The Best Ways to Soundproof Your Chicago Windows

Have you ever been jolted out of sleep by an early morning garbage truck or a late-night party and wished that sounds from outdoors would stay...outside?

Sound enters your house through cracks, crevices, and through your windows and can lead to sleepless nights. Windows, in particular bigger, older windows, can be a big contributor source of noise disturbing your home, and by soundproofing your windows you can significantly mitigate unwanted noise.

These are a few things that Chicago homeowners can do to soundproof your windows and lessen noise from coming in from outdoors.

Add weatherstripping or caulk to the window frame

Adding caulk or weatherstripping is an inexpensive DIY solution to block noise. Because sound waves travel most easily through the air, blocking any cracks or crevices near your windows will reduce noise. Install to the sides of your window sashes. If there’s a sliding glass door or a double-hung window you can use vinyl v-strips on the outer sides of the windows. You can also caulk the crevices around windows and over any splits to stop airflow.

 

One drawback of this do it yourself solution is that it’s more of a short-term solution, and it clash with your room’s style.

Add dense window treatments like plantation shutters

Adding heavy material such as Chicago’s best plantation shutters can help block outside noise.

Plantation shutters are a stylish way to block the sound coming through your windows while also saving you energy. Polywood plantation shutters have a patented built-in weatherstripping design that locks out noise as well as heat and cold.

Polywood plantation shutters are resilient, so they have more longevity those DIY solutions. They are more affordable than installing new windows, and after they’re put in are a permanent part of your home, which can increase your home’s sale value on the market.

Put in a sound-proofing plug

If you have a lot of loud constant noise like traffic near the highway you could benefit from a sound-proofing plug. This do it yourself option is a straight piece of foam that you wedge in your window. Since the foam blocks light (and might look unattractive), people use sound plugs during the night or in rooms that don’t get much traffic.

Replace or install additional windows

If you have old windows and you experience draftiness as well as distracting noise, it could be time to consider new windows. If you don’t have the budget to replace all your windows, you can install exterior storm windows or an additional window pane to especially noticeable windows. The downside is that getting new windows or adding extra panes can still be a pricey option.

Start reducing your outside noise today

Are you ready for a good night’s sleep, and do you want to solve your noise problem once and for all? Then give us a call at 847-250-6544 or fill out the form below to get a free in-home estimate. We’ll go through all your window treatment choices in Chicago and find the right solution for your noise problem that is as beautiful as it is functional.