DIYbanter - View Single Post

wrote:
I made the mistake of buying a new duplex just 30 feet away from a road
where vehicles routinely pass by at 40+ mph every few minutes. I did
check the noise level before buying the house but my test case only
consisted of one car passing by at 25 mph. Plus the AC was on which
significantly damped out the sound ;-(
I spoked to some neighbours and they do not seem bothered by noise. I
suppose to each their own. I was hoping it bothered them too so we
could request the condo association to put up some kind of fence.
I did a google search and it seems I can reduce noise quite a lot by
doing some window "treatment". I have read about all sorts of things
from triple pane windows to interior windows to window plugs.
My question is there something really cheap I can build from materials
at Home Depot to see if this has potential? I thought I could buy some
half-inch plywood sheet, place it in the window frame and seal it with
old clothes.
What do you think?

First, how long have you lived there? I once rented an apartment that was
about that distance from a major highway. It took me well under a month to get
used to the noise level (and, having come from pretty rural area, it *did* take
some getting used to). Soothing background noise, if you choose to look at it
that way.

If you've been there more than a couple of months and still haven't adapted, I
have a feeling it's going to be cheaper to take your losses, sell, and move
elsewhere than to try to retrofit the condo.