Soundproof windows?

[going crazy]

what about if a nail up 3/4 inch plywood over my window from the outside sealing it good with thick stick on foam?

[Rance]

Yes definately nail plywood over all your windows. Maybe tuck some insulation or styrofoam between the plywood and the glass.
Then maybe run down to the local Dr's office and see if there isn't something more going on with your lack of sleep issues. If you can hear traffic 2 miles away with a ceiling fan and tv on...your like superman!

[Blondie621]

I have double pane Anderson windows! They are the best for noise and insulation. I never know when it is raining or when my sprinkler system is on. They keep most lower level noise out. I do not hear police sirens, dog barking etc. They are excellent noise reduction windows!

[f_m]

Originally Posted by going crazy

what about if a nail up 3/4 inch plywood over my window from the outside sealing it good with thick stick on foam?

That might work, as you are preventing vibrations from reaching the window. What you want is density, since that dampens sound. Generally, mass loaded vinyl is used since it's very heavy but formable. If you have a window sill, then put cardboard against the glass on the inside and stuff the sill area with dense material, like the vinyl or heavy foam, then cover it with dense board. You need to seal the edges, because it's the seal that traps the vibration from coming through, along with the dense material.

Actual windows that are for this purpose:
Milgard Quietline windows are double windows, the frame is a few inches deep and there is a pane exposed to the outside and a pane on the inside of the sill (you have to slide 2 windows to open the window). That style of window traps the air between the panes, dampening the vibration from passing through.

[tmakogon]

In moderate noise cases such as traffic noise a weekend do-it-yourself project for 1st (ground) floor bedrooms may help.
First soundproof the ways where the most noise enters: windows, and if you have it a patio door.
Installing a pane of 1/4 inch thick laminated glass outside each window will effectively cut noise in half.
Laminated glass 3/8 inch thick may be better, but it will be too heavy to lift and hold while installing it.
Caulk and secure every inch of the new pane to the frame so there are no gaps for noise to enter through. Follow fire code to ensure there are enough ways to exit bedroom, e.g. through a bathroom.
Add brackets to hold the glass in place if the existing frame does not have grooves for extra pane support. As always measure, measure, measure before you order and when you pick up glass panes.
Laminated glass cost about $10/sq ft +tax if you install yourself in 2012 dollars.
Installing a storm door with laminated security glass outside a patio door cuts the bedroom noise also.
Storm door with laminated security glass such as Larson cost about $500 installed. Key word here is laminated glass. Door installation is best left to a pro.

Having a fence or a wall between the noise source and bedroom, even at half height helps but does not cut all noise. Adding an awning over the window top half may help some more.

In more difficult cases such as bedroom facing a street without any fence, even a 2-4 ft tall one to cut exhaust noise path, consider moving the bedroom to the opposite side of the house. Convert the master bedroom facing the street to a guest suite so that visitors would not stay for too long.

With extreme cases such as rail tracks with constant diesel noise, highway traffic or plane landing path it's simpler to move houses.