Window Qualities and Other Tactics for Home Soundproofing

There are many factors that go into choosing new windows for your home, including energy efficiency, temperature control, light and aesthetic areas and more. In addition, many homeowners today are prioritizing another element that windows can assist with: Sound barriers.
At Peach Building Products, we offer a wide selection of custom residential windows for you to choose from. Among our choices are several materials and build types that create great noise insulation, blocking off significant sound transfer for a variety of needs or purposes. Let’s look at some window elements to prioritize if sound muting is important to you, plus some other soundproofing tips we can offer.

Window Elements for Blocking Sound

Some window elements you should consider if you’re looking for high-quality soundproofing:

• Glass panes: Single-pane windows are very rare today, and part of the reason for this is their inability to slow the transfer of both temperature and noise. For better quality in both these areas, choose double- or triple-pane windows.

• Glass thickness: In addition to the number of panes, sound will have more trouble passing through each layer if the windows are thicker. Panes should be at least a half-inch thick for best soundproofing.

• Laminated glass: This is a form of glass that’s been heat-strengthened and bonded together with a thin layer of plastic, and it’s also often called security glass. It improves not only noise transfer, but also window strength and security.

• Air gaps: Between each window pane is a layer of air, and you can customize windows so that the actual inserts are installed several inches behind the existing window. This air space can make a big impact on sound transfer if it’s done correctly.

Other Soundproofing Tips

On top of prioritizing the above themes when purchasing new windows, there are also several other tactics you can take within your home to improve your soundproofing:

• Siding concerns: If your home has wood or vinyl siding, you may consider replacing it with stone or brick, which are better at blocking sound.

• Window frame sealing: Sound can travel through the smallest cracks or gaps in your windows, so be sure to caulk any gaps and add weatherstripping to the moving parts.

• Wall insulation: On top of strong siding, insulating your exterior walls keeps sound out, and insulating interior walls limits sound transfer between rooms.

• Curtains: Thick, long curtains can have a surprisingly large impact when it comes to muting sound that does make its way through your glass.

• White noise machine: If all of the above areas have been prioritized and you’re still dealing with noise issues, consider a white noise machine or another noisemaker type to cover it up.
For more on using strong windows and other tactics for soundproofing your home, or to learn about any of our custom windows or entry doors, speak to the staff at Peach Building Products today.

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