From my experience, the storefront glass is great to look at but not all the efficient. We had considered it, but moved to a Euro manufactured window. In your mild climate it should be fine. As for sound reduction I think the dual pane should help.

I think the look is important - but I have seem some REALLY nice LARGER single sliders that appeared to be of a much higher quality than a storefront and I have to believe would be better for sound reduction, as well.

Look at sound reduction techniques for the spots the windows are mounted in ... make sure that the sound isn't going to be transmitted through the material around the windows.

Acoustic dampening techniques are fairly easy during construction.

https://www.soundisolationcompany.com/accessories/ 

Just plain caulking all gaps and maybe using "green glue" or some sort of high mass material between frame studs and wall studs. I've seen it as self-adhesive strips like tape for using on studs.,

The phrase is "high density mass loaded vinyl"

With the laminated glass, I think the windows will be as good as I can get with the sound reduction. I guess my only worry is the slider in the hallway...the doors butt up against each other. THis allows for an 8 foot wide opening when opened. I dont know if I should do this for a couple reasons:

- It is so hot here that you try to keep the doors closed

- There are a lot of reptiles, scorpions, wasps, bugs, etc. and so I try to keep all doors closed. In fact, from leaving doors open briefly, I have gotten 3 snakes, 2 gigantic lizards, a bird, and a kangaroo rat in the house.

- Mostly I am worried that sound will come through the opening where they meet...

janniecone, thank you. I dont know if I am using storefront glass. It is coming from a custom glass company in California. It has to match the current glass, below.

Lazy gardens, thank you! That is a great link. I will pass this on to the contractor.

Thanks!

Current glass:

Similar doors:

So now I'm thinking I should just replicate the glass window and doors in the pic below. The new hallway will be at the end of the exterior wall. Any thoughts on this? It would be an eight foot fixed panel, 8 foot sliding glass door.

Rockybird,

I just replaced windows in my bedroom for sound control. I went with Triple pane windows with lamination. These are European Tilt and Turn windows. The contractor who installed them was stunned as to the sound reduction and ordered some for his home too.

My Configuration for the triple pane:

• 1/8" Low E SQ 272

• 7/6" Stainless spacer

• 1/8" Clear Tempered glass

• 7/6" Stainless spacer

• 1/4" Laminated glass

This was Cardinal glass mainly and it was put together by a company in California. The glass panel is 1 3/8" thick in total. I am in the Northeast so we have both heating and cooling seasons. The type of Low E in your region may be different.

You are too close now to make changes about the windows but I would recommend Lift and slides for better air sealing if possible.

Good luck!

In my previous home, I had two 4' fixed glass doors and two 4' sliders between for a 16' wide expanse of glass. I loved them, they were very sound resistant and sealed well. They were made by Anderson Windows but I do not know the specs as they were in place when I bought the home. At one point I had a problem with the cladding and called the company. They were warrantied for 10 years and this was the 9 1/2 year mark, so they replaced them for new. No cost!

homepro01 - thank you for this info. Do you have any links to the company or door types? I'll ask about lift and slide sliders.

I have two 8 foot wide sliding glass doors in the great room area of the house. Unfortunately, they are so heavy that I can barely open them. :( I dont use them at all.

trifecta264-thanks for the info. I think it's too late to switch companies. I really appreciate the reference though!

This is my 8' slider in my dining room. They slide either way so that I can open either side and slide it to the other side. (notice the two door handles on each end?) Could you do something like this? I would think it would be better than two doors butting together in the middle.

Thanks cpartist, that is very nice! So, it looks like it is cost prohibitive to do an 8 x 8 ft. fixed panel next to a slider. (I must have gotten a good deal a few years ago because I installed 6 of them). I guess in that event, I will just choose the two sliders that meet in the middle.

Rockybird,

Here are a few people to get estimates from for the lift and slide. You mentioned that your current slider was difficult to use and that was one reason you were not enamored with them. The lift and slides really move like they are on a cushion of air.

1. Zola Windows
2. Dynamic Windows
3. Grabill Windows
4. Bieber Windows

Good luck!