Doors and Windows - Keep out the Noise Keep out the Funk
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Keep out the Noise Keep out the Funk
sam's dad
10-28-09, 08:47 PM
WE have been in our house for 7 yrs now, and we are getting tired of the second floor master bedroom window problems...
previous owner replaced the windows throughout the house.
In the master bedroom - even with the windows locked shut we hear alot of the street noise, mainly trash trucks, dogs, motorcycles, neighbors dragging trash cans along driveways.
These noises aren't noticeable in the other rooms, even those facing the same way as the bedroom windows.
Is there anything that could be wrong with the install or flawed in theses particular windows?
this room is usually colder too in the winter
previous owner replaced the windows throughout the house.
In the master bedroom - even with the windows locked shut we hear alot of the street noise, mainly trash trucks, dogs, motorcycles, neighbors dragging trash cans along driveways.
These noises aren't noticeable in the other rooms, even those facing the same way as the bedroom windows.
Is there anything that could be wrong with the install or flawed in theses particular windows?
this room is usually colder too in the winter
sam's dad
10-28-09, 08:51 PM
sorry forgot to mention -
double pane glass, tilt in, don't know if they are vinyl or vinyl clad
don't know the make and model
double pane glass, tilt in, don't know if they are vinyl or vinyl clad
don't know the make and model
XSleeper
10-28-09, 09:23 PM
Could be out of square or spread in the middle.
Open each sash, and bring it to a position that is "almost closed". Look at the gap of light across the edge of the sash, where it meets the frame. If the window is square this gap should appear straight, not bigger on one side than the other. The same would be true for the top sash.
To check whether the windows are spread in the middle, just measure across the window frame in the middle, and compare that measurement with the distance across the top or bottom of the window. In theory, the sides should be perfectly parallel, not spread out in the center.
Occasionally, a window will not be spread on the interior side of the home, but WILL be spread on the exterior side of the home, which can sometimes create a gap along the lower sides of the top sash, and to a lesser degree, the upper sides of the bottom sash. Such a gap would mean the weatherstripping is not tight... and would certainly let in some noise.
Don't think I'm crazy, but it could also be that your top sash is not shut all the way, and that when you "lock" the window, you're not really engaging the cam lock with the keeper. If the top sash is down even 3/8", it would allow a draft (and noise) to bypass the interlock, where the 2 sashes meet. I once had to drive 30 miles on a serivce call only to shut someone's window. Boy did that burn me up. :eek:
Open each sash, and bring it to a position that is "almost closed". Look at the gap of light across the edge of the sash, where it meets the frame. If the window is square this gap should appear straight, not bigger on one side than the other. The same would be true for the top sash.
To check whether the windows are spread in the middle, just measure across the window frame in the middle, and compare that measurement with the distance across the top or bottom of the window. In theory, the sides should be perfectly parallel, not spread out in the center.
Occasionally, a window will not be spread on the interior side of the home, but WILL be spread on the exterior side of the home, which can sometimes create a gap along the lower sides of the top sash, and to a lesser degree, the upper sides of the bottom sash. Such a gap would mean the weatherstripping is not tight... and would certainly let in some noise.
Don't think I'm crazy, but it could also be that your top sash is not shut all the way, and that when you "lock" the window, you're not really engaging the cam lock with the keeper. If the top sash is down even 3/8", it would allow a draft (and noise) to bypass the interlock, where the 2 sashes meet. I once had to drive 30 miles on a serivce call only to shut someone's window. Boy did that burn me up. :eek:
Claw Hammer
10-29-09, 05:00 PM
I would say that most people looks at a house that they wish to buy in the middle of the day when most people are at work and most garbage trucks are already done for the day.
The seller makes the house look as good as possible to sell it as quickly and at the most amount of profit possible.
Windows are the weak link in the whole system of trying to keep noise out. I do not know of any manufacturer that makes a window that claims that it will be quieter then another manufacturer of window.
If the noise bothers you that much, maybe you ought to pay someone to take the window out and build over the hole and cover it with what ever building material is on the outside and inside of the house.
Anytime you get into a stick built house in a development, you usually end up with unscrupulous builders who uses sub standard building practices and puts the house up as cheaply and as quickly as possible - with no consideration for noise - when it comes to the placement of the master bedroom.
The same holds true with the size of the lot your house sits on.
Your only other option is to move to a quieter neighborhood.
The seller makes the house look as good as possible to sell it as quickly and at the most amount of profit possible.
Windows are the weak link in the whole system of trying to keep noise out. I do not know of any manufacturer that makes a window that claims that it will be quieter then another manufacturer of window.
If the noise bothers you that much, maybe you ought to pay someone to take the window out and build over the hole and cover it with what ever building material is on the outside and inside of the house.
Anytime you get into a stick built house in a development, you usually end up with unscrupulous builders who uses sub standard building practices and puts the house up as cheaply and as quickly as possible - with no consideration for noise - when it comes to the placement of the master bedroom.
The same holds true with the size of the lot your house sits on.
Your only other option is to move to a quieter neighborhood.
lefty
10-30-09, 04:11 AM
Claw Hammer,
The only problem with your suggestion of eliminating the window is that it it's not legal to do that unless there is another window in the same room that will provide egress.
Is there interior or exterior trim that can be removed so that you get to the space between the window frame and the rough opening framing? If so, do that and make sure the void was insulated. DAP door and window foam works well, but follow the directions -- DON'T OVERFILL THE VOID!
The only problem with your suggestion of eliminating the window is that it it's not legal to do that unless there is another window in the same room that will provide egress.
Is there interior or exterior trim that can be removed so that you get to the space between the window frame and the rough opening framing? If so, do that and make sure the void was insulated. DAP door and window foam works well, but follow the directions -- DON'T OVERFILL THE VOID!