If the noise from outside your home is starting to impact your life inside it, the time has arrived to do something about it.
After all, did you know that increased noise pollution from the outside entering your home can decrease the value of your property?
For something that can be fixed so easily, you don’t want to let it continue to have a negative impact on your property.
It doesn’t matter where you live, outside street noise can be a factor at one time or another for pretty much anyone in the UK.
Take a read of our recent blog on the ultimate guide to double glazing noise pollution and you’ll quickly realise why this is an issue worth fixing.
In the most extreme cases, airport or motorway traffic can sound extremely loud, whereas chirping birds or barking dogs may have become an annoyance at the less serious end of the scale.
No matter the noise, you don’t want to hear it inside your home.
If you are just now starting to hear outside noise, then something has changed with your windows.
Age is often a factor. We at Maghull Double Glazing would recommend replacing your existing windows every 20 years. If you have lived in your property for a prolonged period, or know that the windows weren’t replaced under the previous owner, the time may now have arrived.
If you don’t believe the time has come to replace your windows, there are other fixes that professionals can sort for you.
Let’s take a look at five of the most common issues as to why you can hear everything outside your house, and the best ways to go about dealing with them.
Window Inserts Need Installing
Probably the most common and effective way to deal with unwanted noise pollution, window inserts are installed around five inches ahead of the existing window, allowing an air pocket between the insert and the existing glass to work its magic and reduce the noise sound vibrations reaching you.
Laminated glass is the most common use for window inserts, and they can be installed at a fraction of the cost of replacing your existing windows.
Single-Pane Windows Need Upgrading to Double-Glazed
The Maghull Double Glazing team are huge advocated of double-glazed windows over their single-pane alternatives.
Increased insulation, improved security and less noise pollution are just three reasons as to why, as we explain in our blog comparing the single glazing vs double glazing.
Without that air barrier that double-glazed windows provide, the science just doesn’t allow for the noise vibrations to be cancelled out before reaching you.
Gaps Require Sealing
You can have the thickest and sturdiest windows in the world, but if there are gaps between your window frame and the interior wall, you’re still going to struggle with outside noise entering your home.
A simple method of dealing with this is to go around the gaps in question with acoustic caulk. Its latex material acts as a great sound barrier, and it is affordable.
Consider Sound-Dampening Curtains
Yes, they are a thing. Sound-dampening curtains are made from thick materials that are designed to absorb outside noise before it has a chance to enter your room.
Naturally, if your windows aren’t performing to any sort of standard, or the outside noise is worse than most, curtains aren’t going to fix your problems.
However, if the noise entering your home is something minor like singing birds or conversations passing by, they may do the trick.
A Step Further With Double-Cell Shades
If curtains aren’t going to sort it, double-cell shades might. They consist of rows of heavy fabrics stacked on top of each other designed to prevent light entering your room as well as noise.
The latter two options are to be considered if your noise pollution problems aren’t too dramatic, but if you are struggling to sleep or concentrate inside your property as a result of outside noise traffic, it may well be time to look into replacing or fixing your windows.
Don’t just feel like you have to live with it. A quick phone call to the Maghull Double Glazing team on 0151 526 8200 will set you on your way to no more outside noise entering your home.