Nowadays, due to increasing traffic, vehicle horns, and construction noise in cities, achieving peace inside homes and offices is becoming increasingly difficult. Many people install aluminum windows in their homes with the hope that outside noise will be blocked, but often, due to improper fabrication or non-standard installation, external sounds and noise remain clearly audible through the window.
If correct technical principles and soundproofing techniques are followed when making an aluminum sliding or casement window, you can reduce outside noise by 70% to 90%. In today's detailed post, we will discuss in detail all the technical means to reduce sound from an aluminum window and make it completely soundproof.
1. Fundamental Technical Reasons for Sound Entering Through an Aluminum Window
Until you know the pathways through which sound enters, you cannot stop it. Noise enters through an aluminum window due to the following three fundamental reasons:
- Single Layer of Glass: Ordinary 5mm or 6mm single glass cannot block sound waves, allowing noise to pass through easily.
- Gaps in Frame Joints and Grooves: Wherever air can pass through, sound will inevitably pass through as well. If silicone is not applied to the sides of the frame or if there are gaps between the window shutters, noise will leak inside.
- Absence of Rubber and Brush Gaskets: If quality weatherstripping (brush strips) or rubber packing is not installed in the tracks of sliding windows, gaps remain.
2. Step-by-Step Method to Soundproof an Aluminum Window
Whether you are constructing a new window or want to soundproof an old aluminum window, follow these technical stages:
Step 1: Using Double Glazed Glass
The most effective way to block sound is using double-glazed glass instead of single glass.
- Technical Structure: In double glazing, two sheets of glass (for example, 5mm + 5mm) are used with an air gap of 6mm to 12mm maintained between them.
- Benefit of the Air Gap: The air or argon gas present between both glass sheets absorbs the sound vibrations, preventing severe outside noise from reaching inside.
- Laminated Glass: If you want even better results, use laminated tempered glass containing a PVB film sandwiched between two glass sheets, which blocks sound exceptionally well.
Step 2: Choosing Casement (Hinged Type) Windows Over Sliding Windows
If the location suffers from excessive outside noise (for example, a home on a main road), recommend casement windows instead of sliding windows. When a casement window is closed, its shutters press tightly against the rubber gaskets, creating an airtight seal that makes it virtually impossible for sound to pass through.
Step 3: Fitting Weatherstrips and High-Quality Brush Strips
Standard siliconized brush strips are mandatory inside all inner and outer channels of sliding aluminum windows:
- Brush strips completely seal the fine gaps present between the window glass and the aluminum profile.
- If sound is leaking through an old window, replace its old, worn-out brushes with new, thicker brush strips.
Step 4: Silicone Sealing on Upper and Lower Aluminum Frame Joints
When installing a window, fine gaps remain between the aluminum outer frame and the cement wall.
- Apply a thick, clean layer of neutral cure silicone around all four sides of the wall and aluminum frame, both on the exterior and interior sides.
- This silicone not only blocks rainwater but also completely seals sound leakage.
Step 5: Correct Selection of Rubber Gaskets
Instead of cheap rubber, use EPDM quality rubber gaskets to secure the glass inside the aluminum frame. This rubber does not harden or crack with weather changes and maintains an airtight grip on the glass for years, preventing sound from entering.
3. Important Technical Advice for Soundproofing
- Use of Acoustic Film: Soundproof acoustic film can also be applied to old windows, which reduces sound resonance to some extent.
- Complete Lock Fitting: Install window locks in such a way that when closed, they pull and tightly secure the window shutters against each other. The tighter the closure, the less sound will enter.
If you incorporate these soundproofing principles into your aluminum and glass fabrication work, your customers will get a peaceful, noise-free environment, giving your work a distinct reputation in the market.
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