I recently moved into an older home on a busy Pueblo street. The only thing I don’t love about it is the constant noise! I know I need soundproof windows – but I don’t know where to begin my search. What should I look for when I go shopping for windows?
Nicholas P. ~ Pueblo, Colorado
Hi Nicholas, Pueblo, Colorado is a beautiful area, I had a good friend who lived near there, and I was able to visit once in awhile. Replacement windows should have a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating. It may not be marked on the window, but the window salesperson should be able to tell you what it is, and it will be on the window manufacturer’s website. Double pane windows are usually in the 27-32 STC rating range. The higher the rating, the more soundproof the windows are. Specialty replacement windows are available that are almost soundproof, hotels near airports use them, but they can be pretty expensive. Common street noise shouldn’t require specialty replacement windows, and if you have an old house, you may only have single pane windows. Double pane windows could make a big difference in what you hear from the outside.
One thing to keep in mind when you are looking for your replacement windows is that a normal house’s exterior wall STC rating is around 38. This can vary depending on the wall thickness and insulation type, and if there is a brick veneer it could get up to around a 56 STC rating. You shouldn’t look for replacement windows with a higher STC rating than that of your home’s exterior wall system, as you can reach a point where the windows are more soundproof than the walls.
I am not sure what the STC rating is but, you can reduce the sound significantly and fairly cost effectively by using laminated glass. Laminated glass is two sheets of double strength glass bound together with a poly sheet. The poly sheet cuts sound quite a bit.
Usually, we order windows with the laminated sheet on the inside pane of double pane windows. This compares to “Hurricane” windows that typical have tempered glass on the outer facing pane and laminated on the inner facing pane. The poly sheet laminated glass also lowers the SHGC number a couple of hundredths ie: .27 vs. .30.
“SoundProof” may be unobtainable…”Sound Reduction” is more accurate.
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