Life near the seaside seems tranquil until the first lorry starts rumbling through the streets in the early hours of the morning. For anyone living near such routes, especially along the Sunshine Coast highways, or even under flight paths or a construction site, noise becomes an inevitable enemy.
It’s common to find many people who initially sought solutions to “double window glazing Sunshine Coast” due to heat to end up using it to curb noise.
Where Coastal Noise Is Generated?
There are various sources of noise affecting coastal homes, including:
- Arterial roads and highways, with the delivery and commuter traffic starting very early in the morning.
- Aeroplanes, for suburbs in flight arrival and departure zones.
- Construction sites, using nail guns, saws, and concrete lorries throughout the day.
- Recreation zones, with the highest traffic during weekends and at the height of the season.
Most affected are usually bedrooms with windows overlooking the street.
How Sound Enters The Home?
Sound waves will enter a house through the most vulnerable point, and in most cases, that will be the windows. There are three elements involved in determining how much sound is transmitted:
- The glass weight, since thicker glass resists vibration more efficiently than thin glass.
- Gaps between air pockets that disrupt the transmission of sound waves between layers of glass.
- Gaps in seals and the frame, where a lot of noise may leak through.
Even a well-designed double-glazing window with poor seals may underperform better than poor-quality glazing installed well.
Acoustic performance is often measured in Rw value.
Laminated, Double Glazed Or Both, The Best Choice For You?
Different noise problems need tackling with different types of glass. Laminated acoustic glass is made by bonding two panes together with a special layer that really helps muffle vibrations. And it handles the low rumble of traffic surprisingly well.
Double glazing, on the other hand, works by trapping air or gas between two panes, which helps block out worst-case scenarios (ie mid-range sounds). Using panes of different thickness on each side of the window can also help, but when you’ve got two identical panes, they tend to vibrate at the same frequency, letting certain sounds sneak through.
But then you put the two together and you get a result that’s better still. An acoustic laminate inside a double-glazed unit tackles noise and heat together, which is perfect for homes located near busy roads.
Small Fixes That’ll Make A Big Difference
Before you even think about replacing your glass, it’s worth checking for simple leaks. A lot of noise can leak in through worn seals, gaps around sliding doors and loose window latches. Replacing seals and adjusting sashes is dirt cheap and often makes a surprisingly big difference.
Heavy lined curtains can also add a bit of extra sound absorption, particularly in bedrooms. Don’t forget to check wall vents and gaps under external doors too, since sound follows air pretty easily.
If these fixes only make a tiny bit of difference, then the glass is probably the real weak point, which is when an acoustic upgrade starts to look a bit more justified.
Questions To Ask Before Shelling Out For Acoustic Glass
Comparing acoustic windows can be a real minefield, but with a few straightforward questions, it doesn’t have to be so hard:
- What’s the whole window’s Rw rating, not just the glass?
- Which noise source is this glass designed to handle best?
- How’s the frame going to be sealed against the wall?
- Can the result be tested or demonstrated in a similar home?
If you get clear, specific answers to these questions, then you can be pretty sure you’re dealing with a supplier who really understands acoustic work. But vague promises about a “quieter home” should always raise a few eyebrows.
Options For Units And Rentals, A Few More Complications
Apartment owners face an extra hurdle before they can even think about changing a window. In Queensland, body corporate rules usually control changes to the outside of a building. So the colour, frame style and appearance of a new window will probably have to match the rest of the complex.
Secondary glazing offers a pretty good alternative for apartment owners though. It involves fitting a second pane inside the existing window, leaving the outside untouched. And the beauty of it is that it can be removed later, which makes it a lot easier to get approval from the body corporate. Plus it usually costs less and is a lot easier to set up.
Renters can sometimes talk to their landlord about secondary glazing for a bedroom that’s facing a busy road. The fact that it’s removable makes that conversation a lot easier for both sides.
Sleep, Health And Working From Home, The Real Impact Of Noise
Lung-busting noise does more than just get on people’s nerves. Broken sleep can affect your concentration, your mood and your long-term health. And it’s kids in bedrooms that face busy streets who usually feel it first. Not to mention the impact on people who work from home.
Testing Before Committing To Anything
You don’t have to treat every window at once; starting with the noisiest bedroom is a good way to see how much of an improvement you can expect before spending more. The best “double window glazing Sunshine Coast” homes can install is the one that’s tailored to the actual source of the noise. First you’ve got to name that sound, then ask suppliers for Rw ratings that target it, and the first quiet night will tell you if you’ve made the right choice.
