WINDOWS. Best solution to block out noisy traffic from main road

Diarmiesta

Hi all

I have a third story dormer that feels like the window is actually open. Lots of traffic on the road my house is on. I imagine the window is cheap and perhaps badly installed. Its really noisy even when closed. I moved in to the house 6 months ago. So will be replacing the windows. I've researched and found things on gas filled triple glaze and secondary glazing.

So just wondering has anyone had any success with a particular approach?

Thanks,

carveone

I've the same problem and my issue appears to be multiple - they are cheap aluminium windows which have not been sealed properly when installed. And they've trickle vents - which essentially means the window is open!

I'm not convinced triple glazing will get much of a sound improvement. I think normal glazing is 4mm thick. So three 4mm panes are just attenuating the same frequency over and over. I would think double glazing with 6mm and 4mm panes would be way better.

But best of all is installers who know what they are doing. After my sister saw how her existing windows had been installed (ie: very badly) she ordered online and installed all of them herself.

Calahonda52

My guess is the window is the least of the issues in a 3rd floor dormer
The dormer construction is prolly timber/stud wall plus you have slates etc,which are not air tight.

provide more detail of the construction

Diarmiesta

Thanks

Yes you're probably correct that the dormer itself and the roof are also contributing to the issue. I don't have the budget to completely revamp the roof and dormer at this point. That would be the ideal solution.

Its as you say - a timber dormer. The roof is in good nick but probably is leaking in some level of noise.
However saying that, if a new window and perhaps a secondary glazing installation reduced the noise by even say 25% it would be a great improvement and something I'd be willing to do now as the big job of looking at the dormer and roof won't be done for several more years. Currently renovating other parts of the house

Calahonda52

if the window seals are okay, then perhaps get a few slabs of plaster board the same size as the glass and prop them up tight against the glass and the download a sound meter app on your phone and take before and after measurements to see if the heavier material helps attenuate the sound.

I have been in the sound attenuation space on and off since 1975 so I know its a very subjective PIA, with lots of cowboy/girl solutions out there.
As you know sound needs air to travel and denser material stops it.

I did a project in the fatherland in 1980 which had 7 layers of glass and 7 sets of seals for windows in a hotel beside an elevated bend on an autobahn.

Walls were 9 inch solid concrete

When window was closed you heard nothing, but once you turned the handle to open it started...

DG/TG works but the rest of the surround must be up to the same level, as you know

Diarmiesta

Thank you!
This is helpful.

In an ideal world I would build a "room within a room" situation and encapsulate the room within a detached, sound insulated stud wall and roof. This is the future plan but won't be done for a while. So going to have to try and experiment with temporary solutions that will at least help the situation in part for the time being.