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Need advance on window selection

20 years ago

Hi,

In the past few days, I have done some research to educate myself the current technologies used in high performance window. I also read a detail explanation that Oberon has contributed last year all the nuts and bolts of windows. Thanks you.

I would like some help over how to preceed with the window choices from you people:

My pricipal objective is noise reduction followed by energy savings (in cold climate). Reason: All my bedrooms are next to the driveway of a very inconsiderable neighbour who make a lot of door banging (entrance door, car, garage etc) at early mornings and late nights.

I went out to the showrooms today but the 2 local companies (with different supplier products) offered no easy comparisons.

In particular:

ORAN vs Ostaco windows (hence different warranties and product features)

super spacer vs stainless steel with PIB

15 mm air space vs standard 12 mm air space

LowE coating on surface # 2 vs # 3

Ti-R coating vs Low-e square

pvc frame different no. of chambers (basically cannot compare at all)

contract installers vs in house installers

(I have no ideas how to access the quality of installers)

I heard fibre glass frame is a better noise reduction material but would be 30% to 50% more than the PVC model. Is the additional price worth while? Is a triple pane (with double space) way better than a double pane?

One company offered a offset (different thickness of glass pane) and may require steel reinforcement if the window is big. Would the steel reinforcement or the stainless steel spacer transmit more noise to reduce the overall noise reduction?

Thanks in advance

JJ

Comment (1)

  • 20 years ago

    The ratings you are looking for are STC ratings, or Sound Transmission Class. This tells you how much noise the windows keep out. Some companies list an OITC rating, or Outside Inside Transmission Class, which is very similar.
    While I'm not familiar with either window you mentioned, I will say that hollow vinyl windows can be challenged to absorb noise due to the rigid body of the sash and frame. Especially if the cavities are left hollow.
    Some manufacturers offer a "quiet" window, in which they use laminated glass, or a triple pane glass, and they fill the cavities with a foam insulation.
    Triple pane glass will help with both noise and insulation, but it usually has a shorter warranty and a higher potential for seal failures. Read the glass warranties carefully.
    Fiberglass can absorb more noise than vinyl. Wood is a bit better as well. But how much will depend greatly on how the units are put together.
    If the companies are worth anything, they'll have STC or OITC ratings, hopefully by an independent lab.
    The other factors you mention will vary greatly from vendor to vendor. But typically larger airspaces are more efficient. The surface #2 vs #3 debate rages on, but I'm in the corner of #2. Double pane glass has 4 surfaces: the outside surface is #1, the inner surface of the outer pane is #2, the outer surface of the inner pane is #3, and the inside surface is #4. By coating surface #2, the sun's heat is reflected out, without allowing the airspace to heat up. Surface #3 allows the airspace to heat up, Which can lead to seal failures. LowE squared goes a step further and coats both surfaces. Ti-R is one version of a LowE coating, a thin film of titanium.
    As a warning, when comparing energy ratings, or test results, be sure you are comparing apples to apples. Some makers like to publish glass only ratings, or center of glass ratings, which look better than whole unit ratings. The measure of how good any window is, is the performance of the unit as a whole.
    If the suppliers can't answer your questions well enough, try the manufacturers. You can also get some quotes from builders/remodelers and see what they recommend, and why.
    I hope this helps.