It is no secret that our cities have gotten painfully noisy over the last decade? This problem is not limited to peak office hours anymore. The sound of construction and traffic is a constant cacophony throughout the day and sometimes even at night.
Street noise creates stress and fatigue. Your home should be a place where you can wash off the day’s troubles and unwind in peace. If you live in a cacophonous neighbourhood with no recourse, then soundproofing your windows and doors is the ultimate solution to your noise-related woes. The same goes for office settings. Noise pollution thwarts productivity. Imagine getting a task done with horns blaring right outside your office window.
A wall is a solid, sealed structure that does not allow for sound to seep inside. It is the windows and doors that act as the main source of noise leakage. A window and door is essentially a hole in the wall allowing sound to drain in or out. In modern architecture, a lot of stress is being laid on replacing long solid walls with a large number of glass windows and doors. Increased fenestration requirements have opened up spaces and ushered in more natural light, but this has also increased the potential of noise seeping inside our dwellings.
5 Ways to Block Street Noise
A significant reduction in sound can simply be achieved by taking care of the main sources leaking noise inside – doors and more importantly windows. It is impossible to control your external surroundings, but here are some nifty tips that can help you reduce street noise.
Install Soundproof Windows
Sound proof glass windows are specially designed to reduce noise caused due to street commotion by up to 42 decibels. This feat is possible due to double glazing. Two layers of laminated glass are fitted inside a single frame that traps external noise between them. Double-glazed acoustic windows absorb noise and ensure that it does not reverberate inside a room. For example, windows made from AIS Acoustic glass have exceptional sound absorption properties. They can kill street noise by up to 90%, which is 60% more than an ordinary 5mm glass window.
The Science behind Soundproof Windows
These windows must create a barrier between the noise and your ear to reduce sound. This barrier has to be strong enough to fragment and capture sound waves. Walls, doors and windows, all act as a barrier that catches sound all day. To increase a window’s ability to absorb noise, a manufacturer has to do three critical things – add more mass to a glass pane by cutting it thicker, increase the space between two glass panes to add more area for sound waves to get trapped, use a glass-plastic-glass specialised sandwich pane.
Double-paned sound proof glass along with airtight framework is the best at blocking sound. This is by far the most effective solution for curbing street noise. Apart from blocking noise, sound proof glass also increases thermal comfort, is easy to install and maintain, provides UV protection, and reduces the amount of dust entering inside your home or office.
Seal Sound Leaks
Look over your walls closely for cracks or gaps, especially near the window frames. Even the tiniest of gaps make a room susceptible to external noise leaking in. Once you have located cracks or gaps, get a professional to look them over. The professional may suggest replacing your window(s) with sound proof glass if they have become too old and are adversely affecting the structural strength of your walls, causing cracks and gaps. Otherwise, get these gaps sealed with noise-blocking caulk or sealant.
Reinforce With Soundproof Curtains
If you live in a particularly noisy neighbourhood, you may need to go a step further after installing sound proof glass windows. Once the installation process has been completed, lace the windows with sound blocking curtains, which are specifically designed to cull street noise. Remember that these curtains work best only when installed with the support of soundproof windows. Installing thick soundproof curtains as a stand-alone item will prove to be a waste of money.
Build Natural Barriers
Do you know that plants and shrubs can fragment sound waves and are good noise barriers? If you live in a house on the ground floor, with a small lawn or a footpath right outside, plant a line of tall shrubs. Not only will this help the environment and enhance the overall beauty of your home, but it will also significantly cull street noise.
Reinforce Your Doors
A lot of noise tends to sneak into your homes through doors. For instance, if you live by the highway, consider installing a solidly sealed wooden glass door. Both wood and glass are excellent materials for absorbing sound. Wooden glass doors also provide a sense of openness and usher in a great deal of natural light.
Final Thoughts
Looking to improve acoustics and reduce street noise pouring inside your home or workplace? Turn to AIS Glass and counter this problem permanently. Our sound proof glass windows come laminated, featuring a PVB interlayer layer that has exceptional sound absorption qualities. Our sound proof glass windows can reduce external noise by up to 40%.
So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us today!