What Goes Into Soundproofing Windows?
Cutting down the noise that gets into your home is a lot easier when you have soundproof windows. Noise outside, even if it's as simple as a bird chirping, can be distracting for many people. Adding soundproof windows is a very good start, but simply putting those in where all your older windows currently are isn't the only strategy you need to employ. When you soundproof something, you're stopping soundwaves from reaching inside whatever is being soundproofed, be it a booth, a room, an office, or something else. You need to stop these soundwaves at different points.
Stopping Noise Leakage
One major issue with windows is sound leakage. This is sound that gets in through gaps in seals, weatherstripping, and even the wall itself. It takes only a tiny gap to let sound through, along with cold and hot air; sealing the gap will both reduce sound and reduce drafts. You may not be able to see the gaps, so when you have soundproof windows installed, ensure the weatherstripping and seals are replaced as well. If you think there are other gaps, you can use something called acoustic caulk.
Stopping Soundwave Transfer
The way the window works is that it stops soundwave transfer. Sound travels as air molecules collide with each other and push more air molecules forward in the same general configuration. When those air molecules hit molecules from something like glass or a wall, they can actually push some of those molecules, continuing the sound transfer. This is why you can hear loud sounds very well through walls; the soundwaves are powerful enough to slam into other surfaces and cause those molecules to move. With a soundproof window, the soundwaves hit the glass on the outside, but then they can't travel to the second pane (these windows are dual-pane). There is a gas between the two panes that does not transfer sound well, effectively stopping the transfer of most soundwaves.
Creating Barriers Past the Glass
Of course, some sound does get through anyway, and that's where the next strategy comes in. When you cover the window, use heavy, closely woven curtains. These are sometimes called blackout curtains as they're used to block light, but many block out sound as well. These can help reduce what little sound gets into the room even more.
The success of soundproofing also depends on how loud the sound in question is. Sometimes very loud sounds will make it through to an extent simply because they're too powerful for anything to stop completely, albeit much more quietly than if you had basic single-pane windows. But the overall noise level, along with less powerful sounds, will be much better.
For more information, reach out to a company like EZ Sound Proof.