Jul 13, 2021
Here’s How to Keep It Quiet Inside
As the world re-opens after the COVID-19 pandemic, we seek peace in our homes more than ever. People using their homes as offices and school houses continues despite the reopening. You might have noise from construction, yard work, traffic or noisy neighborhood pets. Regardless of the cause, soundproof windows can stop the racket.
Sun and Sound window inserts block:
- up to 75% of low-pitched noise (A/C compressors, traffic, big trucks, etc.)
- up to 95% of high-pitched noises (bus brakes, pool pumps, etc.)
How Soundproof Windows Work
It’s important for our window inserts to have sufficient mass to block soundwaves.
Our soundproof window inserts are made from two 1/8 inch pieces of annealed glass. They’re held together by a flexible adhesive membrane to form one solid piece of glass slightly more than 1/4 inch thick. The membrane keeps the glass from vibrating with sound waves and helps dissipate the energy of sound waves.
The Science of Installing Soundproof Window Inserts
There is an air gap created once we properly install the window insert next to your existing window. This air gap traps sound, but it has to be at least two inches thick. The bigger the gap, the more sound waves are trapped.
We also create a good seal to ensure sound waves can’t slip through. Our infiltration rate is less than .01 cfm/lineal foot, which far exceeds the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
When you have a sufficiently thick window insert coupled with an air gap and good seal, you will hear 75% less low-pitched sounds and 95% less high-pitched sounds.
The Hidden Bonus of Soundproofing With Window Inserts
The air gap created by installing window inserts drastically reduces energy loss. In fact, energy loss is reduced by 60% per window! That means you can expect savings on your heating and cooling energy bills.
Before you decide to install double-paned windows, or storm or energy windows, carefully consider Sun and Sound window inserts. They are a fraction of the cost of a new window installation.
Get a Quieter Home or Office
If you are bothered by outside noise, consider Sun and Sound Window inserts. They are installed on the interior of your window opening between your existing window and your window treatment (blinds, shades, curtains, drapes or shutters). That means you don’t have to go through the expense of installing new windows to get high-quality soundproofing in your home.
In addition, the aesthetics of your windows don’t change.
At Sun and Sound Windows we carry three different types of soundproof window inserts. These 1/4 inch thick, laminated glass panels can be custom made to fit your window. There is no replacement or modification to your existing window. Get all of your questions answered by reviewing our FAQ page to see more about how our soundproof windows work.
If you’re located in the Houston/Galveston, Austin or Dallas/Fort Worth areas of Texas, we want to make your decision easy. We provide free, no-obligation estimates for your window insert installation via phone or online. Give us a call today to begin the magical journey toward a quieter home.
Apr 5, 2021
Your Home Is Under Siege
If you don’t block road noise, it will invade your home. Glass doors and windows that leak allow road noise to disturb your peace and quiet. They not only inflate your energy bills but the noise invasion can also harm your health including raising risks of heart disease.
How Road Noise Can Be Hazardous to Your Hearing
Most municipalities like Houston, Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth have sound and noise ordinances. However, our society has become more urbanized. Emergency vehicles and road repairs have become constant background noise, frequently exceeding the noise levels permitted in sound ordinances.
So, city dwellers need to be aware of what they are up against. The culprit is the sound amplitude or decibel. A decibel in layperson’s language is basically a degree of loudness. Anyone living on a busy city street will typically be exposed to a decibel level of around 50 to 70 dB, which is considered a safe zone. Levels above 85 dB are beyond that safe zone, and, as previously mentioned, common occurrences on city streets.
Just How Loud Is Street Noise?
85-100 dB street noise levels: This level can cause permanent hearing loss when a person is continually exposed over a period of time:
- Barking dogs
- Neighbors operating power mowers, leaf or snow blowers
- Garbage trucks collecting trash in the neighborhood
- Bars and nightclubs
- Motorcycle engines
110-140 dB street noise levels: This level can cause permanent hearing loss after about one minute of exposure without adequate hearing protection:
- Automobile horns
- Motorcycle engines
- Police, ambulance and fire truck sirens
- Low-flying aircraft
- Construction sounds—nail guns, concrete chippers, chainsaws, welders, and grinders
- Speakers from autos or neighbors playing music at the maximum volume
There Are Other Health Hazards from Exposure to Excessive Noise
According to the World Health Organization, excessive noise “is considered not only an environmental nuisance but also a threat to public health.” In addition to hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears), the WHO has linked excessive noise to the following health risks:
- Heart disease: Loud or persistent noise causes stress and the release of cortisol and adrenaline. Those hormones raise the heart rate and blood pressure. The resulting hypertension causes thousands of premature deaths worldwide each year.
- Anxiety and depression: People living in areas with more road traffic noise are more likely to suffer depression. The same holds true for people who live near a major airport with a 10-dB increase in aircraft noise.
- Problems with sleeping: Sleepers’ ears pick up sounds, and the brain attempts to process those interruptions. Loss of sleep can cause depression, anxiety and diabetes. There are other studies that indicate sleep deprivation can cause cognitive impairment, poor concentration and developmental delays in language acquisition and educational achievement in children.
Soundproof Your Home to Protect Your Health
Again, even with city ordinances, heavy road traffic can reach volumes higher than permitted by ordinances. Glass soundproofing your doors and windows with Sun & Sound’s window inserts can block road noise as well as prevent energy-robbing drafts and leaks.
Learn more about the Sun & Sound tailored solutions to soundproof your glass windows and doors. We have a team standing by and can create the glass inserts that will fit perfectly in your home or apartment. We install them professionally so you keep the look of your home while effectively stopping road noise.
Contact us by phone or click the button below to get a free estimate. Don’t lose another night’s sleep because of loud music, traffic or alarms.
Mar 8, 2021
As the earth’s ozone layer becomes more depleted, the inevitable result is more of the sun’s UV rays bombarding the planet, making everyone more susceptible to cataracts, impaired immune systems, and skin cancer. This happens slowly over time. It’s a serious problem, but one that can feel invisible. So what can you do about it? Do windows block UV rays from coming into your home? What can you do to stay safe?
UV Rays Cause Skin Cancer
The most common form of cancer in the US and worldwide is skin cancer. According to skincancer.org, one in five Americans develop skin cancer by the age of 70. Shockingly, more than two people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour. If you like sunbathing, think about this: Having five or more sunburns during your lifetime doubles your risk of melanoma.
What causes skin cancer is, obviously, exposure to the sun. Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. While most UV rays come from the sun, many can come from indoor tanning beds and sun lamps.
UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and during summer months. People living at higher elevations are subject to a greater bombardment in UV rays, which can get to the earth’s surface even on cloudy days. UV rays bounce off reflective surfaces like water, snow, sand and pavement, which can lead to increased exposure. Also, the farther away you are from the equator, UV exposure goes down.
UV rays come in three kinds, UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UV-A and UV-B are associated with sunburns and tanning. Scientists believe UV-A also suppresses the immune system, while UV-C, although produced by the sun, does not penetrate the earth’s atmosphere.
Read the American Cancer Society’s informative article for pointers on protecting yourself from ultraviolet rays.
Do Home Windows Block UV Rays?
One way to avoid exposure to UV rays is simply to stay indoors. However, you can run but you cannot hide from the dangers of UV rays through uncoated windows. While almost 100% of UV-B and UV-C light is blocked by standard window glass, UV-A rays can penetrate your home through clear, unshielded windows.
So, enjoying that late morning sunshine through your kitchen window also exposes you to harmful UV-A rays. UV rays through windows can cause increased skin freckling and sensitivity to sunlight and rashes like photodermatitis.
What About Window Screens?
Window screen enclosures are available with some degree of protection against harmful UV rays. They also have the advantage of keeping the home cooler in hot weather.
Their main disadvantage is that window screens block about 30% of the light coming in and need to be removed during the cold months.
Can You Modify Existing Windows to Block UV Rays?
The answer is yes – if solar window film is added to the interior of your windows, those windows block UV light. Window panels can be affixed on the inside of the home or apartment. The panels have the added advantage of keeping the house cooler by reflecting heat as well as soundproofing the home.
Sun & Sound Windows Offer Year-Round UV Protection and Soundproofing
UV rays bombarding your home through unprotected windows also fade carpets and furniture. Noise pollution can penetrate even double-glazed windows because of air gaps. The solution to both problems is Sun & Sound Window inserts.
So to answer the question, do windows block UV rays, the answer is yes, if those windows are custom fitted with Sun & Sound window inserts. With our window inserts, you can block UV rays, plus save up to 50% of your home energy costs. We use laminated glass specially engineered rather than acrylic for even more soundproofing power.
For city apartment residents, the Sun & Sound buy-back program allows customers to install the inserts and use them for the duration of the apartment lease with up to a 50% rebate of the full price when occupancy ends.
Want windows that block UV light? Talk to us about installing window inserts that block UV light and high and low-pitched noise.
Jan 27, 2021
Neighbors playing music all day can be both annoying and distracting. Most communities have sound ordinances. Essentially, your neighbors can play their music only so loud as not to interfere with your living comfortably in your home. If the noise leaks far past its source or can be measured in terms of high decibels (dB), those ordinances apply.
The 5 Best Ways to Deal with Neighbors Playing Loud Music
Step 1: Know How Loud Your Neighbors Can Play Music
How loud can your neighbors play music according to the law? Knowing the local limits is the first step in determining what you can do.
Here are a few excerpts from ordinances in effect in some metro areas:
Austin, Texas, Noise Ordinance: The sound limit for music at businesses or private residences cannot be in excess of 85 dB between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. After 10 p.m. the noise limit drops to 80 dB. (Note: 80 to 89 dB would be the noise level produced by heavy traffic, a window air-conditioner or a power lawn mower. Sounds in excess of 85 dB can cause hearing loss.)
Houston, Texas, Noise Ordinance: Residential property noise limits for a sound source heard beyond the property lines are 65 dB during daytime and 58 dB (approximately equivalent to normal conversation or background music) during nighttime hours.
Dallas, Texas, Noise Ordinance: The city of Dallas ordinance states that no person “shall make or cause to be made any loud and raucous noise in the city which is offensive to the ordinary sensibilities of the inhabitants of the city, which noise renders the enjoyment of life or property uncomfortable or interferes with public peace or comfort.”
See more information on sound ordinances for other cities here.
Step 2: Tell Your Neighbor about the Noise Disturbance
Once you have done your research, the obvious quick remedy and best way to deal with neighbors’ loud music is to just ask the neighbor to turn down the volume. Sometimes a simple courtesy knock on the adjoining wall will do the trick. If the neighbor doesn’t take the hint, or becomes stubborn or hostile, it’s time to back off and pursue other remedies.
Step 3: Document the Behavior
If your noise complaint about loud music is legitimate, and the neighbor continues to ignore your requests to lower the volume, it is time to start documenting your complaints. The easiest way is to keep a written list with the date, time and description of the problem. Keep the list until you have enough information to show to authorities or take your case to your landlord.
Step 4: File a Noise Complaint About the Loud Music
If the problem continues, check with your local police headquarters or government office. Your municipality can help you in filing your noise complaint. Some jurisdictions, as noted above, place a decibel level limit for neighborhood sounds. Exceeding that limit amounts to disturbing the peace.
Anyone who violates the local sound ordinance could be charged with disturbing the peace and be subject to penalties. In Houston, for example, penalties range from a fine of $50 to $1,000, rising to $2,000 for repeat offenses.
Step 5: Sue the Noisy Neighbor As a Last Resort
You can bring separate legal action known as a nuisance lawsuit. The legal connotation of “nuisance” is the misuse of someone’s property in a way that prevents others from enjoying their own property. Included in the definition of nuisance are loud noises. You could potentially sue for damages if you suffered some injury — hearing loss, for example — as the result of excessive noise. However, this will involve hiring a lawyer to take your neighbor to court.
Other Options for Dealing with Neighbors Playing Loud Music
There are other remedies available to you if your noise complaint is unsuccessful, and you’d rather avoid the hassle and expense of a lawsuit.
Soundproofing Your Home With Sun & Sound Windows
If you live in a home or apartment and are bothered by traffic and other environmental noise, you have another, more permanent, remedy. You can restore your peace and quiet with Sun & Sound soundproof window panels. Those panels soundproof your existing windows and insulate your home from the elements and outside noise.
Manufactured in Texas and with its newest service location in Nashville, Tennessee, Sun & Sound offers inserts that are custom made for any window. They are not replacement windows. Rather, they are laminated glass window treatments installed on the inside of the window opening, costing about half of regular soundproof windows.
They don’t affect the look of your home, and they offer more protection from noise than acrylic window inserts.
Get Peace and Quiet Today
Whether your problem is apartment neighbors playing loud music or street noise, soundproofing your home of apartment can restore the quiet enjoyment and well-deserved peace and quiet of your home.
We’re here to help. Give us a call for assistance, or fill out our online form for a free estimate.
Sep 27, 2019
Where is all the noise coming from?
Plains, trains, automobiles. Barking dogs. Howling winds. Partying neighbors. Not what you need to hear when you get home from a hectic day and take your shoes off in your cozy apartment. The world is a noisy place, and you need to know how to soundproof an apartment to get some peace and quiet.
Window noise is especially intrusive in apartment bedrooms and can also permeate the entire interior space. Old windows, cheap windows, and even poorly installed windows leak more noise than you’d expect. If you’re in this predicament, you’re in luck. Window soundproofing science has come a long way. Soundproof window inserts are the ideal solution for apartments, as they are cost-effective, low-construction, and meet most regulatory standards.
The Best Way to Soundproof Apartment Windows
Our customers experience Sun and Sound window inserts as refreshingly effective. They neutralize up to 75 percent of low, rumbling noises and up to 95 percent of high-pitched noises like sirens. And the inserts will be almost invisible. No obstructions to your view. No diminishing of your ambient light.
Your new Sun and Sound window inserts will:
- Significantly reduce construction and traffic sounds at every pitch.
- Shield your space from the hubbub of parks, stadiums, bars and restaurants outside your windows.
- Attenuate landscaping noise and the rumble and whir of machinery, as well as natural sources such as wind and storms.
Have our Sun and Sound technicians install your new glass inserts, and your soundproof apartment will also benefit from the energy-saving effects. Since they reduce your air-conditioning and heating needs, your new inserts will begin offsetting the rental cost the moment we put them into place.
We serve metro areas in and around Austin, Galveston, Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth.
Let Sun and Sound Windows help you achieve a quiet and serene home. We’d be delighted to talk about your current noise issues, your window configuration, and any other questions or concerns you have. For a free estimate, click the button below or give us a call!
Aug 22, 2019
Here’s Why Our Soundproof Window Panels Actually Work
Which is the best idea to soundproof – buying new windows or soundproofing with window inserts? If you’re wondering, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions our new customers ask us. The short answer comes down to this – Double-pane replacement glass windows are not meant to block sound. Soundproofing window inserts are designed for optimal noise control.
Here, we explain in more detail which window soundproofing methods will work, which will not — and why.
The Science Behind Soundproofing
To actually absorb sound you need sufficient mass to contain the sound waves and enough of an air gap to absorb the noise.
Insulating materials are rated in terms thermal resistance, also known as R-value. The higher your R-value rating, the better your insulation. Placed over single-pane windows, soundproof panels raise your R rating to 3.3 — the same as double-pane, argon-gas-filled energy-efficient windows!
Comparing the Mass of Replacement Panes and Glass Soundproofing Inserts
The greater a material’s mass, the more sound waves it can absorb. Double-pane windows, which consist of a pair of slim glass panes, are low on mass. The mass of our 1/4″ laminated glass equates to 3.27 pounds per square foot — substantially higher than standard windows, acrylic window systems, and other common window types.
Comparing the Gap and Seal Capabilities
The bigger a gap between the panes, the more sound waves a window system confines.
With standard replacement windows, the panes are close together. They lack the necessary soundproofing gap. Between the panes of these windows, there may be inert gas that guards against energy loss and holds humidity out. The gas does not constitute a soundproof seal. Sound seeps right though standard replacement windows.
In contrast, soundproofing inserts are laminated glass consisting of two 1/8 inch annealed glass panels, with a membrane between them. Thus, the panel in total is more than 1/4 inch thick. The membrane’s flexibility absorbs vibrations and dissipates sound waves.
Placed between an existing window pane and shades, the best soundproof window inserts leave a gap of at least two inches from the window pane. The result is an insulating and energy-efficient window that traps sound effectively.
STC Rating: What It Is, Why It Matters
Our experts can quickly install your new soundproof window panels. Once in place, they’ll immediately block up to 75 percent of sound from commercial vehicles and other low-pitched sounds and as much at 95 percent of high-pitched sound. The decibel reduction is measurable, and scientists use a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating to tell you how well a material barrier absorbs airborne sound. It’s a simple indicator, as the STC rating number is a rough equivalent to the decibel reduction your sound barrier offers.
Window inserts from Sun and Sound Windows provide an STC rating of 42 for single-pane windows. Contrast that with the typical rating for a single-pane window, which is STC 18 to 20 or a double-glazed window, which maxes out at STC 32.
This is a big reason why getting the best soundproof window inserts is so important. An STC rating of 48 provides outstanding sound control.
Our customers often describe sound reducing window inserts as making the unwanted noise seem to be faint and distant, thus substantially improving the quality of their home life, ensuring:
The kinds of noise our window inserts can block range from motorbikes to reverberating music, from sirens to outdoor amplifiers. How much noise can you block? We have answers, so don’t hesitate to call us. Be sure to mention the kind of sounds you intend to block so that we can give you a good idea of both price and expected results.
No Need to Replace Your Windows
There is no need to buy soundproof replacement windows. Some soundproof or “triple-pane” windows may use laminated glass (as our soundproof inserts do), but the air gap is tightly restricted by standard wall structures. They block out sound less effectively, and cost more, than our soundproof window panels.
Laminated glass inserts are superior in reducing noise at all frequencies, including trucks and trains, motorcycles, emergency vehicles, playgrounds, barking dogs, air conditioning units, general traffic and yard care noise.
The best soundproof window inserts block not only sound but also weather. And the thicker your existing windows, the more powerful the insulation factor.
If you’re already planning to purchase replacement windows, consider gaining some peace and quiet and reinforcing the sound and weather insulation of your home by having Sun and Sound window inserts installed as an addition to your new windows. Feel free to contact us to discuss the way sound reducing window inserts will transform your space and dramatically ease your noise and stress levels.
The Best Soundproof Window Inserts for Existing Windows
What are the main comments from customers when they explain the difference Sun and Sound window inserts make in their living and working space?
- Glass soundproof window panels fit the contours of existing windows and architecture.
- Laminated glass keeps out glare and blocks 99 percent of UV light.
- As a soundproofing method, window inserts are considerably less expensive than the purchase of new window panes.
So, for a fraction of the price of window replacement, you can enjoy the tranquility that can only be found in a quiet interior space. Turn down the speakers on life. Cherish the comfort of silence at home and at work.
Sun and Sound Windows is pleased to provide that comfort to those in Houston, Galveston, Dallas, Austin and Fort Worth. If you’d like to get a free estimate online, click the button below. We’ll get in touch with you after to follow up.
281-336-8685
