Soundproof Window Options for a Tranquil Home

Your home’s windows are supposed to let in light, not noise. Unfortunately, many windows are less than stellar in the soundproofing department, leading to many times when the incessant sounds of traffic and high winds might sneak into your house while you’re trying to chat with friends or watch a movie. Apart from using acoustic caulk or installing weatherstripping, is there any way to reduce noise from outside?

There is: choose the best soundproof windows and window materials so they hardly let any unwanted noise through. Let’s take a closer look. If you’d like more information about the sound-blocking windows we offer at Window World of the Triad, reach out online today.

What are “soundproof” windows?

Technically, there is no such thing as a fully soundproof window (at least among the windows you can install in your Triad home!). The noise transmissibility of a given window is measured by sound transmission class or “STC.” Generally, “soundproof” windows have an STC rating of between 45 and 50, meaning they block between 90% and 95% of outside noise.

Still, 95% sound dampening is pretty close to truly soundproof! Windows with high STC ratings will surely prevent you from hearing people on the street, loud engines from cars passing by, and other possibly annoying sounds while you’re trying to study or sleep.

Soundproof windows are good for your personal enjoyment and appreciation, but they’re also great for property value. If you ever decide to sell your home, you can point out the fact that your windows are soundproof to make your house seem even more attractive to prospective buyers.

How to pick the best windows for soundproofing

So, what makes a window good for noise insulation? Any style of window can be soundproof, from picture windows to double-hung window styles, so don’t feel limited by architectural style or aesthetic taste. Instead, what a window is made of determines the noise reduction it accomplishes, if any.

Look for soundproofing materials

Aside from glass, the other materials comprising a window could seriously affect whether or not it protects your home from outside sounds. Insulated materials are always superior (that’s true for entry doors, too, as demonstrated by Window World of the Triad’s woodgrain entry door collection).

To get the best bang for your buck, target insulated vinyl frames. Insulated vinyl window frames are filled with foam, preventing more noise transmission compared to many other window frame types. Plus, insulated vinyl frames are typically cost-effective and durable – they don't rot or wear down like other materials, and they could last for several decades if you take care of them.

Does the window have laminated glass?

Another important factor regarding window soundproofing is glass lamination. In a nutshell, laminated windows have a thin and transparent layer of plastic between two or three glass panes. This plastic layer essentially acts as an extra barrier, interrupting sound vibrations that might otherwise make it from outside into your home and ears.

Laminated glass might also provide further benefits regarding energy insulation, so many energy-efficient windows come with laminated glass by default. Of course, laminated glass is a bit more expensive compared to standard glass, but it might be a very worthwhile investment if soundproof windows are something you’ve wanted for a long time – or you just can’t stand hearing evening traffic roaring by your windows anymore!

Multi-pane windows are ideal

Most modern, energy-efficient windows feature at least two panes of glass, although lots of high-quality windows come with three. The number of panes of glass a window features impacts its energy efficiency and its noise insulation.

Put another way, double-pane glass windows reduce noise better than single-pane windows, and triple-pane windows reduce noise even better than double-pane windows. But don’t take this to mean you absolutely must have triple-pane windows to reduce noise significantly.

The jump in noise reduction from a single pane of glass to two panes is significant, but the difference between double-pane and triple-pane glass windows is less dramatic. Still, more panes are better if you’re after the ultimate soundproof windows, no matter what!

As a bonus, the more panes a given window has, the more energy it will keep in your home (and the more positive effect it will have on your monthly utility bill).

Window shutters can also reduce noise

Since the number of sound barriers between the outside world and the inside of your home is the number one determining factor for soundproofing, you might wonder whether window shutters can also contribute to good noise insulation. Absolutely!

Exterior window shutters can do a good job of limiting the crash of thunder or the rushing of high winds during storms, as well as protect your windows’ surfaces from debris impacts and other wear and tear. In some cases, window shutters can contribute to your Triad home's aesthetic or architectural style; plantation shutters might go perfectly with colonial-style properties, for example.

What are the best noise-reducing windows?

When all is said and done, the absolute best noise-reducing windows are ones with vinyl frames and at least two panes of laminated glass. Window World has lots of examples – and our windows come packed with other features that can enhance energy efficiency and noise insulation.

For instance, windows from Window World of the Triad come with Warm-Edge Spacer systems. A window’s spacer system separates its glass layers and has an outsized impact on both noise transmission and energy efficiency. Our proprietary Warm-Edge Spacer blocks escaping heat, reduces condensation on winter glass, and minimizes soundwave vibrations that travel partway through your windows.

Fortunately, you can get top-tier windows just like these delivered and installed ASAP with help from Window World of the Triad. Visit our showroom in Winston-Salem, NC, call our location at 336-364-5014 or request a free quote to get specialist recommendations or learn more about window replacement options.