'Noisy' double glazing

[Upinthestars]

Just after a bit of advice really.

We had new windows throughout our house 2 years ago. My dh specced them and organised it all. Fine...

I was talking to a friend who has been in her house for a few years and is looking to replace hers. She is on a main road in a town (I am not, I live in a village) and although her old double glazing is about 20 years old she cannot hear road noise when her windows are closed. From my relatively new windows we can hear every car that goes by. It drives me nuts.

Is this something that I just have to live with (i.e. dh specced a window that lets in more noise) or could it be a different problem (don't know what)?

Does anyone have any ideas?

[mousmous]

are the frames insulated?
that's an extra spec not all manufacturers/installers tell you about...

[PigletJohn]

replacement windows often have quite a gap round them between frame and wall. It is usually hidden with plastic trim. You will get better sound and draught blocking by injecting expanding foam into the gap.

It is quite a messy job as the foam is very sticky and goes everywhere before it hardens, but once you have the hang of it, and protect surrounding surfaces, skin, clothes, hair and eyeballs, it is not too bad.

[specialsubject]

seconded - we find that the DG installation on our house is shocking and there are huge gaps. Gradually going round filling them in, which is keeping the heat in and any noise out.

FENSA, eh...

[MrsSheepiness]

Sorry to hijack your thread Upinthestars but we have the same problem, it's is possible to put the expanding foam in after they have been fitted? Ours have white sealant all around the outside, is it possible to get this off without damaging the frames. I am desperate to get this sorted as can't sleep well due to the road noise and am pregnant so am dreading having the baby disturbed too. Thanks

[RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog]

We chose hardwood d/g for our last house (that was on a main road through a village) - in part because I understood that timber would be be better for sound insulation. In addition we went for bloody expensive acoustic glazing and ensured the gaps were thoroughly filled, but despite all of the above I too could still hear every car!

I think another couple of important considerations are the gap between the layers of glazing as well as having different thicknesses of glazing.....

It really sucks when you spend all those £££ (ours for the front elevation alone were 10k) and you don't get the desired effect.

[PigletJohn]

if there is white silicone sealant on the outside, I would try to leave that in place and prise off the plastic trim strip on the inside.

It is possible to inject expanding foam through drilled holes, but I would not recommend that to a beginner. It can expand with enough force to damage things.

[Upinthestars]

Oh no! Thanks PigletJohn - as always - for your wisdom.

DH suggested we get triple glazing in a few rooms but Raphaella, you haven't filled me with confidence.

[DayLillie]

We back onto a dual carriageway and we have triple glazing in the bedrooms. They cost the same as the double at the time, and although I am glad of them, and they do a good job, I can't honestly say that there is that much difference between them and the ordinary double. They are also heavier, and as the whole window opens, and there are problems with the sun heating the frames (they are brown), I think we may have problems in the future. I am glad we have them, but also glad we did not pay more for them.

The sitting room windows used to be single glazed hardwood and fitted well, closed tightly and there is very little increase in noise insulation. The bedrooms and the rest of the windows did not fit as well and one was a refit of the original window when we extended and has always let in sound, so anything would have been better!

I think the general structure of the building is important too - the bedrooms have cat-slide dormers, and sloping ceilings.