Living in London means dealing with noise. Traffic on the A40, trains rumbling through tube stations, planes overhead from Heathrow – it’s part of city life. But when that noise follows you home and disrupts your sleep or makes it impossible to focus during the day, it stops being charming and starts being a problem.
If you’ve been googling ‘soundproof windows’ at 2am because the night bus woke you up again, you’re not alone. Acoustic wooden windows might be the solution you’re looking for – but they’re not cheap, and they’re not right for everyone.
What Actually Makes a Window ‘Acoustic’?
An acoustic window isn’t magic—it’s just better at blocking sound than a standard window. Here’s what actually makes the difference:
• Laminated glass: Two or more sheets of glass bonded with a plastic interlayer. This dampens vibrations that carry sound.
• Asymmetric double glazing: Different thickness glass panes (e.g., 6mm + 10mm) work better than two identical panes because they disrupt different sound frequencies.
• Wider air gap: A 16mm gap between panes performs better than the standard 12mm.
• Proper sealing: Rubber gaskets and compression seals prevent sound leaking through gaps.
The timber frame itself doesn’t block sound as well as uPVC or aluminium, but it offers better thermal insulation and—crucially for period properties—looks authentic.
Understanding Decibel Reduction
Sound is measured in decibels (dB). A standard double-glazed window reduces noise by around 20-25 dB. Good acoustic windows can achieve 35-45 dB reduction.
Here’s what that actually means:
• Traffic at 80 dB (about as loud as a busy high street) reduced by 35 dB = 45 dB inside (similar to light rainfall)
• Aircraft at 90 dB reduced by 40 dB = 50 dB inside (quiet office level)
Worth noting: Every 10 dB reduction makes noise sound about half as loud to your ears. So a 30 dB reduction isn’t just ‘a bit quieter’—it’s dramatically quieter.
Choosing the Right Windows for Your Property
Not all acoustic windows are created equal. Here’s what to consider:
Window Style
Sash windows suit period properties but are harder to seal perfectly (more potential for sound leaks). Casement windows seal better but look wrong on Victorian or Georgian buildings. If you’re in a conservation area, you’ll likely need to match existing styles anyway.
Timber Type
• Accoya: Engineered timber that’s rot-resistant and stable. Premium option, lasts 50+ years with minimal maintenance.
• Oak: Traditional, beautiful, expensive. Needs regular maintenance but can last a century.
• Engineered pine: Mid-range option. More stable than solid pine, less maintenance than oak.
Conservation Area Requirements
If your property is listed or in a conservation area, you’ll need planning permission for new windows. Expect your local council to require like-for-like replacements—same style, same materials, sometimes even the same glazing pattern. This can add 8-12 weeks to your project timeline.
What Else Do You Get?
Acoustic windows aren’t single-purpose. The same features that block sound also improve other aspects:
Energy Efficiency
Better sealing and thicker glazing mean less heat loss. You’re looking at U-values around 1.2-1.4 W/m²K (lower is better). Standard double glazing sits around 1.6-2.0. That translates to roughly 15-20% reduction in heating costs for a typical Victorian terrace.
Security
Laminated glass is harder to break through than standard glass. The plastic interlayer holds the glass together even when shattered. Add multi-point locking mechanisms and you’ve significantly upgraded your home security.
Maintenance
Timber windows (https://woodenwindows-online.co.uk/windows/) need repainting every 5-8 years depending on exposure. Accoya can stretch this to 10 years. Factory-applied microporous paint systems last longer than DIY jobs. Budget around £150-250 per window for professional repainting.
What Does This Actually Cost?
This is where it gets expensive. Acoustic wooden windows aren’t cheap, and anyone telling you otherwise is selling something.
Typical Price Ranges (Supply + Installation, London, 2025):
• Standard casement window (1200mm x 1200mm): £1,200-1,800
• Acoustic casement with laminated glass: £1,800-2,500
• Sash window (standard): £2,000-3,000
• Acoustic sash window: £2,800-4,200
For a typical 3-bedroom Victorian terrace (8-10 windows), you’re looking at £18,000-£35,000 total. That’s not pocket change.
What Affects the Price:
• Timber choice: Oak costs 40-60% more than engineered pine
• Custom sizing: Non-standard sizes add 15-25% to the cost
• Installation complexity: Listed buildings or difficult access can double installation costs
• Location: Central London prices run 20-30% higher than outer zones
Lead times typically run 8-12 weeks for custom orders, longer if you need conservation area approval.
Is It Worth It?
Depends entirely on your situation. If you’re on a main road, under a flight path, or near a train line, and noise is genuinely affecting your quality of life—probably yes. If you’re just looking for a minor improvement, probably not.
The difference is noticeable. One client near King’s Cross went from being woken by the first train at 5:30am to sleeping through until their alarm at 7am. Another in Hammersmith can now have a phone conversation in their living room without shouting over the A4 traffic. These aren’t small quality-of-life improvements.
But if your main concern is resale value, the math gets trickier. You might add £15,000-20,000 to your property value, but you’ve just spent £25,000-35,000. The energy savings help—maybe £200-400 per year on heating bills—but you’re still looking at a 20-30 year payback period on pure economics.
The real value is in livability. If you can afford it and noise is driving you mad, acoustic windows work. They’re not a miracle cure—you’ll still hear loud motorbikes and sirens—but they’ll take the edge off constant background noise and let you sleep, work, and relax in your own home.
What to Watch Out For
• Get the dB reduction in writing: Some companies quote theoretical maximums rather than realistic performance. Ask for independently tested Rw ratings.
• Check warranty terms carefully: A ‘5-year warranty’ might only cover manufacturing defects, not seal failures or timber warping.
• Installation matters as much as the windows: A £3,000 window installed badly will perform worse than a £1,500 window installed well. Gaps around frames are where sound leaks in.
• Secondary glazing might be enough: If your existing windows are in good condition, adding secondary glazing (£300-600 per window) can achieve 80% of the noise reduction at 30% of the cost.
Don’t assume acoustic windows solve everything. If you have thin walls, noise will still come through those. If you have gaps under doors or old air vents, sound will find those routes. Windows are usually the weakest point, but they’re not always the only weak point.
Bottom Line
Acoustic wooden windows (https://www.woodenwindows-online.co.uk/windows/) are expensive but effective. They’ll significantly reduce traffic, train, and aircraft noise. They’ll improve insulation and security as a bonus. They’ll also cost you more than a decent second-hand car.
If noise is seriously impacting your sleep, health, or ability to work from home, they’re worth considering. Get quotes from at least three suppliers, ask for independently tested performance data, and make sure installation is done properly.
And if you’re in a conservation area, start your planning application early. You’ll be waiting a while.