Simple storm windows with as thick
glass as possible will help with soundproofing. Expect about
a 35% noise reduction if they seal tightly and the air space
between the windows is at least 2". Be careful here. They
are not designed to stop noise and usually stop noise more
by accident that on purpose.
Using
this same idea, if you buy a regular window and install it
as a second window, it might work as well as a storm window. There
can be several problems with this as a soundproofing solution,
however. A
good seal is very important in stopping noise, and storm
windows are notoriously leaky. Also,
the air space that can be created between the two windows
is limited. The
more air space the better in any soundproofing scenario and
storm windows often allow only about an inch or even less. You
need over two inches of air space to achieve a very good
noise reduction effect, regardless
of the window solution chosen.
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Make sure there is at least 2" of air space
between the existing window and the storm window. |
Glass thickness in storm windows
can also be a problem. A
few use 3/16" thick glass, which is good; those with
only 1/8" is not that effective. Very few use 1/4"
glass or laminated glass.
Magnetically attached acrylic windows are
not recommended for soundproofing. If you are very lucky they can
stop noise as much as the storm windows mentioned above. These
windows are not easy to operate once installed (technically
possible to remove, but not as a practical matter), and
are moderate to high priced. The
only companies which give STC ratings that we are aware
of have lied about these results by not telling you that
the air space between the windows tested was 6", with a few
other facts that were greatly exaggerated.
Acrylic windows
are not effective because of the basic requirement of mass
(refer to the Soundproofing Principles covered in our introductory
Soundproofing course). Acryllic
and other plastics do not have mass. Even at 1" thick,
they are not that good at stopping noise. If someone is selling
you anything plastic that they claim is designed to stop
noise they
are wrong.
It may be designed. But it is not designed to
stop noise. The sales people are just taking a different product
and trying to sell it as a noise reducer. No one we know of
sells a good plastic product that does a decent job of
stopping noise. We must add “that
we know of”: while it is theoretically possible to make
a really thick product that will stop a fair amount of noise,
the prices would be absurd and the results still limited.
To continue, click on soundproofing.
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