ᐅ How soundproof are windows?

Created on: 13 Feb 2019 08:47
N
Niloa
Hello everyone,
since moving into our house, we have had a lot of issues with the windows. They are aluminum windows with triple glazing. I keep noticing how sound-transmitting they are. For example, this morning I woke up and heard the birds singing. That’s not really a problem, but it surprises me considering the window was closed and there is no tree nearby. Also, when I stand at the window on the first floor (second floor in US terms) with it closed, I can hear the neighbors talking in the garden next door (it’s a terraced house, so not very far away). They are not shouting. Is this normal, or am I just expecting too much?
N
nordanney
13 Feb 2019 17:37
Regardless of the quality (which is more or less the same anyway), the windows should not be as noisy as you describe. Who knows how the installation was carried out...

I personally use affordable "Polish windows" (e.g., Plastbud with Saint Gobain triple glazing), and with proper installation, you won’t hear normal outdoor noises.
11ant13 Feb 2019 18:20
I once visited a construction site at a client’s house where the window surface in the bedroom was about 8 m² (86 sq ft) in one continuous section. With all the elements closed, it sounded like there was almost no noise, even though only the trims at the junctions between the window units and the wall or ceiling were not yet sealed.

Non-experts regularly misjudge how much sound actually comes through the windows and how much comes from around them.

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N
Niloa
13 Feb 2019 21:12
I recently read in another thread about everything you need to watch out for when installing windows. A lot can definitely go wrong, and there was surely some cutting corners in our case. It’s no coincidence that the developer is now in court with the company...
11ant13 Feb 2019 21:33
Window installation is not rocket science – but there is no area where careless work can go without consequences.
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tomtom7914 Feb 2019 08:48
Could it possibly be the roller shutter box?

What many also forget is that bushes and trees absorb a lot of noise. Once they have fully grown, it will become quieter.
11ant14 Feb 2019 15:58
tomtom79 schrieb:
Could it not even be the roller shutter box?

Yes, sound pressure generally prefers to transmit through rather than to be reflected. Overflow is ultimately just a form of flow around an obstacle – sound mainly “wants” to go around the barrier.
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