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 ) .