“Early on we realised that if we wanted to truly transform peoples’ lives through their living environments, we needed to develop more deeply our fascination with, and knowledge of, the ‘science of silence’ – and then apply that expertise to our products and our process.”
Jacob Gwalbert Figura, CEO
Noise Pollution & Window Sound Insulation
However window sound insulation is achieved, getting it right protects you and your family from noise pollution – making your home a peaceful, more enjoyable place to live.
Noise nuisance can be generated by a wide variety of sources from traffic and trains to planes and anti-social neighbours. Allowed to continue unchecked, at its worst, the disturbance may have a negative impact on your health and well-being.
Sound proofing windows can, in fact, prevent major illness. The World Health Organisation states that more than 40dbA of noise in a bedroom can badly interrupt sleep.
Nearby road traffic can reach 80dbA. That doesn’t include police and ambulance sirens that can reach 120dbA.
Bad sleep can lead to poor concentration and memory loss, obesity, depression, impairment in immunity and lowered sex drive. Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack and stroke.
Whatever type of noise pollution you face, we will examine your options and answer key questions.
• Which are the best soundproof windows for your home?
• How do you get soundproof windows installed?
• Will soundproof windows work?
If you want to ensure that noise nuisance is a thing of the past, you need to understand the problem. We are experts in all the main types of pollution.
Aircraft Noise
In the UK, any noise over 57dBA from overhead flights during the day is officially considered a nuisance according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
That’s likely to be the same as a passing car. If you’re unlucky enough to live on a flight path you will recognise the specific problems this can cause to your family’s peace of mind.
The good news is we can find the best windows for noise reduction for those specifically affected. You’ll soon forget the planes above your home and get on with your lives uninterrupted.
Rail / Tube Noise
If you live by a busy train line, how to reduce outside noise from your windows will be at the forefront of your mind.
At their busiest, UK stations can see between 1,000 and 2,000 trains pass through them each day. The London tube system can also cause inconvenience.
Many of the outer routes are above ground and Transport for London has measured home noise levels from their trains of 52dBA – well above World Health Organisation sleep guidelines.
If you are affected by rail or tube sounds, we can show you how to block out noise from windows. There’s no need to live with the problem a minute longer than you need to.
Traffic Noise
The most common complaints around noise pollution come from traffic noise. Whether you live by a busy city thoroughfare or a motorway that’s always in use, the sound of passive normal traffic can reach an unsustainable 80dbA.
That’s before you take into account heavy goods vehicles, roaring motorcycles, emergency service sirens and other unwelcome interruptions to your peace and quiet.
The good news is, whatever problems you are facing, we can show you how to eliminate noise from windows facing the street. You don’t have to suffer from road-noise, even in the busiest of locations.
Anti-Social Noise
Other people can interrupt your peaceful home life through anti-social late-night activities.
Whether it is a venue playing music too loudly, clientele leaving pubs and clubs at high volume or even neighbours without an off switch, soundproof windows can curb the excess noise impacting on you and your family.
We know how to stop noise through windows from busy city centres, pubs, clubs and restaurants or. It is why we often supply soundproof windows to hoteliers. We don’t let revellers stop their guests from getting a good night’s sleep.
How Sound Reducing Windows Work
Sound is produced when something vibrates. It could be a jet engine or your neighbours vocal cords. The principals are the same.
A sound moves away from its source in waves, which cause the air and any objects they encounter to vibrate too.
The nature of soundwaves means they are typically transmitted through materials rather than stopped.
Light might not pass through your curtains, but sound certainty will.
Soundproof windows work by putting a stop to sound transmission into homes by either reducing or preventing further vibration. There are many ways to achieve this including our range of specially designed specialist windows.
The Science Of Soundproof Windows
Our innovative noise reduction windows benefit from a detailed understanding of the science of sound. Our engineers are trained in acoustics and each one of our bespoke soundproof windows is guaranteed to significantly reduce the impact of noise pollution on you and your family.
We can control sound coming into your home because we know it needs a medium to travel through. Air, water and solid objects, including windows, all can act as this medium.
As a general rule, the more a medium vibrates, the higher amplitude sound waves are transferred and the higher the volume we experience in our homes.
The loudness of a sound is measured in Decibels (dB). Weighted Decibels (dbA) measure sound taking into account the performance of the human ear.
The decibels scale is logarithmic meaning 20dBA is 100 times louder than 10dBA, not ten.
This is something to remember when discussing the results of our soundproofing. Our windows have, for example, achieved 300% reductions in noise for our clients.
The Difference Between Soundproof Windows And Standard Windows
You have lots of choices when it comes to windows and replacing old ones with new standard windows might have an impact. There are other options too from simple DIY solutions to secondary glazing and specialist curtains and blinds.
However, only soundproof windows, soundproof double glazing or soundproof triple glazing from a reputable supplier will guarantee dramatic noise reduction.
This is due to the expertly engineered laminated glass used, specially designed solid wooden frames that dampen vibration and careful precision installation from experts.
This is the difference we give all our clients.
Features of soundproof windows include:
Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB)
In noise reduction glazing, the panes of glass are separated by a thin layer of PVB material. This is designed to absorb and reflect sounds in the 1000 – 3000 Hz range, the most sensitive range for humans) getting through the glazing by both absorbing and reflecting the noise.
Micro-Rubber Spacers
Gaps between the glazing, frame and sill, even tiny ones, let air and noise through into your home. In our soundproof windows, micro-rubber spacers sit between the glazing and wooden frame to keep everything airtight. This prevents noise from sneaking in the gaps and prevents even the tiniest of vibrations.
Vacuum Spacing
In extreme cases, soundproof windows utilise a vacuum between glass sheets. As there’s nothing to vibrate in a vacuum, this stops sound dead. Unfortunately, vacuum spacing comes at a premium and isn’t very practical in most home applications.
Acoustic Glazing
All soundproof windows will use acoustic glazing of different thicknesses depending on the origin of the sound and required result. In all cases, two different thicknesses of glass will be used to combat vibrations and harmonics.
Solid Wooden Frames
Plastic and hollow form frames are likely to vibrate, transferring noise into your home. Dense wooden frames are excellent at absorbing and dampening sound. Expertly fitted with millimetre precision, wooden frames ensure you get the best out of the latest acoustic science.
A good way to explain how soundproof windows work is through a comparison between soundproof windows vs double glazing.
Standard double glazing can reduce noise simply because there is an extra layer to absorb sound, but the results are likely to be limited.
Soundproof windows from Hugo Carter, on the other hand, reduce noise more successfully by creating a near-impenetrable barrier between the sound and your ears. They do this by using expert engineering to create a vacuum between specially laminated glazing. Solid, low vibration, snugly fitted timber frames also play a key role. Sound vibrations cannot find a way through.
We have recorded results of over 300% reduction in decibel levels in homes, hotels and other buildings troubled by noise pollution. Ask us for a no-obligation quote before making any decisions on the future of your property.
A Snapshot of Benefits
To give you an idea of noise levels you might want to aim for with soundproof window glazing, we’ve collated a table of examples for you.
There are many benefits to soundproofing your home, but they all share one goal – a better quality of life for you and your family. That’s why we work with an increasing number of architects on soundproofing new homes and properties because they recognise the impact our work has.
Reduce Background Noise
We can prevent the stress and distraction that comes from the constant rumble of traffic or the incessant roar of overhead aircraft. It is easy to get used to noise, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the negative impact on your quality of life. You’ll be amazed at the results we can achieve by lowering the volume in your home.
Improve Sleep
Interrupted sleep has been proved to impact poorly on your health and well-being. Greater distraction and poor memory has an impact on your performance at work or your children’s performance at school. It can add stress to relationships too. More seriously, lack of sleep has been linked to obesity, depression, heart conditions and stroke.
Enjoy Better Health & Well-being
If you’re not sleeping properly and being interrupted during the day, you need to take action to solve the problem and enjoy knowing you’re leading a healthy life. Because we know how to make windows soundproof we can have a direct positive impact on your health and well-being. If you’re worried about you and your family, don’t hesitate. We can visit your home and, perhaps, put your mind at ease.
How To Soundproof Your Windows
- Plug Air Gaps in Your Window – Noise loves a structural weakness and travels incredibly efficiently through air, so if your windows aren’t tightly sealed you will have problems. Check your windows and frames for any drafts. Anywhere cold air gets in, noise vibrations will too.. Plugging the gaps will make a difference to the amount of pesky noise pollution.
- Install Noise Reduction or Acoustic Curtains – Noise-reducing curtains are specially designed to absorb sound and increase the quality of your sleep. They reduce noise transfer through your windows by dampening vibrations in the air. The technology is often combined with black-out properties and strong thermal protection, helping to create a calm, relaxing bubble in your home.
- Install Soundproofing Blinds – Blinds can dampen sound too if they are made from appropriate heavy and structurally strong materials. Specially honey-combed fabric, for example, has been designed to reduce vibrations and the transfer of sound. Results are likely to be limited by bigger factors related to your windows. Replacing them might, ultimately, prove more successful.
- Install Acoustic Window Inserts – Acoustic window inserts are typically plastic glazing panels that can be quickly and easily stuck to your existing windows to bring some soundproofing effect. Ideal for soundproofing existing windows temporarily or when budgets are particularly tight, any impact on outside noise might make a difference, but a relatively small one.
- Add Additional Glazing or Acrylic Panels – Inserts and secondary glazing essentially add an extra layer of soundproof glazing to the inside of existing windows. They are more robust than the soundproof film for windows sometimes recommended as a low-cost option. They are especially useful if new windows are going to prove a challenge as with historic Listed properties or properties in Conservation Areas for, example. Secondary glazing does, of course, miss out on the benefits of new, sound-absorbing frames.
- Replace Glazing with Acoustic Glazing – The best method of reducing the noise coming into your home is to replace your windows. The effort and resources required to soundproof old windows might have some impact, but new acoustic glazing expertly fitted cannot be beaten. The latest acoustic glass is expertly engineered, specially laminated and, as result, has an unparalleled impact on noise levels.
Installing A Soundproof Window
The two elements of soundproof windows to consider during installation include made-to-measure wooden frames and specialist acoustic glass. It’s important the dampening solid wood frames are millimetre perfect to avoid air gaps and vibrations. Selecting the right acoustic glass, with lamination to prevent the sound transfer, is important too.
If you are wondering how to reduce outside noise from windows and thinking it all sounds complicated, don’t worry. We have a team of experts here to advise you.
Planning Permission for Soundproof Windows
For the purposes of most planning applications, soundproof windows should be treated as the same as regular windows.
There may be particular considerations and challenges related to Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas and replacement windows.
The good news is we have a wealth of experience installing new soundproof windows in period properties so can guide you through the process.
Preparing Soundproof Windows
Each set of Silent Windows from Hugo Carter is made-to-measure meaning we do all the preparation you need from understanding your exact requirements, measuring the windows with pinpoint accuracy to managing every aspect of the installation.
Guide To Installing Soundproof Windows
The first task is to be clear about what you want to change. It might be worth investing in a decibel meter so you can independently assess the problem before contacting a supplier such as ourselves. That said, we will measure the sound levels you’re having a problem with during any initial assessment of the work in any case.
The only preparation you need to do is arrange a visit from the Silent Windows by Hugo Carter team to start the ball rolling.
Aftercare and Ongoing Maintenance
Once soundproof windows are installed, they generally look after themselves pretty well. We provide all our products with long warranties, so you can have peace of mind.
There are, however, are some maintenance tips you can apply to lengthen their life.
The first obvious message is to keep them clean. Dirt, grit and built-up grime can be the start of chips and cracks and damage to the word work. It is also worth regularly checking frames for cracks and flaking paintwork, just so you can catch problems early. Checking hinges and sliders operate smoothly is useful too.
You can also help keep soundproof windows free from problems by airing them regularly and avoiding the build-up of condensation. These simple steps mean your windows should have a long life and represent long term value.
Conclusion
Googling “how to soundproof windows” will find you numerous suggestions and lots of advice. Before acting on any of it, it is worth setting some specific goals around noise. How much reduction do you need to restore calm and create a restful atmosphere in your home? Is it mainly nighttime or daytime noise? What is the primary source? Is it a temporary problem or are you in it for the long haul?
You need to balance your priorities with your budget and choose a solution that suits your exact circumstances. If you need help, book a visit from our Windows team. We can’t wait to hear about your plans.
Want to know more? Contact us today
As you can see, if you are considering soundproofing your home, or one particular room, there are several options open to you.
Hugo Carter is a trusted and expert provider of soundproof windows. We work closely with clients to understand exactly what solution they need – then provide it.
If you would like to speak with us about your soundproofing requirements, please get in touch today.