Noise Reduction
Common outside noises such as nearby construction, quarrelling neighbours, screaming children or through traffic can be frustrating but at the end of the day bearable as long it stays on the outside of your house. Your home should be your sanctuary where you can switch off from hectic day and relax.
Generally noise affects one or two sides of house so you don’t necessarily need to treat all the windows but rather just a handful. This might typically cost a few thousand dollars ($5000-$10,000) but given the median cost of a house in Sydney or Melbourne is over $1 million dollars it means the investment in retrofitting double glazing is less than 1% of the value of your home. Not a huge cost for comfort when you think about it.
Soundproofing solutions can allow you to sit stress free while on a conference call, enjoy your family dinner or talk all night long with your friends (with zero interruptions).
Home Privacy
It’s easy to think that soundproofing your home is only efficient in blocking unwanted noise from the outside, however, it also blocks the noise inside from getting out. So, no matter if you are trying to manage the noise from your neighbours, or you are the noisy neighbour, you can be at peace knowing that your soundproofed windows maintain the privacy of everyone involved. You don’t want to have to tiptoe around your own house to placate the neighbours or worry they are listening in. Sometimes the cost of our own privacy is priceless.
Your Health
The constant loud noise your body is exposed to every day impacts both your physical and mental health. Prolonged exposure to noise has the potential to influence cardiovascular diseases, which include high blood pressure, stroke and other heart related diseases. The costs associated with the prolonged exposure of noise outweigh the cost of soundproofing installations in your home.
Regular exposure to noise can lead to a decline in sleep quality. With sleep being an essential part of our functioning, sleep deprivation comes with an array of health issues. From mood swings to memory retention, sleep is widely recognised for holding high importance to our daily functioning. Tossing and turning as you listen to the traffic or the party down the street can cause frustration and stress. This anxiety snowballs to make sleeping more difficult. What would you pay for a good nights sleep when you have an important meeting or event the next morning.
Return on Investment
According to YourHome, the Australian Government’s guide to environmentally sustainable houses, it is identified that the cost of cooling and heating your home and the cost of windows are very closely related. This in turn can mean that the installation of energy efficient windows can be a great investment towards reducing your annual energy bills, specifically during peak seasons. Depending on the size of your home, the costs and savings will be different for everyone. It is estimated that the standard house can save roughly $200-$300 per year with the installation of double glazing. If you are a heavy user of the heater or air-conditioner the savings may be higher. With the current cash rate in Australia of 0.1%, having your money in the bank is not very enticing. So if you can enjoy the desired benefit of warmth, comfort, and peace and quiet and save a few hundred dollars a year this is a good return on investment.
Is Soundproofing Your Windows Worth It?
While noise is something you might be able to live with for a little bit, population growth and the consequential rise in neighbourhood activity, will mean that the noise crisis will only continue to get worse. Therefore the installation of a double-glazed window is an investment that you (and your body) will appreciate.
Creating a home that prioritises your health and well-being is enough for us to think that soundproofing your home is worth it. On top of soundproofing, double-glazed windows also bring a reduction in heat loss or heat gain to create year-round thermal comfort in your home in addition to helping you save on those energy bills. All those benefits and just a fraction of the cost of the home you bought.
Magnetite’s Retrofit Double Glazing and Soundtite solutions can reduce up to 70% of noise coming through windows or doors. The systems are specifically designed to maximise the acoustic air cavity while minimising the noisy air leaks. Magnetite’s Double-Glazed Windows and Soundtite Secondary Aluminium System can be installed on existing windows and will provide your home with the comfort you desire. Get in touch with our Magnetite team for a free measure & quote and to see you the benefits for yourself.
