Update and More Questions

9 years ago

I am posting this separately, since I am looking for some advice. It is an update on my Window Installation post from Aug 8.
Good news on our window problem. After a consult with an attorney, a phone call with our insurance adjuster, we sent a stern, demanding letter to the general contractor. The result was that the contractor agreed to try the reinstall and insulation on one window and see if it solved the traffic noise issue. It did not. The owner of the contracting company went back to the insurance company and is now proposing that in addition to the reinstall, they will replace all the sashes.
Since I have learned a thing or two in this process, I have asked them for very detailed specifications and want to make sure that we are really going to end up with the same quality and performance (soundproofing) that we had previously.
Here is my concern and my questions. 1- The sashes that they installed carry the following values: STC-27, OITC-23. The sashes that they are proposing are STC-34, OITC-27. From everything that I have been reading, it appears that these values will not be high enough to block the traffic noise from the intersection of the two interstates we live next to. What values should we be looking for?
2- Our roof mate likely has the same windows that we had in our home and we would like to have those windows evaluated to help us correctly specify our job going forward. Since our windows are already gone, and we know that the window manufacturer is no longer in the window business, and that the company does not have records dating back to when our home was built, our neighbor's existing windows appear to be our only hope of discovering the original window specifications. Problem is...how can we do that? What information do we gather to find out? How can we tell what kind of glass was used, the amount of space between the panes, the thickness of the panes, etc.?

I apologize for the length of this and appreciate any help that you can give us. We are trying to be smarter this time around. Thank you!

Comments (3)

PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
9 years ago
An STC 34 window will provide you with a tangible performance improvement over your current windows. Noise cancellation via STC values is not a linear scale so the improvement is more noticeable than you might think.

You will need to get in your neighbor's home and look at the window to try to locate any ID tags or serial numbers.

You can make some educated guesses about the glass, spacer, etc. but without knowing the build data or taking the window apart, there is not definitive way to know.
ksc36
9 years ago
This might be a long shot but in my area any plans submitted to obtain a building permit are kept on file. House plans often contain a window schedule that might spec the window and manufacturer. Builders/homeowners often deviate from the schedule but it's worth a shot.
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Novice77
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for your help! I am going to the city building dept to see what I can find out. On the STC number, even though it will give us better results than the current sashes, I am really worried that if it doesn't block the traffic noise, we will have devalued our home. This was such a big deal to us when we bought the home. If you were going to recommend the appropriate STC/OITC rating for windows in a high end home adjacent to exit ramp for two interstate highways, what would you recommend?
Also, I would like to say that I have been so impressed with the level of interaction on this site. I don't have any skills that could pay back for everyone's help, but if there is anything more I can do than say thanks, please let me know. Gratefully, Novice77