Hey folks! I recently completed renovations on my new house, and after a month of living here, I've started to notice some noise issues from outside. Things like loud music from neighbors, chatter on the street, and traffic sounds can be a bit distracting. While it's not unbearable, I'd love to find a way to lower those outside decibels a little. I'm curious if using one or two polystyrene panels to fill the gaps around my windows would help at all, or if I'd just be wasting my time. I'm considering a single 15cm (6 inches) panel or maybe two 7cm (3 inches) panels with a bit of space between them for better sound reduction. Are there other materials or methods I should consider? I'm not very experienced with this, so I appreciate any tips!
3 Answers
I’m also curious if heavy curtains provide any benefit if they cover the entire window area. Has anyone tested that?
I totally get where you're coming from! I live above a busy street in NYC, and we got internal soundproof windows installed. There are companies that make thick glass inserts with frames that can be sealed in place. It’s more affordable and keeps the noise out, but you won’t be able to open the windows. Also, you could try acoustic panels like the ones used in recording studios or thick curtains, which can definitely help mute the noise a bit.
Have you tried closing your external blinds? They might help some! You can also consider acoustic foam panels, which you can cut to fit your window's size. Just make sure the non-flat side faces out toward the window for better sound absorption.
They do help a bit, but I hadn’t thought about the foam panels. Appreciate the reminder!
Thanks for the suggestion!