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Interior glass/soundproofing question

9 years ago

Our condo has one real bedroom and one loft bedroom. The walls to the loft bedroom are currently mostly half-walls, one of which will be completely enclosed, and on one of which we will construct a wall and closet (I guess that one will be completely enclosed too). Of the other two, one overlooks the main living area, and one overlooks the front hall. These need to be left more "open" for both light and air purposes (the room is in the middle of the unit, no separate windows).

Can anyone suggest some kind of glass/screen/sliders etc. that would not only look good (the condo is industrial - steel windows, concrete ceiling and columns and all) but also provide some level of soundproofing both from and to that room? We've seen the room done with shoji screens and while it looked great, they're not at all sound-resistant.

Thanks!

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Comments (6)

My3dogs ME zone 5A
9 years ago
I just Googled 'sound reducing glass' and came up with several hits. I put an interesting one below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Soundproof Windows Inc.
Annie Deighnaugh
9 years ago
I'd go to a glass store and talk to them....there is all kinds of decorative glass, colored glass. But for a wall, I'm sure it would have to be tempered. Unless it is solid, it won't be sound proofing.

Sarah Richardson used a glass wall at the top of a staircase in one episode, and used an applied film to add color.
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Thank you! I read that you should have one pane be 50% smaller than the other pane and one inch between panes. Do you think that is accurate? The other company we are waiting on a quote from has three panes of glass - two 1/4 inch, one 1/8 inch and laminated on one side, low e on the other. I dont know the STC of them. They are a local company.
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Karenseb
9 years ago
I once lived in a home with very good double pane windows and many nights, there was a constant high pitched hum that drove me crazy. I tried everything and checked the internet for resolutions. The noise was either a highway far off or some industry nearby that got progressively louder as the night went on.
To make a long story short, we ended up replacing our bedroom windows and when we did, we went with laminated (not tempered) glass and the noise disappeared. It could have been a frequency problem more than a sound problem, but after 8 years of hum, the next 5 years were so peaceful.
We had tempered glass in the bathroom and I could still hear the hum at night when I got up.
sjhockeyfan325
Original Author
9 years ago
I am going to visit a glass tore or two, but thank you so much for the recommendation of laminated glass - I think that's the ticket as long as we can get something custom made!
jmc01
9 years ago
Also check out glass walls, the types used in office installations. There are some really good options out there.
lazy_gardens
9 years ago
(the room is in the middle of the unit, no separate windows).

Can you enclose it for a bedroom without running into fire regs? Most codes require an outside window for a bedroom.

Double-paned windows installed with a sound-reducing cushioning might do it.

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