Best windows for sound insulation

ic

There's a number of manufacturers of the glass - the glass used in mine is 6.8mm Stadip Silience https://www.saint-gobain-glass.co.uk/product/stadip-silence/.  Pilkington have Optiphon - https://www.pilkington.com/en-gb/uk/products/product-categories/noise-control/pilkington-optiphon

The added bonus of laminated units is they're secure as they hold their shape if smashed, and they block UV so furniture and fabrics won't fade in the sun.

I simply called around a few local glass unit suppliers (they literally only make the glass units that fit into frames) - there's loads where I live in Greater Manchester.  Whilst most could do the acoustic units, I only found one (https://eagleglass.co.uk/) that could also do the low-e soft coat for the inner standard pane for better efficiency.  All could do low-e hard coat, which is essentially the building regs requirement on new units.  As they lived only a ten minute drive away they were happy to deliver to me for free.

If you're looking for new windows, you should be able to specify all this with your installer - I expect most one-man firms might be unfamiliar though and will have to go ask questions of their own suppliers.  Do look into frames - this isn't an area I know about.  

Lastly a good quality install matters - it needs to be measured correctly so gaps are only 5mm.  Window fitters can do a sloppy job covering mistakes with varying sizes of trim.  I found mine had a 2cm gap on the left, 4cm gap on the right! - Stevie Wonder would have done better.

roadweary

Thanks - I've had two quotes from bigger firms.....but I have a good local company that replaced hinges on some of my windows that have a good reputation.  I have most confidence in them on the workmanship.  Hopefully they'd also be able to quote based on this specific glass as it's a reasonably large job doing every window and external door in the house.

roadweary

Sorry to be a pain, but could you please confirm which of the rows in that Stadip link is yours?  £661 pounds for 9 units sounds very reasonable, even factoring professional installation.

Oh, and what did you do about the trickle vents, or did you not have those?

EssexExile

I've just noticed this thread and would just like to say that we had triple glazing fitted a few years ago, it was cheap, all panes the same thickness and air gaps the same, cost not much more than double glazing. The sound insulation is much improved over the old double glazing. No trickle vents.

WIAWSNB

roadweary said:

Thanks - I've had two quotes from bigger firms.....but I have a good local company that replaced hinges on some of my windows that have a good reputation.  I have most confidence in them on the workmanship.  Hopefully they'd also be able to quote based on this specific glass as it's a reasonably large job doing every window and external door in the house.

If 'bigger' firms = 'Nationals', then proceed with caution.

You will almost certainly be better off going with recommended local installers. Get recommendations, and call out at least three of the best one to discuss and quote. Ask ask ask, and listen listen listen.

Emphasise the need for sound insulation, and see what they say. Prompt them if needed, say regarding how the windows are installed, see if they respond in the right way with good detail.

Albermarle

WIAWSNB said:

roadweary said:

Thanks - I've had two quotes from bigger firms.....but I have a good local company that replaced hinges on some of my windows that have a good reputation.  I have most confidence in them on the workmanship.  Hopefully they'd also be able to quote based on this specific glass as it's a reasonably large job doing every window and external door in the house.

If 'bigger' firms = 'Nationals', then proceed with caution.

You will almost certainly be better off going with recommended local installers. Get recommendations, and call out at least three of the best one to discuss and quote. Ask ask ask, and listen listen listen.

Emphasise the need for sound insulation, and see what they say. Prompt them if needed, say regarding how the windows are installed, see if they respond in the right way with good detail.

As above but ( in my limited experience), do not necessarily expect them to be cheaper.

Typically the 'Nationals' will quote a high price to begin with and then try on the usual sales tactics. 'If you book the order today it will be 40% off etc.'

Your local window installer/supplier will more likely just quote you a price and that will be that. Maybe you can get a couple of extras thrown in at best. 

However as mentioned a couple of times already, it is more important the installation is done well, than a few hundred quid here or there ( sorry for the MSE heresy ) .

ic

roadweary said:

Sorry to be a pain, but could you please confirm which of the rows in that Stadip link is yours?  £661 pounds for 9 units sounds very reasonable, even factoring professional installation.

Oh, and what did you do about the trickle vents, or did you not have those?

It isn't listed on there, as I just asked for units to fit my existing windows which were standard 28 mm - they quoted me for "6.8MM STADIP SILENCE LAM TOP OPENER/18mm BLACK SWISS SPACER/4mm Tough Planitherm One" - the windows they replaced were 4mm glass, 20mm spacer, 4mm glass.  Despite the narrower gap, they'll have a better efficiency than what they replaced - I actually notice we have less condensation, showing the glass isn't as cold - it has to be a few degrees outside for condensation to form on the bedroom window in winter.  We don't have trickle vents.

roadweary

ic said:

roadweary said:

Sorry to be a pain, but could you please confirm which of the rows in that Stadip link is yours?  £661 pounds for 9 units sounds very reasonable, even factoring professional installation.

Oh, and what did you do about the trickle vents, or did you not have those?

It isn't listed on there, as I just asked for units to fit my existing windows which were standard 28 mm - they quoted me for "6.8MM STADIP SILENCE LAM TOP OPENER/18mm BLACK SWISS SPACER/4mm Tough Planitherm One" - the windows they replaced were 4mm glass, 20mm spacer, 4mm glass.  Despite the narrower gap, they'll have a better efficiency than what they replaced - I actually notice we have less condensation, showing the glass isn't as cold - it has to be a few degrees outside for condensation to form on the bedroom window in winter.  We don't have trickle vents.

Thanks so much - that's super helpful!

MysteryMe

Keep in mind that you will need the windows to be installed as per building regulations. An accredited body like FENSA can self certify, otherwise you need to obtain a regularisation certificate (at some cost) from your local building control. One of the requirements will be adequate ventilation, hence why trickle vents are now a thing. They are not the only method of ventilation but if you don't have any other option you may not have much choice but to have trickle vents. I got all new windows and doors in 2024, can't say trickle vents have caused me an issue but then I am not on a main road or under a flight path.

Vitor

In my last house I went for the 6mm laminated glass outer and the 4mm glass inner to stop resonance between the panes. Unfortunately the Building Regulations for England and Wales 2022 now require trickle vents in new or replacement units which ruins any benefit to reducing transmitted noise.

Even specifying acoustic trickle vents doesn't help much, the pen-pushers as usual didn't think it through.