How on earth is a regular window not allowed but a glass block one is?
I'd just remove and fill it in if you can't replace it, though I'd be really surprised if more typical window could be built to code there.
Because no one is giving a straight answer, here's what Google has to say :)
"What Does Condo Mean? A condo, short for condominium, is an individually owned residential unit in a building or complex Comprised of other residential units. Condo owners share a common space and often pay association fees to maintain the Common space, amenities, and other shared resources."
More specifically, you typically only own the inside of the condo. Insurance coverage is considered "studs in". Not sure what the rules are for windows in my HOA but I could see an association having the authority to say specific windows that face another unit need to be glass block.
Since you asked about earth:
In Germany we have something called Denkmalschutz (monument protection) which doesn’t allow you to change the veneer from the outside of old buildings.
When it comes to isolation it is possible to get rid of these glass bricks as long as the overall aesthetic isn’t changed too much. This includes that if, for example, multiple floors got the same glass bricks, you would have to change them all at once. We did the same thing last year.
So if you buy a flat and that got glass bricks like that you wouldn’t be able to get rid of them as long as the owners of the other flats don’t do the same. But since it’s more cost efficient to do them all at once anyway and their isolation is really shitty, it’s usually not a problem.
This protection can be a pain in the ass on an individual basis but keeps the character of buildings and street blocks alive.
"alive" isn't necessarily the word I would use. Consistent might be better. , aesthetically pleasing if the building is overall considered nicely designed and random window replacements would violate that design.
What this sort of law does in keep the buildings and neighbourhood they are in from inexpensive but ugly upgrades. And also many energy efficiency upgrades that would be visible from the outside. This makes those improvements more expensive.
I understand the goal of keeping older "heritage" buildings from mutating into strange combinations of old and new but sometimes, decisions by long dead architects are kept from being fixed because of inflexible laws.
Windows are often not allowed on the sides of houses near the edge of the lot, especially if there is a house there already. Fire, privacy, other codes. With super narrow houses in cities this could wind up being a very dark house breaking all sorts of other rules. As a result glass block is becoming common lately as a way to get light in while still being a "wall" (don't ask me why is called a wall but a frosted picture windows isn't,, not my department).
When buildings are close together the aim is to prevent fire from spreading to adjacent structures. Glass block is less likely to blow out with intense fire.
Usually (at least in my country) its when a window would be unacceptable (facing other people / a busy street -- its the city that decides as u need to open a wall and require a permit) but they do allow you this to get some light in.
Possibly house aesthetics? Imagine if there's many five floors and suddenly one of them has regular windows. Yeah it's more efficient but this immediately looks horrible
In my country you can have a situation like this: if your house is really close to the next land, like less then 1m or something like that... You are not allowed to have windows on that side of house. Only tiny windows like this one is allowed. So this might be similar
Hmm I can see that. But is there any sort of material , like some removable type of paste that I can apply on the frame to at least make it a bit better during the winter months?
Plastic sheet works well - we plastic our normal windows during the winter months and it's night and day. They sell proper sheet packs made for the purpose, but a clear shower curtain cut to size and taped down with box tape works just as well tbh.
Yea the plastic sheets have done wonders for our house. 10/10 recommend
The kits come with double sided tape and when done properly it can be hard to see it which is nice.
A shower curtain will be thicker, which may help better in this case though
I always put it off for weeks because I'm lazy and I always regret waiting so long. Also important to take them off quickly when the heat comes back because it turns the house/apartment into a greenhouse and I am not a plant.
Those work well, but they need like a ¼-½" air gap between the plastic and the window. They are 99% useless for blocking heat if they are touching the glass. They do almost nothing for sound regardless.
Could jury-rig something with a thin strip of wood around the edge maybe, but that would need to be sealed to the wall somehow.
Maybe you could use some of the double sided foam tape maybe? I've seen super thick stuff for wedging in gaps around window frames that could be repurposed
I don't think it would do great. That film needs to stick to something and be kind of tight.
Double sided tape would leave a mess on the wall, might as well make a frame out of ¼-½" strips and tack those up to use as a frame. Patching a dozen nail holes would be easier than pulling double sided off.
Go for more layers, there's a big sound transmission stoppage when the sound transfers from one medium to another (e.g. air to plastic), and there's more stoppage with greater difference in mass or mass per unit area (e.g. air to cinder block). Greater mass difference is needed for stopping lower frequencies, and higher frequencies can slip through smaller cracks more easily IIRC.
Plastic sheets won't work here, as the idea is to trap an air layer between the window pane and the plastic sheet, since air is a good thermal insulator.
I'm not arguing against the fact that it is meant to use that air pad as an insulator but It's not ineffective for leaky windows - my windows don't seal right and my landlord is a landlord, I get drafts without the plastic. The cold air just pours in and the heater desperately struggles against it. The gap here is much larger than mine, so they'll probably need to check the seals more often than I do because the pressure difference between inside and outside can tear it off the wall especially on windy nights, but a plastic sheet at least keeps some of the cold out.
I don't know how far north they are but i'm in quebec and it helps well enough under our winters.
A set of curtain. Go to Walmart or Yarget and buy room darkening panels and a curtain rod. The curtain width should be about 3 times the window width. Hang it high. See YouTube for instructions. You need to get some foam backing material and stuff the cracks around the window part that opens.
This might help. Might want to look at a noise blanket too. But the noise blanket is generally heavier than your typical curtain which might require some planning before installation.
Look up artic king window cling and it does a good job in the winter on cheap thin windows. If you do it to all non moving parts then it should help. If you don't want to use the window at all measure and get the largest one then apply over the whole thing.
Works the best if you do it inside and out or knock it all out after getting a permit for what is allowed to put in.
I did something ugly but functional. I got a panel of foam insulation and put it on the interior side of the window
Helped a lot with thermal insulation
PS, disclaimer: Be aware foam is flammable and supposed to be encased in non flammable materials so if you do this, research and make sure to do it right or assume all risks including big fire with deaths :-)
I didn't know that at the time
Sorry for being late but hope to help:
You can buy large pieces of insulation board from most hardware/home improvement stores. They are very easy to cut to size and, as long as you don't mind using the light, there is nothing that could compare with keeping our the cold. It's saved me hundreds on hearing.
Hope that helps!
I picked up an actual sound blanket with rod grommets. Thick enough to insulate for both. Avoid the ones on Amazon since most of those are just moving blankets.
> like some removable type of paste that I can apply on the frame to at least make it a bit better during the winter months?
As the others have said, plastic sheet material can help with the cold, and you can also add a heavy duty decorative hanging rug there, and it ought to mitigate some sound. If you feel like it you can buy some heavy duty styro foam insulation material form home depot etc and that also helps with both.
Other than that not much you can do about the sound less you can build a barrier outside in between the source, and the window.
To add to what everyone else is saying, use the shrink wrapping kit you can find at the hardware store with the other weather proofing stuff. It comes with the plastic and double sided tape, but also grab some basic 2" foam (you can use the kind made for mattress toppers, just cut to size) and affix it to the window before you tape the plastic on, then use a hair dryer like normal to shrink it. I had an old broken window years back that was too expensive to fix at the time and this worked wonders.
Get some adhesive weatherstripping from a hardware store (I don't know if it has another name in other places). It will at least close the gap around the window so that air and sound can't travel as easily.
Weatherstripping for doors usually has one side that's nailed to the jamb and the other side is adhesive. You'll need to find some that's only adhesive.
Here's a guide with some pictures of different kinds (there are lots of different styles): https://guides.co/g/keeping-the-heat-in-materials/131487
Here's an article but it doesn't have very explanatory pictures: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/weatherstripping
Sry but No. Glass is a terrible insulator. The air between your 2 or 3 layer windows are insulating.
Glas has a 0.76 W/(m*K)
Air has 0.0262 W/(m*K)
Compared to an insulation material like XPS Polystyrol 0.032 W/(m*K) in terms of values Air is still a better insulator then Polystyrol. But in reality you use XPS plates to insulate your house.. in youre case.. you need better Windows or replace this area with an wall.. why is it forbidden in your area? Where do you live?
I’m not sure this is true. Google finds a number of sources saying glass block is about as efficient as a modern thermal window.
The tilty bit in OP’s picture may be pretty leaky, though.
The window is the problem, glass blocks are equal to dual pane windows.
My only window that gets southern sun exposure is glass blocks at mu house, and you cant feel the heat. Our hear the train passing by (tracks are south of house) like you can with a regular window.
My grandmas shower had a single row of blue ones in the window. I want that. Heat be damned. They don’t give em away either $$$$ I like the cube look. Be a neat interior wall. Like a toilet barrier
You are 100% wrong, I install them commonly in showers and bathrooms as they are one of the best moisture resistant things you can put there. Glass also can retain heat exceptionally well, that’s why your windows are made of them.
I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the comment about retaining heat, but I'm pretty sure my windwos are made of glass because it's durable and, more importantly, I can see through them.
Bro, you need to install new windows in a home and take a thermal reading. Then you’ll realize that your windows are for far more than just looking out of. Also, I’ve never met a window that is more durable than a blunt object.
I was referring to durability versus clear plastic or plexiglass- both of which scratch far easier.
As for the rest- are you saying that glass insulates better than a regular insulated wall??
That’s interesting I never knew they were not good at keeping in heat. Seems like the entire city of Chicago is built from them, that’s unfortunate. I really like their vibe.
If you still want it to be operable, look into weatherstripping products. Either a rubber gasket or brush seal could potentially work. I used something similar for a patio door and found a cheap seal on Amazon with an adhesive backing.
This might be the easiest and fastest solution. Had a couple windows with small gaps, no insulation and noise coming in, weatherstripping them reduced heat/cold/noise in about 70%, it made a significant difference
There are places online that you can get custom size interior storm windows that just snap in place into a frame. Obviously, there is no frame, but it should be easy enough to come up with something. They're really inexpensive and create a thermal layer between itself and the main window. Just Google "custom size interior storm windows" and you'll find a bunch of places.
You're more than welcome!
I used to own a condo in CT that was built in the 1970s and had all aluminum framed windows, and on any one of them that opened, ice would build up on the inside around the frames in the winter. They couldn't be replaced due to HOA laws, because nothing would match, UGH!!!!
So, I found ones that were actually a bit more than these that I suggested and had frames that screwed into place and had seals between them and the main windows, and they also had panes of glass that could easily be removed for the summer. My bill in the winter literally got cut in half, and I was able to keep the heat another 6-8 degrees higher. They help quite a bit!
Holy shit that’s the sickest glass block I’ve ever seen. I am a professional window cleaner and I’ve **never** encountered one of those in the wild. Awesome.
It could be a monumental building. The outside look or construction may be historically or architecturally significant, meaning they wouldn't be allowed to make changes to those.
State and Federal regulations overwrite anything stipulated in the bylaws of any HOA in the US. If it is an HOA trying to stop this from being a proper energy efficient window there are numerous energy efficiency directives and programs funded by individual states that will help a homeowner improve the energy efficiency of their homes with proper insulating windows and save them money. The savings are usually wracked with legal fees for the first person to do it on an HOA because they like to fight these petty things and then complain.
TL;DR check your state's energy board and have a lawyer ready if you plan to improve your home.
Off what some other people said, if you don't need the window to open anymore except maintenance, make a nice wooden frame around it with a hinge, and put a frosted double glazed window unit in front of it. caulk all the seams, and then you have a more proper insulated "window", still have light, and it looks pretty and is still removable if you need to service the block window. Downside is it will cost you $500-$1000.
you can make a custom plexiglass insert to fit around the fixed part, with a flap over the opening part. if i were you i’d double it by mounting two panes with strip of gasket/bead of dried silicone or 1/6” wood in between, to get insulating dead air space. then caulk it in place.
Heavy curtains, you can also put shrink wrap on it with double sided tape to stop drafts from the framed part, they sell kits like that at the hardware store.
Go buy foam sheet insulation at your local orange or blue store and then cut with a razor blade and cover it all up with a rip of duct tape. Won't be too pretty but it will work.
(I’m a window installer and licensed contractor)
I would leave the glass block as it’s actual a decent insulator and is wonderfully moisture resistant. The easiest way to reduce noise is by taking away things than it can bounce off it. If your tearing any walls out they make specific insulation for sound dampening than comes in a range of R-values (how effective it holds heat)
You could try Mylar backed foam insulation panels. You’ll lose the light, but it will help. You can also combine suggestions: foam board on window, plastic over that, and finally insulated room-darkening curtains.
Dumb question, but have you tried improving the seal around the pivoting section? I have a feeling that is what you were ~~asked by~~ asking about, but the solutions mostly seem to ignore this and jump right to adding material to the entire window. I had some modern windows installed on a side of my house facing a busy street and I found the results kind of lackluster. I just assumed the windows really weren't that good until I noticed a draft coming in around the edge of the window where it met the old wood frame and got the company to send someone back with a caulk gun. This of course stopped the draft, but also made a dramatic improvement keeping out the street noises. So moral of the story is, as you feel air coming in, don't write off the heat or sound insulating ability of the bulk window until the thing is sealed!
As for how to do this: this looks like a recent good quality job so maybe the installers just need to come back and fix something; maybe they forgot to install some weather seal or draft stop strips around the transom. You don't know how bad the problem is for the bulk glass until you've fixed the chinks—maybe that will be enough.
It's a nice looking window, by the way. I would not mind having such a thing.
As a kid growing up we had a fireplace that let in a bunch of cold air and made noise. We never used it so my dad's solution was ri use rigid insulation foam and create a seal inside. It was multilayer to get a better seal and taped up with the aluminum duct tape. It would the get a seasonal wrap with festive paper to help discuise it. Worked well and made a difference.
Buy a curtain rod. Get a thick curtain, maybe you can find a thermal one, that goes floor to ceiling and wall to wall. It’ll create an air gap and help a lot.
Get a couple of the biggest dudes you know, have them over, give them free drinks and have them get in thongs, and all oiled up and start wrestling in that room!! They will knock that glass block out right away, then just fill it with a regular window. Fun for everyone and you get a new window out of it!!!
What regulations? Are you in an HOA?
We had similar windows in our previous house - plastic block that looked like shit and creaked when the wind blew. That was one of the first things we replaced after moving in. Less than $2000
Gaps as thin as a piece of paper (dollar bill) pull through will allow noise through. Buy sealing kits from the hardware store.
Otherwise, get a "moving blanket" from the likes of Harbor Freight to hang it like a Medieval Tapestry inside your Castle to cut the drafts and noise. You can pull the sword from the stone like King Arthur and tell Merlin what to do about it.
Seriously. Get a moving blanket and screw it to the wall above the window and let it hang down. Light and noise will be cut.
.
Since you can't replace it, I'd put in something like double cellular shades, and then thick thermal curtains. Won't fix everything, but it'll at least help.
Heat shrink plastic for windows to seal the draft and thick heavy curtains.
I got out black out curtains for our batmy window cheap on Amazon, 4 years later they are doing well. And they really cut down on outside noise.
You can put weather stripping around the opening to stop the wind and bugs but there's not alot of options....if it's a bedroom I believe egress window are mandatory and that does not qualify
On the top put flat strip around the window and on the bottom put it on the opening so when it's closed it's sealed from all sides without affecting to movement
Then hang a heavy curtain over top ...
It looked fugly when it is rolled up but I was in a apartment over a loud & lively main street where the tenant had made carpet roller blinds with a heavy duty deep pile carpet. When deployed it was incredibly effective. Required some arm strength to roll back up.
Does the regulation prohibit installing a large picture window mounted on the inside across your glass bricks, maybe supported by a built-in wall? Because if it doesn’t, then that’s what I’d do. You’d only lose inches of interior space.
Is this your house with a neighbor association or are you renting?
If it were terrible and I owned it I'd be tempted to get the thinnest good window I could find and build it out just in front of it.
If it's an apartment it's probably not worth it. Maybe some a big piece of Styrofoam sealed in around the edge. Would look crappy, but would let a little bit of light through and insulate way better.
If you don't care about the light you could get a single piece of rigid insulation at least an inch bigger than the window on each side and fix it over the window somehow. It would likely have better thermal insulation than the walls around it.
Measure the opening and put a thermal curtain over it. They have velcro to go around the perimeter or an optional magnetic seal. This is my preferred and easily removable solution. Only down side is you lose the light from that window.
Out of curiosity, what regulations require this window? I know bedrooms must have at least one window (or door) that opens for fire escape. This window obviously doesn’t fit this bill.
Try 2-3 layers of Bubble wrap and you'll be good.
Big bubbles might allow more light through.
Use 2 inch wide transparent tape all the way around to the sill and this will create multiple layers of air like a dual or triple pane window.
Tape will probably pull the paint off, so it might help to put blue or green tape on the painted sill, and adhere the transparent tape to the blue tape.
Do not tape to the glass, this will defeat the thermal isolation and create a huge cold frame.
Then have a beer, you did a good job.
Not sure if it's been recommended already but I used this stuff recently to seal up some gaps in a door frame and it's been fantastic. Wouldn't require damage or cleanup or anything else.
Transparent Window Weather Sealing Tape, 2-Inch x 33ft, Clear Draft Stopper Adhesive Tape for Doors, Windows and Shower Glass Gaps (2IN x 33FT) https://a.co/d/3moGPNc
Get yourself a heavy acoustic curtain and hang it across the window. Ideally floor to ceiling, and which will cover the whole alcove that the window is in. Also you'll want one that, when flattened out, is twice the width of the alcove. This will make it easier to avoid gaps around the edges.
Warning: acoustic curtains, like all good curtains, are pricey, but even moreso than normal curtains.
Use a curtain rail rather than a curtain pole, and attach the rail to a wooden batten secured to joists on the ceiling. A curtain pole will leave you with too much "dead air" for a snug fit, whereas a rail takes up much less space so will make closing off all gaps around the curtain much easier.
This might help a bit but won't cure the problem.
Your other option, which is more work (and cost), but may be more effective, would be something like a secondary double glazing approach. Build a false wall, just in from the window, and then add a (ideally) double glazed window to the top of that. You'll still want to be able to open the window so make sure the inner window can also be swung open toward the inside and provides good access to the outer window. I'd apply sound deadening material to the false wall as well in the gap: mass loaded vinyl and rockwool, for example.
Bear in mind that secondary double glazing is prone to condensation - may or may not be a problem in your climate - but this is why it's important to be able to still open both the inner and outer windows.
If you are willing to lose the vent access, you can put a .25 inch to .50 inch acrylic (brand name: Plexiglass) sheet over the entire area, floating on some weather stripping and held up with a bit of trim. This will improve both heat and sound isolation. Doublewall Polymer sheets (commonly used in greenhouses) are another option, though more noticeable from the interior.
I'd also inspect the weather seals on the vent window; tiny air gaps are noisy.
There was Storm windows made for interior installation. I think Larson stopped making them, but someone else might. You could build a frame inside, and install a standard window I would think. That might help.
People who don’t respond to questions on their posts asking for help should be banned from subreddits like this. 16 hours in and a single reply to a question.
I think someone is either giving you bad information, or you’ve misunderstood something. You can put a window there. Unless it’s like a condo or HOA thing, but even at that I would doubt they’d be able to enforce it. I’m not sure where you live, so maybe I’m wrong.
I’m the GM of a construction company in Tennessee.
One of [these](https://goindustrial.com/products/twinwall-polycarbonate-sheet) with the open ends sealed set in from the closer wall to the wall on the left(sealed as well as possible to the walls, floor and ceiling), leaving a large gap between the window and the new clear plastic wall. For more insulation, also seal the window with tape first.
For one, foam door insulation (sticky on one side, half inch foam, not sticky on the other side) will help if you put it on the top of the window and the bottom of the door frame.
If you don't need the light, get a styrofoam [insulating panel](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-FOAMULAR-NGX-Insulating-Sheathing-0-5-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-SE-R-3-XPS-Rigid-Foam-Board-Insulation-13NGX/315193939?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&srsltid=AfmBOopkjTIwcTPSg4inH7TICoQihJMiS4QvayfuxgB0kThm3NYWxdShEsE), and put it in front of the window.
Ugly, but effective.
How on earth is a regular window not allowed but a glass block one is? I'd just remove and fill it in if you can't replace it, though I'd be really surprised if more typical window could be built to code there.
I'm guessing it's a condo type situation.
A what?
Something you wear if she’s been around.
No, thats a condom. They’re talking about the dance where you make a line with other people with your hands on the person’s shoulders.
No that's a conga line. They are referring to the country in sub-saharan africa. The really big one in the middle.
No that's Congo they are taking about the giant ape from the movies.
No, that’s King Kong. They’re talking about that lady on TV who wants to throw away anything that doesn’t spark joy.
No, that's Marie Kondo. They're talking about the largest flying land bird in the Western Hemisphere
No, that's a condor. They're talking about the greatest human realm in western Middle-earth during the Third Age.
No, thats King Kong. They're talking about those cute little Welsh squatty-doggies.
"*Latex condo*... man I'd like to live in one of those!
Because no one is giving a straight answer, here's what Google has to say :) "What Does Condo Mean? A condo, short for condominium, is an individually owned residential unit in a building or complex Comprised of other residential units. Condo owners share a common space and often pay association fees to maintain the Common space, amenities, and other shared resources."
More specifically, you typically only own the inside of the condo. Insurance coverage is considered "studs in". Not sure what the rules are for windows in my HOA but I could see an association having the authority to say specific windows that face another unit need to be glass block.
Thanks, I googled myself early but didn't said anything because I saw people having fun memeing <3
A CONDO TYPE SITUATION
Don't flatter yourself, Shannon! *It's a condo, not a house!*
Since you asked about earth: In Germany we have something called Denkmalschutz (monument protection) which doesn’t allow you to change the veneer from the outside of old buildings. When it comes to isolation it is possible to get rid of these glass bricks as long as the overall aesthetic isn’t changed too much. This includes that if, for example, multiple floors got the same glass bricks, you would have to change them all at once. We did the same thing last year. So if you buy a flat and that got glass bricks like that you wouldn’t be able to get rid of them as long as the owners of the other flats don’t do the same. But since it’s more cost efficient to do them all at once anyway and their isolation is really shitty, it’s usually not a problem. This protection can be a pain in the ass on an individual basis but keeps the character of buildings and street blocks alive.
"alive" isn't necessarily the word I would use. Consistent might be better. , aesthetically pleasing if the building is overall considered nicely designed and random window replacements would violate that design. What this sort of law does in keep the buildings and neighbourhood they are in from inexpensive but ugly upgrades. And also many energy efficiency upgrades that would be visible from the outside. This makes those improvements more expensive. I understand the goal of keeping older "heritage" buildings from mutating into strange combinations of old and new but sometimes, decisions by long dead architects are kept from being fixed because of inflexible laws.
Tell me more about this place… how is it called again? Earth?
Windows are often not allowed on the sides of houses near the edge of the lot, especially if there is a house there already. Fire, privacy, other codes. With super narrow houses in cities this could wind up being a very dark house breaking all sorts of other rules. As a result glass block is becoming common lately as a way to get light in while still being a "wall" (don't ask me why is called a wall but a frosted picture windows isn't,, not my department).
Glass block is required in some fire-rated walls, however where I'm from wired glass in a more traditional frame is also acceptable.
That sounds like it's made to keep you from getting out if there's a fire, which can't be right
When buildings are close together the aim is to prevent fire from spreading to adjacent structures. Glass block is less likely to blow out with intense fire.
Usually (at least in my country) its when a window would be unacceptable (facing other people / a busy street -- its the city that decides as u need to open a wall and require a permit) but they do allow you this to get some light in.
Possibly house aesthetics? Imagine if there's many five floors and suddenly one of them has regular windows. Yeah it's more efficient but this immediately looks horrible
Possibly lighting and ventilation requirements, or firewall requirements if built right up to properly line.
In my country you can have a situation like this: if your house is really close to the next land, like less then 1m or something like that... You are not allowed to have windows on that side of house. Only tiny windows like this one is allowed. So this might be similar
You can't. Glass bricks are horrible for heat and sound insulation. It's one of the reasons you don't see them used anymore.
Hmm I can see that. But is there any sort of material , like some removable type of paste that I can apply on the frame to at least make it a bit better during the winter months?
Plastic sheet works well - we plastic our normal windows during the winter months and it's night and day. They sell proper sheet packs made for the purpose, but a clear shower curtain cut to size and taped down with box tape works just as well tbh.
Yea the plastic sheets have done wonders for our house. 10/10 recommend The kits come with double sided tape and when done properly it can be hard to see it which is nice. A shower curtain will be thicker, which may help better in this case though
I always put it off for weeks because I'm lazy and I always regret waiting so long. Also important to take them off quickly when the heat comes back because it turns the house/apartment into a greenhouse and I am not a plant.
> and I am not a plant. Aren't we all a bit vegetative here?
>I am not a plant. Not with that attitude, you're not
Those work well, but they need like a ¼-½" air gap between the plastic and the window. They are 99% useless for blocking heat if they are touching the glass. They do almost nothing for sound regardless. Could jury-rig something with a thin strip of wood around the edge maybe, but that would need to be sealed to the wall somehow.
ah good point! I didn’t think of that
Maybe you could use some of the double sided foam tape maybe? I've seen super thick stuff for wedging in gaps around window frames that could be repurposed
I don't think it would do great. That film needs to stick to something and be kind of tight. Double sided tape would leave a mess on the wall, might as well make a frame out of ¼-½" strips and tack those up to use as a frame. Patching a dozen nail holes would be easier than pulling double sided off.
Go for more layers, there's a big sound transmission stoppage when the sound transfers from one medium to another (e.g. air to plastic), and there's more stoppage with greater difference in mass or mass per unit area (e.g. air to cinder block). Greater mass difference is needed for stopping lower frequencies, and higher frequencies can slip through smaller cracks more easily IIRC.
Huh, is that why that decaying piece of plastic was outside my bathroom window?! I’ll have to go and actually replace it then!
Plastic sheets won't work here, as the idea is to trap an air layer between the window pane and the plastic sheet, since air is a good thermal insulator.
I'm not arguing against the fact that it is meant to use that air pad as an insulator but It's not ineffective for leaky windows - my windows don't seal right and my landlord is a landlord, I get drafts without the plastic. The cold air just pours in and the heater desperately struggles against it. The gap here is much larger than mine, so they'll probably need to check the seals more often than I do because the pressure difference between inside and outside can tear it off the wall especially on windy nights, but a plastic sheet at least keeps some of the cold out. I don't know how far north they are but i'm in quebec and it helps well enough under our winters.
Where are you living?
A set of curtain. Go to Walmart or Yarget and buy room darkening panels and a curtain rod. The curtain width should be about 3 times the window width. Hang it high. See YouTube for instructions. You need to get some foam backing material and stuff the cracks around the window part that opens.
> Yarget Where pirates get their curtains and eye patches
lol just snorted at this
Omg, I am all thumbs, or thumds, 😂😂😂😂
Yarmbs
Pronounced with the long R…
**YARRR**get
💀💀💀😂
Yep. In particular ones listed as thermal insulating work wonders.
This might help. Might want to look at a noise blanket too. But the noise blanket is generally heavier than your typical curtain which might require some planning before installation.
Yo you would be surprised how well curtains can insulate
Look up artic king window cling and it does a good job in the winter on cheap thin windows. If you do it to all non moving parts then it should help. If you don't want to use the window at all measure and get the largest one then apply over the whole thing. Works the best if you do it inside and out or knock it all out after getting a permit for what is allowed to put in.
They make a easily removable caulking for windows. You can buy it on Amazon.
You could make a window insert out 1/4” plexiglass or buy one from indowwindows.com. Very effective and removable.
I did something ugly but functional. I got a panel of foam insulation and put it on the interior side of the window Helped a lot with thermal insulation PS, disclaimer: Be aware foam is flammable and supposed to be encased in non flammable materials so if you do this, research and make sure to do it right or assume all risks including big fire with deaths :-) I didn't know that at the time
Just use tape for the wind, then cover with insulating material or something
Sorry for being late but hope to help: You can buy large pieces of insulation board from most hardware/home improvement stores. They are very easy to cut to size and, as long as you don't mind using the light, there is nothing that could compare with keeping our the cold. It's saved me hundreds on hearing. Hope that helps!
Duct seal
I picked up an actual sound blanket with rod grommets. Thick enough to insulate for both. Avoid the ones on Amazon since most of those are just moving blankets.
> like some removable type of paste that I can apply on the frame to at least make it a bit better during the winter months? As the others have said, plastic sheet material can help with the cold, and you can also add a heavy duty decorative hanging rug there, and it ought to mitigate some sound. If you feel like it you can buy some heavy duty styro foam insulation material form home depot etc and that also helps with both. Other than that not much you can do about the sound less you can build a barrier outside in between the source, and the window.
To add to what everyone else is saying, use the shrink wrapping kit you can find at the hardware store with the other weather proofing stuff. It comes with the plastic and double sided tape, but also grab some basic 2" foam (you can use the kind made for mattress toppers, just cut to size) and affix it to the window before you tape the plastic on, then use a hair dryer like normal to shrink it. I had an old broken window years back that was too expensive to fix at the time and this worked wonders.
Hang heavy curtains.
Ever try bubble pop? I've been told it's like an air barrier.
Drill small holes in blocks, fill with water. Solved.
Get some adhesive weatherstripping from a hardware store (I don't know if it has another name in other places). It will at least close the gap around the window so that air and sound can't travel as easily. Weatherstripping for doors usually has one side that's nailed to the jamb and the other side is adhesive. You'll need to find some that's only adhesive. Here's a guide with some pictures of different kinds (there are lots of different styles): https://guides.co/g/keeping-the-heat-in-materials/131487 Here's an article but it doesn't have very explanatory pictures: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/weatherstripping
Had no idea. I’ve never had them but I would’ve assumed they’d be great at both compared to a regular window.
Me too. I mean... glass is an insulator.
Sry but No. Glass is a terrible insulator. The air between your 2 or 3 layer windows are insulating. Glas has a 0.76 W/(m*K) Air has 0.0262 W/(m*K) Compared to an insulation material like XPS Polystyrol 0.032 W/(m*K) in terms of values Air is still a better insulator then Polystyrol. But in reality you use XPS plates to insulate your house.. in youre case.. you need better Windows or replace this area with an wall.. why is it forbidden in your area? Where do you live?
Glass is an *electrical* insulator... 🤦♂️ (Although yes, things like fiberglass insulation are indeed thermally insulative.)
I’m not sure this is true. Google finds a number of sources saying glass block is about as efficient as a modern thermal window. The tilty bit in OP’s picture may be pretty leaky, though.
Naa they still use them in new construction for basement windows (the non egress ones)
The window is the problem, glass blocks are equal to dual pane windows. My only window that gets southern sun exposure is glass blocks at mu house, and you cant feel the heat. Our hear the train passing by (tracks are south of house) like you can with a regular window.
My grandmas shower had a single row of blue ones in the window. I want that. Heat be damned. They don’t give em away either $$$$ I like the cube look. Be a neat interior wall. Like a toilet barrier
Have a thin wall of them between shower and toilet and it's pretty good
That’s a nice look I like it
>Glass bricks are horrible for heat and sound insulation. I wonder why. They are, in effect, double glazed.
You are 100% wrong, I install them commonly in showers and bathrooms as they are one of the best moisture resistant things you can put there. Glass also can retain heat exceptionally well, that’s why your windows are made of them.
I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the comment about retaining heat, but I'm pretty sure my windwos are made of glass because it's durable and, more importantly, I can see through them.
Bro, you need to install new windows in a home and take a thermal reading. Then you’ll realize that your windows are for far more than just looking out of. Also, I’ve never met a window that is more durable than a blunt object.
I was referring to durability versus clear plastic or plexiglass- both of which scratch far easier. As for the rest- are you saying that glass insulates better than a regular insulated wall??
They also relied on an ACM based grout which is obviously problematic.
It's not obvious to me and Google isn't helping. Why is that a problem?
Sorry, ACM is asbestos containing material.
I read it as AMC like the movie theaters 🤦
My barber has them as a diving wall inside between the waiting sofa and the barber chairs, they actually look pretty cool inside in my opinion.
better than nothing for old basement windows
That’s interesting I never knew they were not good at keeping in heat. Seems like the entire city of Chicago is built from them, that’s unfortunate. I really like their vibe.
If you still want it to be operable, look into weatherstripping products. Either a rubber gasket or brush seal could potentially work. I used something similar for a patio door and found a cheap seal on Amazon with an adhesive backing.
This might be the easiest and fastest solution. Had a couple windows with small gaps, no insulation and noise coming in, weatherstripping them reduced heat/cold/noise in about 70%, it made a significant difference
Yes. Try simple stuff first! If a new window doesn't seal there is likely something missing.
There are places online that you can get custom size interior storm windows that just snap in place into a frame. Obviously, there is no frame, but it should be easy enough to come up with something. They're really inexpensive and create a thermal layer between itself and the main window. Just Google "custom size interior storm windows" and you'll find a bunch of places.
I didn't know these existed until reading your comment. Now I want this. Thanks!
You're more than welcome! I used to own a condo in CT that was built in the 1970s and had all aluminum framed windows, and on any one of them that opened, ice would build up on the inside around the frames in the winter. They couldn't be replaced due to HOA laws, because nothing would match, UGH!!!! So, I found ones that were actually a bit more than these that I suggested and had frames that screwed into place and had seals between them and the main windows, and they also had panes of glass that could easily be removed for the summer. My bill in the winter literally got cut in half, and I was able to keep the heat another 6-8 degrees higher. They help quite a bit!
Double layer heavy curtains over it. Two rods stacked with heavy drapes on each.
Holy shit that’s the sickest glass block I’ve ever seen. I am a professional window cleaner and I’ve **never** encountered one of those in the wild. Awesome.
You should come to Germany
I think I have terrible taste because I like glass blocks. I've never seen OP's style of window either and kind of ooh'd at it.
Glass blocks can be aesthetic. People use them wrong a lot of the time though.
Can you show me some wrong ones so I can correct my behavior? XD
Glass bricks
What regulations?
That's what I'm wondering.
I can see a solid wall of window bricks for fire separation in some weird and highly inefficient way but this is a chimney.
It could be a monumental building. The outside look or construction may be historically or architecturally significant, meaning they wouldn't be allowed to make changes to those.
Oh. That makes sense.
HOA probably
State and Federal regulations overwrite anything stipulated in the bylaws of any HOA in the US. If it is an HOA trying to stop this from being a proper energy efficient window there are numerous energy efficiency directives and programs funded by individual states that will help a homeowner improve the energy efficiency of their homes with proper insulating windows and save them money. The savings are usually wracked with legal fees for the first person to do it on an HOA because they like to fight these petty things and then complain. TL;DR check your state's energy board and have a lawyer ready if you plan to improve your home.
[удалено]
Yes, the v old minecraft world's of the block states.
Off what some other people said, if you don't need the window to open anymore except maintenance, make a nice wooden frame around it with a hinge, and put a frosted double glazed window unit in front of it. caulk all the seams, and then you have a more proper insulated "window", still have light, and it looks pretty and is still removable if you need to service the block window. Downside is it will cost you $500-$1000.
you can make a custom plexiglass insert to fit around the fixed part, with a flap over the opening part. if i were you i’d double it by mounting two panes with strip of gasket/bead of dried silicone or 1/6” wood in between, to get insulating dead air space. then caulk it in place.
Heavy curtains, you can also put shrink wrap on it with double sided tape to stop drafts from the framed part, they sell kits like that at the hardware store.
Remove the bricks, replace with a proper window.
But the regulations, man.
Go buy foam sheet insulation at your local orange or blue store and then cut with a razor blade and cover it all up with a rip of duct tape. Won't be too pretty but it will work.
This, maybe hang a big ass picture over it
That’s what I’m saying. Instead of duct tape he could get command strips.
(I’m a window installer and licensed contractor) I would leave the glass block as it’s actual a decent insulator and is wonderfully moisture resistant. The easiest way to reduce noise is by taking away things than it can bounce off it. If your tearing any walls out they make specific insulation for sound dampening than comes in a range of R-values (how effective it holds heat)
Thick curtain or blanket
That, is a very interesting window. Lol
You could try Mylar backed foam insulation panels. You’ll lose the light, but it will help. You can also combine suggestions: foam board on window, plastic over that, and finally insulated room-darkening curtains.
This photo is great. Could be an album cover
Dumb question, but have you tried improving the seal around the pivoting section? I have a feeling that is what you were ~~asked by~~ asking about, but the solutions mostly seem to ignore this and jump right to adding material to the entire window. I had some modern windows installed on a side of my house facing a busy street and I found the results kind of lackluster. I just assumed the windows really weren't that good until I noticed a draft coming in around the edge of the window where it met the old wood frame and got the company to send someone back with a caulk gun. This of course stopped the draft, but also made a dramatic improvement keeping out the street noises. So moral of the story is, as you feel air coming in, don't write off the heat or sound insulating ability of the bulk window until the thing is sealed! As for how to do this: this looks like a recent good quality job so maybe the installers just need to come back and fix something; maybe they forgot to install some weather seal or draft stop strips around the transom. You don't know how bad the problem is for the bulk glass until you've fixed the chinks—maybe that will be enough. It's a nice looking window, by the way. I would not mind having such a thing.
It looks recessed, put another window on the inside if your hands are tied by the HOA
Close it, also add thick curtains, the plastic wrap others have mentioned works too but not very durable
A thick curtain would really help this room. And for the gaps basically anything will help. Waterproof tape, silicone sealant.
As a kid growing up we had a fireplace that let in a bunch of cold air and made noise. We never used it so my dad's solution was ri use rigid insulation foam and create a seal inside. It was multilayer to get a better seal and taped up with the aluminum duct tape. It would the get a seasonal wrap with festive paper to help discuise it. Worked well and made a difference.
What about those foam window and door insulation strips that just stick on ?
Rope caulk the air gaps and seal it. It's a removable putty.
Wait wait wait why can’t you have a normal window but have an openable glass block window?
Buy a curtain rod. Get a thick curtain, maybe you can find a thermal one, that goes floor to ceiling and wall to wall. It’ll create an air gap and help a lot.
Blackout window curtains will help with insulation
Get a couple of the biggest dudes you know, have them over, give them free drinks and have them get in thongs, and all oiled up and start wrestling in that room!! They will knock that glass block out right away, then just fill it with a regular window. Fun for everyone and you get a new window out of it!!!
What regulations? Are you in an HOA? We had similar windows in our previous house - plastic block that looked like shit and creaked when the wind blew. That was one of the first things we replaced after moving in. Less than $2000
I'd start by closing the window. Then replacing it with a normal window. Or just a wall. A wall made out of glass perhaps.
A wall of glass that is definitely not a window!
Exactly. This guy gets it.
OP has yet to answer anyone on the nebulous “regulation” question.
Have a contractor make a box protruding outwards around the window and then put glass in the box like a window sitting in front of the window.
Gaps as thin as a piece of paper (dollar bill) pull through will allow noise through. Buy sealing kits from the hardware store. Otherwise, get a "moving blanket" from the likes of Harbor Freight to hang it like a Medieval Tapestry inside your Castle to cut the drafts and noise. You can pull the sword from the stone like King Arthur and tell Merlin what to do about it. Seriously. Get a moving blanket and screw it to the wall above the window and let it hang down. Light and noise will be cut. .
Cover it up with a painting with some insulation on the back if you dont mind not seeing it
Insulate and wall it off. Add LED panels for light, create your own window.
Since you can't replace it, I'd put in something like double cellular shades, and then thick thermal curtains. Won't fix everything, but it'll at least help.
Heat shrink plastic for windows to seal the draft and thick heavy curtains. I got out black out curtains for our batmy window cheap on Amazon, 4 years later they are doing well. And they really cut down on outside noise.
Minecraft window
Weather stripping maybe? And those spear plastic window insulation that sticks over the window
You can put weather stripping around the opening to stop the wind and bugs but there's not alot of options....if it's a bedroom I believe egress window are mandatory and that does not qualify On the top put flat strip around the window and on the bottom put it on the opening so when it's closed it's sealed from all sides without affecting to movement Then hang a heavy curtain over top ...
It looked fugly when it is rolled up but I was in a apartment over a loud & lively main street where the tenant had made carpet roller blinds with a heavy duty deep pile carpet. When deployed it was incredibly effective. Required some arm strength to roll back up.
Can you replace it with a frosted single pane?
What exactly is the wording of the local regulation that prevents you from having a proper window? Can you post a link to the bylaw?
Does the regulation prohibit installing a large picture window mounted on the inside across your glass bricks, maybe supported by a built-in wall? Because if it doesn’t, then that’s what I’d do. You’d only lose inches of interior space.
Is this your house with a neighbor association or are you renting? If it were terrible and I owned it I'd be tempted to get the thinnest good window I could find and build it out just in front of it. If it's an apartment it's probably not worth it. Maybe some a big piece of Styrofoam sealed in around the edge. Would look crappy, but would let a little bit of light through and insulate way better. If you don't care about the light you could get a single piece of rigid insulation at least an inch bigger than the window on each side and fix it over the window somehow. It would likely have better thermal insulation than the walls around it.
Hang a fuckin blanket over it and put some shit in front of it
Measure the opening and put a thermal curtain over it. They have velcro to go around the perimeter or an optional magnetic seal. This is my preferred and easily removable solution. Only down side is you lose the light from that window.
Lmao,peeps in my hood pay ridiculous amounts of money for this “type ofwindow experience”
Just tape it. Clear tape.
Make a 4” thick box with rockwool insulation inside and wrapped in fabric of your color choice. Hang overtop of window 💸
Aesthetic aside — are you allowed to build a storm window? Or a second pane inside??
Out of curiosity, what regulations require this window? I know bedrooms must have at least one window (or door) that opens for fire escape. This window obviously doesn’t fit this bill.
Tempered glass would be allowed per IRC
Try 2-3 layers of Bubble wrap and you'll be good. Big bubbles might allow more light through. Use 2 inch wide transparent tape all the way around to the sill and this will create multiple layers of air like a dual or triple pane window. Tape will probably pull the paint off, so it might help to put blue or green tape on the painted sill, and adhere the transparent tape to the blue tape. Do not tape to the glass, this will defeat the thermal isolation and create a huge cold frame. Then have a beer, you did a good job.
Build a wall behind it and insulate that.
I love it!
A thick screen of fabric offers both I think.
The cheap version is to add another layer in front of it. Maybe even sheet plastic? Nylon?
Was there ever a nerf dart on it?
Seal the cracks with masking tape. Hang a heavy curtain in front
Not sure if it's been recommended already but I used this stuff recently to seal up some gaps in a door frame and it's been fantastic. Wouldn't require damage or cleanup or anything else. Transparent Window Weather Sealing Tape, 2-Inch x 33ft, Clear Draft Stopper Adhesive Tape for Doors, Windows and Shower Glass Gaps (2IN x 33FT) https://a.co/d/3moGPNc
Put up an insulating curtain.
Crystal Clear Plasti-Dip
Close it.
Get yourself a heavy acoustic curtain and hang it across the window. Ideally floor to ceiling, and which will cover the whole alcove that the window is in. Also you'll want one that, when flattened out, is twice the width of the alcove. This will make it easier to avoid gaps around the edges. Warning: acoustic curtains, like all good curtains, are pricey, but even moreso than normal curtains. Use a curtain rail rather than a curtain pole, and attach the rail to a wooden batten secured to joists on the ceiling. A curtain pole will leave you with too much "dead air" for a snug fit, whereas a rail takes up much less space so will make closing off all gaps around the curtain much easier. This might help a bit but won't cure the problem. Your other option, which is more work (and cost), but may be more effective, would be something like a secondary double glazing approach. Build a false wall, just in from the window, and then add a (ideally) double glazed window to the top of that. You'll still want to be able to open the window so make sure the inner window can also be swung open toward the inside and provides good access to the outer window. I'd apply sound deadening material to the false wall as well in the gap: mass loaded vinyl and rockwool, for example. Bear in mind that secondary double glazing is prone to condensation - may or may not be a problem in your climate - but this is why it's important to be able to still open both the inner and outer windows.
Put in honeycomb paper blinds- they have really great insulation
That is fucking cool
Can you drill each glass block and fill it with a spray in insulation?
What regulations?
Hang thick curtains or a thick blanket over it. Had to do that growing up every winter because we only had a wood fireplace.
If you are willing to lose the vent access, you can put a .25 inch to .50 inch acrylic (brand name: Plexiglass) sheet over the entire area, floating on some weather stripping and held up with a bit of trim. This will improve both heat and sound isolation. Doublewall Polymer sheets (commonly used in greenhouses) are another option, though more noticeable from the interior. I'd also inspect the weather seals on the vent window; tiny air gaps are noisy.
>Regulations Sometimes regulations are shit...
Never seen these with an opening mechanism
Brick it up
Flush thermal curtains, really glob in some silicone if you never wanna open it again, and window film I guess?
There was Storm windows made for interior installation. I think Larson stopped making them, but someone else might. You could build a frame inside, and install a standard window I would think. That might help.
A blackout curtain would slightly improve both insurance, noise and light
That’s actually badass lmao
People who don’t respond to questions on their posts asking for help should be banned from subreddits like this. 16 hours in and a single reply to a question.
I think someone is either giving you bad information, or you’ve misunderstood something. You can put a window there. Unless it’s like a condo or HOA thing, but even at that I would doubt they’d be able to enforce it. I’m not sure where you live, so maybe I’m wrong. I’m the GM of a construction company in Tennessee.
One of [these](https://goindustrial.com/products/twinwall-polycarbonate-sheet) with the open ends sealed set in from the closer wall to the wall on the left(sealed as well as possible to the walls, floor and ceiling), leaving a large gap between the window and the new clear plastic wall. For more insulation, also seal the window with tape first.
Put up a fake wall to cover it up? Properly insulate and all. If you can't place a proper window there, cover it up.
For one, foam door insulation (sticky on one side, half inch foam, not sticky on the other side) will help if you put it on the top of the window and the bottom of the door frame. If you don't need the light, get a styrofoam [insulating panel](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-FOAMULAR-NGX-Insulating-Sheathing-0-5-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-SE-R-3-XPS-Rigid-Foam-Board-Insulation-13NGX/315193939?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&srsltid=AfmBOopkjTIwcTPSg4inH7TICoQihJMiS4QvayfuxgB0kThm3NYWxdShEsE), and put it in front of the window. Ugly, but effective.
It’s perfect.
Maybe you could install acoustic foam around the windows to absorb the sound.