How to Soundproof a Window and DIY Soundproof Window Inserts
A few years ago, my teenage son and his friends decided to start a band.
Somehow, without my consent, it was decided that my garage would be the band practice location. You know how these things go.
Of course, I was not amused by all the noise that got out of the garage and into other rooms in the house.
The fact that my home office was located right next to the garage only made it worse for me.
I could not get any work done in my home office as long as the band was practicing, which was every other day, for two hours after school!
Needless to say, the window frame in my office was rattling uncontrollably.
Soundproofing Windows For Noisy Neighbors
I set about soundproofing the rooms and I was impressed by the amount of noise reduction I was able to achieve.
I, however, noticed that occasionally, some noise from the garage would get into the house through the windows.
It didn’t take long before I ended up searching for ideas on how to soundproof windows.
And that’s when I found the Fantastic Frame treatments. These are without a doubt the best option for soundproofing an existing window. Each window insert is custom built to create a perfect airtight seal.
The magnetic seals make them super easy to remove for cleaning, and then the ¼” thick glass combines with your existing window to block sound through by 10+ decibels!
If you’re looking for a recording studio quality soundproof window, they even have up to an STC 56 window with their Tru Acoustic.
If you live in a noisy neighborhood, I bet you have tried all that you can to block out all the annoying sounds from outside.
What most people don't realize is that soundproofing your home's windows will play a great role in reducing the sound waves that get in as well as that get out.
I learned a lot when I was soundproofing a window. For me, it was more of an experiment and I just went with what worked best for me!
I will highlight the various steps you can take to ensure your windows absorb sound.
Just pick what works best for you and get rid of that noise pollution once and for all. You will learn how to soundproof your windows cheaply using different methods. The steps are pretty easy and will only require a little bit of your time and effort.
No more loud neighbors or traffic noise.
How to Soundproof a Window
What You'll Be Needing:
1. Block the window entirely
As I have mentioned above, blocking a window entirely will guarantee you sound deadening properties.
You should, therefore, first determine whether you can block that window entirely.
Blocking your windows will be easy. However, once you do so, little or no light will get into the room.
A lot of DIY window soundproofing products offer this. However, if you still want some light inside the room, then you can use a different approach.
After all, a noise blocker for windows shouldn’t sacrifice the light you’re getting in, right?
My garage door has windows and I decided to try different window soundproofing methods just for fun! I got some insulation professional acoustic panels from Amazon at a cheap price.
The idea behind blocking your windows is that there should be no gap left. You will have to cut the insulation panels into the exact fit of your window frames.
Insulation panels are not entirely visually appealing, but they block noise well.
This can, however, be easily managed by using curtains over the windows.
If you would want to achieve better sound deadening, then I suggest getting a fiberglass soundproof blanket to cover your existing windows.
Because it is much better than the insulation panels, you will have to spend a couple more dollars on this.
2. Replace the windows with double-pane windows
If you are willing to spend a good amount of your money on this soundproof windows project, then a double pane window might be worth considering.
Apart from blocking out the windows, it is another guaranteed way of achieving superior sound reduction performance.
Double pane windows can create an effective sound barrier (by up to 60 % compared to single pane windows). Other than soundproofing qualities, they provide thermal insulation.
Read more about Sound Transmission Class - STC ratings for windows here.
They will keep the room cooler during summer and warmer during winter. With these windows, you will end up saving a lot on the energy bills.
Specialized Soundproof Windows
You may also decide to get specialist soundproofed windows in place of the double-pane windows.
Replacing your windows entirely could be a risky move. Most window installers may not be familiar with installing soundproof windows or how to go about sound reduction in your house.
However, installing double-pane windows will act as acoustic panels on windows which will provide the best results – just like the ones you use on your doors.
You will need to make sure that whoever installs the windows does it correctly. There should be no gaps or cracks left all around the edges of the windows.
Poorly installed soundproof windows will not provide much soundproofing control as even the smallest gap can still let sound waves in and out. Keep in mind, if you are not using acoustic grade glass of laminated glass, you will not notice a huge acoustic difference.
Are Triple Pane Windows Worth It?
Some experts believe triple pane windows provide exceptional performance in dealing with outside noise but the truth is that good quality double glazed windows will also work wonders.
In our tests we've found no significant advantage when using triple pane windows.
3. Add an extra layer to the windows
This option is much cheaper than replacing the windows entirely. All you have to do is get a piece of acrylic glass to create a second layer over your existing window.
The highest performing option is with the Fantastic Frame window inserts. These inserts have a frame with magnets making it very easy to attach it to the metal trim pieces that come with it.
The construction creates an airtight seal and allows you to take advantage of the most powerful window soundproofing method – 2 thick panes of glass with a large airspace in between.
Using acrylic on the windows works in a similar way as the soundproof window plug (discussed below).
However, the acrylic differs in that it will still allow light into the room, seeing as it is transparent.
What’s more, an acrylic layer will only work for minor noise problems. If you are looking to deal with some really loud noises, then this option may not be the best for you.
This can also be considered to be a cheap windows soundproofing idea so if you’re low on the budget – you might as well consider this.
4. Get sound deadening curtains
Although sound deadening curtains are not entirely effective, they certainly go a long way in blocking out much of the noise.
What’s more, they increase the appeal in the room and can be used to hide any foam that you may have used on the windows.
I decided to use sound deadening curtains for the rooms in my house mainly because they reduce the effect of echo in the room.
The curtains are made of sturdy enough materials that soak up any sounds in the room. This makes the room feel quieter.
For the best results, get some curtains that will cover the entire window from top to bottom.