing. So they appear to be sealed units, but I am not confident any further works were done and the window gaps likely remain?

BJV

Ok so when windows are fitted, esp on older houses, when not everything was done to laser precision, it is not uncommon for there to be tiny gaps. ( stress tiny ) You are putting a perfectly straight frame into a not-perfectly-straight window. So putting a piece of trim around to cover any expansion foam, which they should have done everywhere to fill the gaps, is again normal.

But I would question if all the gaps were filled properly as some of them do look a little ??? large.

Without the expansion foam, you only have a small piece of plastic between you and the road?

Is it cold around the edges of the windows? This would indicate that the foam as not been applied, I only know as we have an old house and are saving for new windows, around the edges was freezing. Our local window man came and took the trim off. There was just a void. He filled it with foam and then covered it over. It has at least solved the problem for us until we can afford new windows. 

Ps your home is beautiful.

Jonboy_1984

We had an incorrect frame delivered when we had double glazing fitted (extra top-light missing). They fitted the incorrect one temporarily as they had removed the old wooden frame before getting the new one off the van.

This looks exactly like the temporary installation as they didn’t seal it etc as it was coming back out a week later.