Can You Soundproof Windows?

How often have you heard a loud noise, like a barking dog, a thunderclap, or someone gunning their engine through the neighborhood, at 3:00 am and wished you had a soundproof window that could reduce that noise to a level that didn’t interrupt your sleep?

From natural phenomena to noisy neighbors, there are any number of occasions throughout the year where loud noises can interfere with your home’s peace and tranquility. The problem is that you can’t control what nature or other people do to make noise.

What you can control is the materials and structure of your home’s windows to minimize the amount of outdoor noise that gets into your home.

Can You Soundproof Windows in Your Home?

The first question many people have about soundproofing their windows is if it can even be done. The short answer is: “Yes!” It is possible to construct and install a window in such a way that it massively reduces the amount of sound that travels through the glass. 

But, how does soundproofing work for windows? What elements of a window’s design make it better or worse at blocking outside noise? Let’s take a quick look at the way different window design elements can enhance a window’s overall soundproofing:

A Visual Representation of Soundproofing

In the picture above, you can see a visual representation of the layers of an impact window: the outer lite (glass), the low-e coating on that glass, the argon gas fill with the butyral sealant foam, and the laminated glass on the interior side with its PVB interlayer.

Each of these elements contributes to the soundproofing of the window.

• Outer Glass Lites. The first layer of glass does the least to block sounds. This is because the vibrations that create the sounds we hear can travel easily through solid objects once they make contact. As noted by StudyMind, “Sounds travel fastest in solids, and slowest in gases.” This is because the molecules in solids are densely packed. When one particle in a solid vibrates, it directly impacts the next particle with little loss of energy (compared to the energy loss when vibrations affect less densely-packed molecules like liquids or gases). This chains from one side of a solid to the other. So, sound waves that hit one side of the glass will easily pass through to the other side. This is why single-paned windows are terrible at soundproofing.
• Low-E Glass Film. While incredibly thin, any film applied to the inside of the glass, like a low-e glass film, actually can have a minor impact on the window’s soundproofing. However, because of how thin the material is and how it only creates an extra few nanometers of material, the improvement is so miniscule that it’s nearly impossible to measure.
• Argon Gas Fill. This is where the first major improvement to soundproofing in a window happens. Air gaps create space between solid surfaces in an impact window. Filling the space with gases such as argon helps inhibit the transmission of sound between the glass panes. Remember the StudyMind article? Sound travels more slowly through gases than solids. This is because the molecules in a gas are further apart, making it so that the individual molecules have to travel farther to transfer vibrations to the next molecule, resulting in more energy loss.
• Foam Sealant. This airtight seal keeps the gas in the air gap from escaping. Also, as a flexible, semi-soft material, it absorbs and diffuses vibrations, reducing the strength of soundwaves that pass through the foam. 
• Laminated Impact Glass. The final layer of protection helps to massively reduce the amount of soundwaves that get through the window. Laminated safety glass has three separate layers of material: two panes of glass and a laminate interlayer between the glass. The plain glass portion doesn’t do much to inhibit sounds on its own, just being more material for soundwaves to travel through. However, that is already-deadened sound that has been dispersed by the gas in the air gap. What makes the biggest difference is the interlayer. Materials like PVB, which are highly flexible, disperse soundwaves efficiently to limit the amount of vibrations that make it to the second glass pane.

Here’s a quick demonstration of how much an impact window can deaden sound taken on a smartphone camera:

The demonstration shows the night-and-day difference in sound even in a showroom with an open door to the side of the window. When the window is open, you can hear the employee clearly. But as soon as the window slides shut, you can barely hear him as he tries to explain about the soundproofing.

How Installation Affects Your Soundproof Windows

When soundproofing your windows, it’s important to consider not just the window itself, but the whole window opening and the area around it. Even the best soundproof window won’t provide a significant benefit if they aren’t installed correctly. If you have a window that blocks 60% of outdoor noise, but there’s a crack or gap between the frame and the edge of the opening, then sound will travel through the crack, meaning that the window won’t have the impact you expected on your home’s soundproofing.

This is why it’s important for homeowners to ensure that the windows they get are installed by experienced professionals who have the right tools and training to make the most out of the new window installation. 

For example, when installing the window, does the installer have foam sealant/insulation to fill the gaps between the window frame and the wall? Are they using wooden or composite shims to level the window flat in the opening (or adding full-on window bucking)? 

Foam insulation helps close open gaps in the window opening so that air (and soundwaves) cannot pass through it unimpeded. 

For shims, using wooden shims is a short-term solution, as wood is prone to rotting. So, over time, windows shimmed with wood may begin to sag out of place. This can lead to a loss of soundproofing over time as the sagging window creates a gap between the frame and the wall. This is why composite shims, which are highly resistant to moisture and rotting, are the better option.

If you want your windows to be soundproof, then getting expert installation is a must!

Get Expert Installation on Soundproof Windows

Need expert installation service from a reliable installer? Karoly Windows & Doors is here for you!

We only ever use our own in-house team of installation professionals. We never outsource installation work to a third-party contractor. That way, you know that you’re getting real impact window installation experts on your installation, not some random contractor who bid low to do the job on the cheap.

We also use top-shelf tools and materials on every install. From the screws, to the caulk, to the foam insulation, flashing tape, and composite shims, we pick materials to ensure the longest useful life and highest quality.

We’re so confident in the quality of our installation work that we back up our Simonton impact window installs with a lifetime labor warranty. If your Simonton window that we installed needs warranty repair or replacement, we’ll provide the labor at no additional cost to you. 

Get started by reaching out to Karoly Windows & Doors for a free in-home consultation and assessment!