High-End Windows
Looking for recs for someone to talk to about sourcing and installing high end windows. Goal is getting the highest STC and R-values as possible.
Looking for recs for someone to talk to about sourcing and installing high end windows. Goal is getting the highest STC and R-values as possible.
There will be a limit to how much sound insulation you can expect from a single double-hung window, no matter how exotic or thick the insulating glass. The nature of the framing requires the two panes to slide independently past each other and the surrounding frame, and all these sliding interfaces tend to be the weak point in the assembly.
Consider a casement, hopper, or tilt style unit — basically any configuration that lets the window positively seal airtight around all four edges, with no sliding motion. I’ve seen these dressed up to look double-hung-like from the street.
Secondary interior windows (“storm sashes”, such as those sold by Citiquiet) both reduce leakage via the framing (by virtue of having two frames between you and the street), as well as trapping a deep airspace that helps tremendously with low-frequency noise as compared to a single ~1″ thick insulating unit (even triple pane).
dont know specifics about sound and insulating values off the top of my head. triple pane obviously will be best, i bet its an upgrade with lits of manufacturers. skyline is a nyc standard for aluminum – their website is quite good. Citiquiet are usually a second set of interior windows as i have seen, thats a real good solution, but crappy to have two sets of windows basically. Installation is key as sound and cold/heat can make it around the window units themselves. I have worked with the “windows we are” guys, they seem to have a lot of products – bonneville, kolbe, marvin etc. Talking to them might help. Duratherm, for wood I always thought was the best wood window you could get, they tend to be bigger tilt and turns but I believe the do double hung. Hopefully of some use, dont think i gave you the silver bullet though
jp – double hung, size varies depending on the floor, but call it 36×80 ballpark. Flexible on materials and have no landmark issues to deal with.
Have looked at Citiquiet but no interest in an additional interior window. Would rather achieve the noise/temp insulation goals with one unit.
wood, aluminum or steel? double hung, casement, tilt or tilt and turn? size of openings?
Weathershield carries a triple paned glass option, a space age sounding Zo-E-Shield 7, that will give you some pretty high thermal performance :
http://www.weathershield.com/pressRoom.jsp?tier1=16&tier2=4&releasePage=1&id=40
It is available in most of their window product lines.
And while I have never specified it, I have heard good reviews of the Citiquiet soundproof windows.
http://www.citiquiet.com/how-it-works.php
This is an additional system that installs inboard the existing windows. This assembly should also boost the thermal performance of the opening b/c of the air space it would enclose.
Hope this helps.
Kyle Page
Sundial Studios Architecture & Design, PLLC