How to Reduce Sound in Your Living Space

I recently got a question from a reader about how to reduce sound in a condominium--by using windows. This is a difficult question to answer, because there are so many factors at play when there is excessive sound in your living space. One of the best, most effective things I did to cut the sound from my own life: move out of the city.

But seriously, if you cannot move away from your noisy place, you can do a number of things that are not necessarily related to home remodeling, such as adding thicker curtains, carpeting, and furniture with better sound absorbing qualities. When it comes to windows, double paned are better than single paned; triple paned are better than double paned. Replacement window companies often tell me that customers upgrade their windows as much for sound reduction as for energy savings. Another thing to look at: the type of window frame that you have. Metal window frames are absolutely the worst type of window frame you can have for sound reduction purposes.