Noisy triple glazed windows

[Findingnemo2]

We recently had UPVC triple glazed sash windows installed to the front of our house. Main reason for getting triple glazed was perceived noise reduction qualities as we live on a very busy road.

However, when in the first floor bedroom I can hear birdsong and a passer by singing (can clearly hear every word) in the street below. To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. I didn't expect the windows to get rid of the car noise entirely but definitely didn't expect to hear noises such as these!

I specifically asked the window contractor for the best noise reducing option and this was their suggestion. Has anyone else had any experience of this?

Thanks.

What figures did they supply to back up their products ?

I have the same problem (new build though)

For me, I think it is the trickle vents, did they put any in, on your windows?

121hugsneeded needed they didn't provide any numbers, just said that triple glazing would substantially reduce the noise and it hasn't.

It is two bay windows if that makes any difference. I just can't sit in the rooms now...

Have you checked for gaps, we have a massive gap in one of ours, its not in straight at all, I wedged some folded cardboard along the join where it shuts, the cardboard went right through on one side

You need to inform them and give them the chance to fix /improve it. It's not doing the job it was described as doing. It might be something simple ? Give them a call. Good luck !

It sounds like they haven't been fitted properly. Can you get them to come back and have a look. If you don't get any joy there get a trusted 2nd opinion.

Thanks for your responses everyone. I actually emailed the window company in the middle of last night (couldn't sleep...) but haven't heard anything back yet.... Don't think the windows have trickle vents. Can't see anything that looks like them anyway.

I could hear a man passing this morning outside our front gate urging his dog to 'come on'. I was in the first floor bedroom!?!?! 🤔Surely this can't be right with triple glazed windows?

Is the sound coming through the windows, or do you have air bricks / vents in the wall? We have a tunnel in each room for ventilation, a 1950s property. May as well have the window open for the sound insulation we get due to that!

Just bumping - anyone else with experience of triple glazed windows? Or for those who live on busy roads, have you effectively managed to reduce noise intrusion?

Firstly, you can’t beat good old fashioned secondary glazing.
The large gap of air in-between the two windows plays a huge part in the reduction of noise. This is harder to replicate within the thickness of a window.

However, as PP has suggested, it could easily be the installation.

It might pay to Google what db rating would be required to eliminate traffic noise and ask them for the rating of their windows.

Leave a well worded one star review on Google maps and email them the link. Stick to the facts though. They will move a bit more quickly.

One last thing to consider. If for example this is a bedroom and the window is installed correctly and is up to the job, but you had no loft insulation, then the noise would come through the 1/2” of roof tile and 1/2” of plaster board. It’s certainly something to consider.

My triple glazed windows ( large bays) at the front of the house are absolutely brilliant! I think you should talk to the company.

I replaced my normal double glazed glass in a bay window with acoustic double glazing. The idea is the two panes of glass are different thickness which is mesnt to help and also a thick gap. It’s meant to be better than triple glazing.

I certainly can’t hear people talking outside (but couldn’t even with normal double glazing) however I can still hear traffic.

I wonder if the issue is more the fitting of the frames rather than the actual glazing. Did you have new frames or just new glazing?

Thanks everyone. My problem is that now the windows have been fitted, what realistically can the company do to improve things, short of ripping them out and replacing them all out?

Yes, I had all new frames and not just new glass. It is a bay window and so the big internal gaps behind the brick pillars were filled with expanding foam filler and covered over with a wooden architrave. Could this be the problem?

So this is a pic of the glass. The gaps between the three pieces of glass look really narrow. I think that they have sandwiched three pieces of glass into a space that would normally accommodate two panes of double glazing. My guess is that the space between each pane of glass is only about 5mm. Could this be the problem?

Have you got any air bricks or trickle vents? Also a lot of older properties with bay windows the bay construction is only one brick thick, especially
If they have hanging tiles on. It may be that the noise is coming in somewhere else.

Thanks Flauch, just put my hand in front of a pillar and felt a slight breeze of air. Noticed that the caulk has come away slightly between two pieces of wooden architrave. Think that the pillars are only one brick thick, and so if just filled with expanding foam filler and a wooden architrave, this wouldn't keep much noise out???

I seem to remember the pilkington website had good info about best gaps between panes of glass, etc.

assetmanager-ws.pilkington.com/fileserver.aspx?cmd=get_file&ref=8222&cd=cd

I’ve just had new double glazing put in. The guy who came round advised against triple glazing can’t remember why. The gap between my double glazing is way bigger than the gap you have triple glazing in. The reduction in noise with my new glazing is massive.

marvin-architectural.co.uk/triple-glazed-windows-soundproof/

@user1498572889

I’ve just had new double glazing put in. The guy who came round advised against triple glazing can’t remember why. The gap between my double glazing is way bigger than the gap you have triple glazing in. The reduction in noise with my new glazing is massive.

Yes, I was also advised against triple glazing. That it can make things worse as you can end up with smaller gaps I think.

Thanks for all the replies. So what do I do now?

So far, I have just paid the deposit. In addition to the noise issue, when the fitters left I noticed that a few still had red marker pen writing on them (apparently from the factory)and one frame had (what looked like) a baked in fingerprint. Plus two of the casements had broken beading when they arrived so they have ordered replacements. They have agreed to sort all this out for me.

Despite all these cosmetic issues, the main problem for me is the noise! When I ordered they were aware that my main concern was noise reduction and they recommended these over double glazed laminated glass units. I could cry. They have been such a huge expense for us. 😞

Do you have any record that your central requirement was noise reduction?

If you do then they haven't fulfilled the contract.

If you don't then it could be tricky proving that this was made clear to them.

I have messages in Facebook messenger that state that my primary concern is noise reduction and debating triple glazed over laminated with them?

Great - that should help you enormously if it ever comes to litigation.

Citizen's advice will tell you the correct process to follow - you need to write to the business and tell them of your concerns - they must be given chance to rectify the problem. I would suggest giving them a call and they'll talk you through it.