My home has single pane windows and I would like to convert the windows to double pane. The home is brick so I know it would be expensive to remove the existing windows. I would rather not go that route. Is there a way to leave the existing window in place and add another pane to the existing window? If there are other options I am all ears. Thanks in advance.

Eddie

 

eddie,

Have you considered adding storm windows?

 

I hadn't thought about storm windows. Are they easy to install? Is that something the HD or Lowes would have in stock? Thanks for the initial reply.

Eddie

 

eddie are your windows wood or metal? Also depends on where you live.

Storm windows are a cheap easy solution, and should be pretty easy to install, but not as efficient as replacement windows. Also makes cleaning kind of a pain.

 

My windows are made of aluminum.

I found a do-it-yourself window that I may try to install. It's made of plexiglass. Do you know if plexiglass has the same noise resistance as glass? I also wanted to reduce the noise levels in the home. Thanks again.

Eddie

PS: I live in SW Texas and it's always hot.

 

Not sure what a DIY window of plexiglass is. Some sort of storm panel? If it really is plexiglass, plan on it discoloring and crazing in a few years of that Texas sun. I can't imagine they will increase your energy efficiency much, if thats a concern.
Not sure about the sound levels either.

For more money you could probably put in replacement window inserts. They should sell them down there, they do here in AZ, since so many of the homes are brick, block and stucco. Basically you take the window sashes out of the metal frame leaving the frame intact, insert the vinyl replacement, attach it, then snap trim over the interior to cover the metal frame.

Storm windows would also be a way to go. Cheaper than replacement inserts, and easy to install. May have to be custom ordered, I know they don't stock them anywhere where I live. Probably about 1/3 the cost of the inserts mentioned above.

You could do a few at a time as money is available. Put them in the rooms that receive the most sun for the quickest improvement in comfort and energy losses. Make sure you get LoE coating on the glass, I'm sure wherever you look would be able to tell you about that.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I will let you know later what I decided on. Good week to you.

E

 

brick homes are usually the easiest homes to replace the entire window on, i would take advantage of that fact and just replace the whole window. where in the u.s. do you live? the window trade is completely different from one climate to the next so you need to get some advice from somebody that replaces windows in your type of climate.
i say don't do the plexiglass window, i don't think you'll be happy with it down the road, windows are one of those things that you don't want the cheapest you can find, it will be worth paying a little bit more for a nicer window, and plexiglass scratches way too easy.

 

To replace the window on a brick home requires the removal of the brick. The brick I have may be hard to match and that will be a problem. Is there a way to replace the window without removing the brick? The present window is nailed to the wall studs which are covered with brick. Seems that would be difficult. What are your thought?

Thanks...

Eddie

 

Plastics, either acrylic (plexiglass) or polycarbonate (Lexan) have about half the sound blocking ability of glass at an equal weight. So, a sheet of glass weighing 10lbs and a sheet of plastic weighing 20lbs (equal size, but different thickness to achieve the weight) will have about the same ability to attenuate (block) sound.

 

So to get the same noise attenuation with plexiglass as that of glass I would need a plexiglass twice the thickness of glass to get the same effect. Thanks for your input.

E

 

Yep, since plexiglas weighs about half as much as glass does.

Also, keep in mind that in order to stop unwanted sound, you have to stop air passage as well. If air can get thru an opening, so can sound.

 

I would think that a good silicone caulking would do the trick. Thanks for the reply.

E