Triple glaze windows?

suitseir

We are selling a house at the moment. It is the estate of a deceased relative. It is a 4-bed semi-detached 1930's house and is in very good condition.

However, it is on a busy road and while it has double glazing a number of potential viewers have remarked that the noise from the traffic outside is quite audible in the main bedroom and sitting room.

Can anybody recommend a solution? We don't really notice it but then again, over the years we grew accustomed to it.

Would it be possible to upgrade the glass on the windows?

Thanks.

slowburner

I'm no expert in these matters but an architect friend did considerable research on the cost/benefits of triple glazing.
He found no worthwhile advantage over double glazing.

The fact that a number of viewers have remarked on the noise makes me wonder if there is another reason for the penetration of sound.
Gaps where the window frames meet the reveals perhaps?
Air vents?

I would imagine that something's amiss, if folk who come in off the road remark on the noise level within the house.

cgc5483

slowburner wrote: »

I'm no expert in these matters but an architect friend did considerable research on the cost/benefits of triple glazing.
He found no worthwhile advantage over double glazing.

The fact that a number of viewers have remarked on the noise makes me wonder if there is another reason for the penetration of sound.
Gaps where the window frames meet the reveals perhaps?
Air vents?

I would imagine that something's amiss, if folk who come in off the road remark on the noise level within the house.

Not sure but think one of the major benefits of triple over double is sound insulation.

BryanF

slowburner wrote: »

I'm no expert in these matters but an architect friend did considerable research on the cost/benefits of triple glazing.
He found no worthwhile advantage over double glazing.

that is complete BS! lets see this research? you have to quantify the above statement!
cost is not the only factor to be considered and the cost difference is getting closer all the time.. what about the heat retention? and higher surface temperature? meaning lower energy bills? and more comfort? no condensation? reduced noise?...

BryanF

suitseir wrote: »

Would it be possible to upgrade the glass on the windows?

possible but you'll get no guarantees from a glazier regarding db levels etc, might be best to take the hit a replace them or maybe install a secondary system on the inside, you see this as a solution in hotels regularly.

slowburner

BryanF wrote: »

that is complete BS! lets see this research? you have to quantify the above statement!

And you have to 'quantify' the statement below.

BryanF wrote: »

cost is not the only factor to be considered and the cost difference is getting closer all the time.. what about the heat retention? and higher surface temperature? meaning lower energy bills? and more comfort? no condensation? reduced noise?...

You go first.

BryanF

slowburner wrote: »

You show me yours and I'll show you mine.

I don't feel the need to go off and do any research mate, you made the statement :

I'm no expert in these matters but an architect friend did considerable research on the cost/benefits of triple glazing.
He found no worthwhile advantage over double glazing.

which is misleading to say the least!!! especially in forum where posters with as many post as you are generally well respected.

now ill rephrase the question - you either miss understood your architect friend or s/he is full of the preverbal !! and it would be great to see this research?

slowburner

BryanF wrote: »

I don't feel the need to go off and do any research mate, you made the statement :

which is misleading to say the least!!! especially in forum where posters with as many post as you are generally well respected.

now ill rephrase the question - you either miss understood your architect friend or s/he is full of the preverbal !! and it would be great to see this research?

I have no intention of misleading anyone - read the first clause of my OP.

By the way, number of posts does not equal respect.
You can have 1,000,000 posts and still be a complete and utter flute.

Neilw

Secondary glazing might be the way to go. It's another window with a slimline frame installed room side with an air gap of about 3-4" between the existing window.
I had them installed on 3 windows and the reduction in noise was excellent.

suitseir

Neilw wrote: »

Secondary glazing might be the way to go. It's another window with a slimline frame installed room side with an air gap of about 3-4" between the existing window.
I had them installed on 3 windows and the reduction in noise was excellent.

Thanks. That's what I needed to hear. Was this costly? I know, depending on the size etc. but if you gave me an idea of size of windows etc. I would be able to calculate.

paddy147

Neilw wrote: »

Secondary glazing might be the way to go. It's another window with a slimline frame installed room side with an air gap of about 3-4" between the existing window.
I had them installed on 3 windows and the reduction in noise was excellent.

So you loose your internal window reveal and sill board then

Eh no thanks,

Neilw

suitseir wrote: »

Thanks. That's what I needed to hear. Was this costly? I know, depending on the size etc. but if you gave me an idea of size of windows etc. I would be able to calculate.

I had one large windown and two smaller ones, think it was about 1800 for all 3.

Neilw

paddy147 wrote: »

So you loose your internal window reveal and sill board then

Eh no thanks,

Yes. I'm a bloke so no need for cr@p on window sills Small price to pay for the reduction in sound they provide.

paddy147

Some companies are now offering tripple glazed windows for the same cost as double glazed.

All you have to do is pick up the Likes of the Evening Herald or the Northside People newspapers and you will see the variuos window company advertizements in them.

paddy147

Neilw wrote: »

Yes. I'm a bloke so no need for cr@p on window sills Small price to pay for the reduction in sound they provide.

Eh,Im a bloke too,but I like my internal window reveals and sills for fitting the likes of my blinds and for also having a nice deep window sill too.

I dont fill up my window sills with crap either.A deep uncluttered window sill gives a bigger sense and feeling of space and roomyness.

Neilw

paddy147 wrote: »

Some companies are now offering tripple glazed windows for the same cost as double glazed.

All you have to do is pick up the Likes of the Evening Herald or the Northside People newspapers and you will see the variuos window company advertizements in them.

Triple glaze won't give the same reduction in sound, its the large gap between the original window and secondary one that makes the difference. I was sceptical at first but they do work.

paddy147

Neilw wrote: »

Triple glaze won't give the same reduction in sound, its the large gap between the original window and secondary one that makes the difference. I was sceptical at first but they do work.

Eh,there are lots of different types of windows with various DB/accouistic readings out there on the market.

So unless you have personally fitted and tested every type of double/tripple glazed window yourself,then you cant really make that above statement.

Neilw

paddy147 wrote: »

Eh,there are lots of different types of windows with various DB/accouistic readings out there on the market.

So unless you have personally fitted and tested every type of double/tripple glazed window yourself,then you cant really make that above statement.

I haven't, have you? Or do you have experience of secondary glazing? I'm giving my experience on what I have and research I've done comparing the two.

I've read a fair few of your threads and they ususlly end up in an argument so I'm going to bow out

Jagle

paddy147 wrote: »

Eh,there are lots of different types of windows with various DB/accouistic readings out there on the market.

So unless you have personally fitted and tested every type of double/tripple glazed window yourself,then you cant really make that above statement.

actually sounds travel through solid objects much easier and quicker then air, and if the noise is that bad, i reckon its down to vibrations coming from the road, and i really dont think another layer of glass on top of 2 will make much of a difference.

what works in the other posters suggestion is in fact the added layer of glass inside the window with the few inchs of air space, its the few inchs of undisturbed air space that kills the sound not the 1/2inch of glass.


I have never fitted a window in my life, i just know audio acoustics

suitseir

Update! Just going through my posts.

We sold this house nearly three years ago now. It was bought by a young couple whose father lives close by and is a retired Architect. We did not have to do any renovations and they were happy with the windows at the time.

On passing the house recently, they have now replaced the windows and it looks super, new front door etc. It is nice to know that a young family moved in there who are from the area.

Sleeper12

I know that you are taking about regular Windows but thought I'd mention velux Windows. They have several different types of glass inc triple glazing but they also have sound proof or noise reduction. The point I'm making is that if they have Windows and are selling them as noise reduction then I'm sure you can get them for regular pvc Windows. These are not triple glazing but are sold as better noise reduction than triple glazing.

Having said all that I suggest you talk to the estate agent. There are very few improvements worth spending money on to help sell a house. You could spend thousands on great glass / Windows and the person buying your house might be planning on replacing the Windows or taking the back off the house and extending.

And I just realized that this is a 4 year old post.

banana_paddy

Just wanted to clear something up about sound/noise reduction in triple glazing.

You will get an improvement in sound reduction, BUT only at certain frequencies. I had one person come to me complaining that he got new triple glazed windows and can still hear the traffic noise as clear as day.
Triple glazing is usually made like this:
(4mm glass / spacer / 4mm glass / spacer / 4mm glass). The 4mm thick glass will block certain frequencies but not others.

The best for sound reduction, is double or triple glazing made from a combination of glass thicknesses. Laminated glass in great for sound reduction. eg (4mm / spacer / 6.4mm laminate) or the likes

I did glass for the control room in a private recording studio 10 or more years ago. As far as i can remember it was 2 double glazed units, spaced apart. (6mm / spacer / 8.8mm laminate) and (6.6mm laminate / spacer / 10mm) or something like that.

Pilkington glass has a great section on their website. It will play an audio file of traffic or a train or the likes, and then you can click a option of glass and it will play the sound again with the reduction in sound you will hear.

Search for Pilkington Sound Simulator. It won't let me post a link