How to Reduce Outside Noise with the Right Windows: A Practical Guide for Ottawa Homes

If you’ve lived in Ottawa long enough, you know the city isn’t as quiet as it used to be. Some neighbourhoods barely notice it, but in others, the noise has crept up year after year. Maybe you’re close to the Queensway and get that steady roar during rush hour. Maybe the LRT line cuts behind your street and rattles the windows when the train slides past. Or maybe it’s the construction — which seems to move from one end of the city to the other without ever stopping.

A lot of homeowners think, “Well, that’s city life,” and decide there’s nothing they can do. But windows actually play a bigger role than most people realise. Older double-pane units transmit sound very easily, and single-pane windows (still common in some older homes) don’t block much of anything. In the last few years, more people have been asking about ways to make inside spaces quieter — especially now that so many folks work from home or have kids who nap mid-day.

The good news: the right kind of window, installed properly, can cut noise down in a way you’ll notice immediately. Big City Windows & Doors handles this kind of upgrade all over Ottawa, and the difference is often dramatic — the sort of quiet you don’t really appreciate until you hear it.

What Causes Outdoor Noise Problems in Ottawa Homes

A few common culprits show up again and again when talking to homeowners:

Traffic.
The usual: buses on Bank Street, trucks along Hunt Club, cars accelerating onto the 417.

Construction.
New builds in Barrhaven, infill work downtown, road crews almost everywhere in summer.

Transit lines.
Homes within a few blocks of the LRT pick up both the sound and the low-frequency vibration.

How the noise actually gets in.
Most of it sneaks through the weak points — old seals, warped frames, thin glass, or the small gaps around windows that form over time. Even a tiny air leak can make noise feel louder than it should.

If your home feels louder than your neighbour’s, it’s usually the windows talking.

How Windows Block Sound: Explained the Simple Way

Soundproofing tends to sound technical, but the basics are straightforward:

1. More mass = less vibration.
   Thicker glass doesn’t shake as easily, so it transmits less noise.
2. Glass layers need different thicknesses.
   Two identical panes vibrate together. Mix the thicknesses and the vibration breaks, reducing noise.
3. The air space matters.
   A bigger gap between panes gives sound more distance to die out. This is why some triple-pane setups are noticeably quieter.
4. Laminated glass is the quietest.
   It has a clear inner layer that absorbs sound. It’s excellent for traffic noise, voices, and general city sounds.

If you ever come across “STC ratings,” that’s just the score windows get for sound control. Higher number = better noise reduction.

Best Window Types for Noise Reduction

If you’re trying to cut down outside noise, here are the window choices that actually make a difference:

Laminated glass windows
This is often the biggest improvement for city homes. The inner layer blocks sharp, high-frequency sounds — the kind you hear from buses and street noise.

Triple-pane windows
Not made specifically for soundproofing, but they help. You get better insulation in winter and a noticeable reduction in general noise.

Casement and awning windows
These seal tighter than sliders. Even with standard glass, they can block more sound simply because the seal is stronger.

Approximate STC Ranges (very simplified)

Window Type	STC Range	Notes
Regular double-pane	26–28	Basic noise control, nothing special
Double-pane + laminated	32–35	Strong performance for traffic
Triple-pane	30–36	Efficiency + noise reduction
Acoustic laminated	35–40+	Best option for busy roads

You don’t need the “highest number” — you need the right combination for your street and your house.

Installation Matters More Than People Think

You can buy the best acoustic glass on the market and still hear everything if the installation isn’t airtight. Noise behaves like water: it finds the smallest opening.

A solid installation includes:

• A tight fit in the opening
  No gaps around the frame.
  No crushed insulation.
  No shortcuts.
• Proper low-expansion foam
  This fills the perimeter without pushing the frame out of shape.
• High-quality exterior sealing
  If the caulking cracks or lifts, noise gets through even if the glass is perfect.

Big City Windows & Doors spends as much time on the fitting as the window itself. A lot of noise problems come from homes where the window was good, but the installation was rushed or mismatched to the house’s structure.

Additional Noise-Control Tips for Homeowners

New windows make the biggest difference, but a few small additions can help:

• Thick curtains or drapes — more for echo control, but still useful.
• Weather-stripping upgrades — especially around older doors.
• Door sweeps — great for blocking hallway noise in multi-level homes.
• Extra wall insulation — helps in older houses with thin walls.
• Soft furnishings — rugs, bookshelves, and upholstered pieces absorb sound.

You don’t need all of these — just think of them as extras you can add over time.

Why Ottawa Homeowners Choose Big City Windows & Doors

A lot of companies talk about noise reduction, but Ottawa has its own acoustic quirks — the LRT vibration, the echo from valley areas, the windy corridors downtown, even winter plows at 5:30 a.m.

Big City Windows & Doors knows these patterns well because the team works across the city daily.

Here’s what sets them apart:

Local experience with real noise issues.
They’ve handled installs near the Queensway, high-traffic intersections, and dense urban streets where noise is constant.

Strong glazing options for sound and efficiency.
Laminated, triple-pane, and other configurations tailored to each home.

In-home consultations.
Someone actually listens to the noise levels in your space and recommends the right setup — not a generic package.

Energy Star® performance.
You get quieter rooms and lower heating bills, which matters in Ottawa’s long winters.

A quieter home isn’t unrealistic. Most people just need a window system designed for the noise they live with — and installed with enough care that the glass can actually do its job.