Going to site visits for our clients means we get to see so many wonderful, newly renovated houses in Singapore.
So why do we get called into people’s homes within days of them moving in?
For something that many don’t realise the importance of until it’s too late – the windows.
It’s a common theme that we see so often – every single element of the renovation is carefully chosen right down to the smallest detail, but when it comes to the window replacement it is often sadly overlooked.
We recently went to see a client who had renovated a re-sale HDB. Her home was truly beautiful, and you could see they had planned the space to perfection. However, her house was next to a busy road intersection and her windows had been replaced with sliding units to coordinate with her décor scheme, but sadly they were very flimsy and the noise from the road below travelled straight into her bedroom all day and night. She was not sleeping well and was desperate for a solution. We unfortunately could not help her due to structural changes made so we advised her to replace the windows with casement, soundproof systems. The look of despair on her face as she realized this meant hacking and dust and more reno works really made us feel sad for her.
Here are a few suggestions on what to consider if you choose to replace your windows while renovating:
1. Sliding windows are generally the worst performing windows when it comes to sound proofing. This is because of the basic window structure as there needs to be gaps to allow for the smooth sliding along the tracks. These gaps are weak spots which allow air, noise and dust into your home. Casement windows don’t have these gaps for a track and therefore seal tighter. For more info on why sliding windows are not the best option for noise problems, read our article here.
2. Don’t always choose the cheapest option. We’ve seen some really awful windows that are paper-thin, with hinges and seals that will probably break within a year. Look instead for a window that offers fair value for your needs.
3. Ask important questions – where does the window and its components come from, and how long has the company been in business? Are the installers experienced, and will they install correctly and neatly? What is the warranty and service back-up like? Can you see a sample? Can they provide a recognized test for the whole window system and not just the glass alone?
We know that window replacement is not nearly as fun as choosing paint colours, cabinets or the best floor plan layout, but having windows that leak noise can really spoil the excitement and happiness of moving into your newly designed home.
If you are looking to add soundroofing to your windows, its a good idea to call us in before your reno starts so we can advise you better to ensure installation is possible.
Look out for our next article, where we will be looking at how to choose a suitable soundproof window.
