Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 Oct 18, 2015 9:11 pm Hi guys. All our bedroom windows face the road and to add to the problem, my house is on the 1st floor. The primary noise problem is the traffic noise especially the vehicle honking noise. Also there is a construction site nearby whose work starts at 8 am in the morning itself. The existing windows are normal builder fitted single glazed aluminium sliding windows that hardly help in reducing the noise. Now I have a few queries. Firstly, I am confused whether to replace my existing windows or add an additional window inside by keeping the existing one. The 1st option is installing an additional interior window behind the existing window. However, I don’t know if that is possible because my window sill width is just 7.5 cm. However, if I get the same results with the 2nd option, then I would prefer the 2nd option since I don't really want to go for an additional window. The 2nd option is to replace the existing window. If I have to do that then I am thinking of going for a combination of fixed glass + openable window. However, I am confused between the glass to use, a double glazed with different glass thickness and an air gap in between or a laminated glass? I have been getting contrasting opinions about this, some say double glazed is better and some say laminated is better. One of the contractors has given me options for both double glazed and laminated glass in UPVC frame. The configuration for double glazed is 6mm clear glass + 10 mm spacer + 5mm reflective glass. The configuration for laminated glass is 12 mm clear glass + .75 EVA laminate + 5 mm reflective brown glass. Lastly, the unending confusion of aluminium vs UPVC window frames. Now some say that aluminium is better because it has more mass. However, I have also read that UPVC is better since there are much less number of gaps in UPVC as compared to aluminium. And if the UPVC is metal reinforced, then wouldn’t its mass be the same as aluminium then? Kindly suggest the best possible and economically feasible solution for my problem. Re: Best type of sound proof windows for my bedroom? 2Oct 19, 2015 5:24 pm We really feel for you because its really hard to stay sane when exposed to construction noise you are experiencing, so we offer the following advice with respect to acoustic treatment of windows: * the primary determinant of performance is glass thickness, the thicker the glass, the better the result. * the second most important determinant is air gap, the bigger the air gap, the better the result. Air gap is free, and the biggest gap can be offered by a primary and secondary window system. * the third most important determinant is perimeter acoustic rubber compression sealing. Typically upvc systems can achieve better acoustic results than aluminium because they allow for wider dgus. Our tilt & turn upvc double glazed window with 10.76 glass on the outside/ 18 air or argon or krypton or xenon/ 8.38 on the inside will achieve 44Rw in a primary position. In a secondary position, it can achieve an even better result! One customer once wrote that it was "eerily quiet" in his unit after a secondary window with that glass thickness was fitted! So this is our recommended glazing combination that will reduce your noise dramatically, especially if placed in a secondary position. Why dont you ask your preferred contractor to use thick laminated glass on both sides of the double glazed unit, there is no technical impediment to do so? With the kommerling brand of upvc extrusion, you can easily have 12.38/24 air/8.38 or even thicker! If there is an alumininium extrusion or a steel one (or timber for that matter) that can offer a dgu which is 44-54mm thick, then go for that. Naturally, thicker glass is more expensive, so a lot depends on your budget. Since there is much more glass than frame in a large-standard window, frame has little bearing on acoustic performance. However, upvc is much more energy efficient than aluminium, so it has other benefits. Good luck. Sydney Double (and now Triple) Glazed Windows and Doors mob 0412 717 066 Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong www.doubleglazedwindows.net.au Re: Best type of sound proof windows for my bedroom? 3Oct 27, 2015 4:30 am Hi windowfactory. Thanks for your reply. I have decided to go for UPVC profile. However, I am still not hundred percent sure about the glass. The one u recommended i.e. having laminated panes on both sides of the double glazing unit; i think that will be really very expensive. If I use clear float glass in the configuration suggested by you i.e. 10.76 glass on the outside/ 18 air or argon or krypton or xenon/ 8.38 on the inside then will it be good enough? As I said, I am still confused between double glazed clear glass and single glazed laminated glass. Please go through this link http://www.build.com.au/window-acoustic ... se-control It suggests that noise reduction (the traffic volume) in the laminated glass is better as compared to double clazed clear glass Awaiting your suggestions. Thanks. Re: Best type of sound proof windows for my bedroom? 4Oct 30, 2015 5:43 pm Hello Sam, Laminated glass is when 2 pieces of glass are held together by a PVB layer or the laminate. The .38 or .76 refers to the thickness of the laminate. You can read about it here: http://www.windowfactory.com.au/Afforda ... Glass.html Float glass is ordinary (cheapest form of) glass, when broken it forms thin sharp (dangerous) slices. http://www.windowfactory.com.au/Energy_ ... Glass.html You can use or specify any combination of float and/or laminated glass in a double glazed unit. As an example, you could opt for 10.76 (laminated)/20 air/6mm float if you find you can't afford my original suggested option. Even less expensive should be 10.38 (laminated)/22 air/ 4mm float. There are thousands of glass combinations you could have. If you can't afford laminated glass on both sides of the double glazed unit then using laminated glass on the outside pane in conjunction with float on the inside, will help reduce more high frequency noise compared to float glass on both sides of the double glazed unit. Sydney Double (and now Triple) Glazed Windows and Doors mob 0412 717 066 Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong www.doubleglazedwindows.net.au Hi We have a road close to our place and only an old flimsy wooden fence between us and the Neighbour closest to the road. Any ideas on a sound proof modular fence. Like… 0 7472 Natural stone tiles like slate, travertine, and limestone add a timeless, elegant look to… 0 24484 Have look at your house plans and you will probably find that brick articulation joint has been missed. Maximum allowable spacing is 6M or 5.5M for a wall with window… 17 20578 |