Block noise out or in - with sound proof windows

Installing double-glazed windows is a standard solution for home owners troubled by traffic noise or noise from nearby homes. What may not be widely known is that double-glazing technology has come of age, with some companies offering new, highly effective double-glazing products as well as other sound proof window options.

The norm in Europe, UPVC double-glazed windows are beginning to take off here. "PVC is very energy efficient, plus it's noise absorbing," says Gary from Titane Windows and Doors. "It's a multi-chamber-type framing product: you've got either three or four chambers and air trapped inside the frame. The noise is deadened as it goes through, plus you don't get the heat/cold transfer."

Types

Titane sells a 30mm overall double-glazed unit panel, so it's a bit chunkier than the standard 12mm unit. "With the 30mm unit, there is a wider air space between the two sheets of glass. The wider the air space the better for acoustic control or noise insulation and for thermal performance," says Gary.

Budget sound proof windows

For those looking for sound proof windows on a tight budget, 'magnetic panel' windows offer an alternative to double glazing. Acrylic panels are placed against the existing windows and held in place by magnets. A gap is left between the existing window and the panel, thus creating the double-glazed effect. The acrylic panels help to insulate as well as block out noise. To reduce costs further, it's possible to get away with just adding panels to the windows that directly face the source of noise.

For those who prefer the aluminium look, aluminium-framed panels can be added on to existing windows to create a double-glazing effect. Both magnetic and aluminium add-ons can be customised to fit existing window frames.

Sound glazing

If you're interested in acoustic glazing, it's worth noting that the technology exists to produce windows custom made to deal with the frequencies of the particular noises that are coming into a house. If you want to go a step better than installing a standard double-glazing unit, ask your dealer about this.