Is Installing Soundproof Windows Difficult in Pre-War Buildings?

By Michael Lentin

Vaulted ceilings, ornate crown moldings, hardwood floors, and old-world charm. New York City’s historic pre-war buildings are some of the most gorgeous in the entire metropolis.

As beautiful as these apartments and office buildings constructed before World War II are, their thicker walls often aren’t enough to eliminate noise pollution in an increasingly busy city.

It’s a question we hear often from concerned homeowners: can Soundproof Windows be properly installed in a pre-war building?

Installing Soundproof Windows in Pre-War Buildings

Fortunately, the answer is a resounding yes. Pre-war buildings were designed with thicker walls and, crucially, deeper Windowsills.

Since CitiQuiet’s Soundproof Windows require at least two inches of space between the existing Windows and the new ones, pre-war buildings are actually extremely well suited for installation. In fact, they’re often better equipped for Soundproof Windows than their thinly-constructed modern counterparts.

Soundproof Windows Do More Than Eliminate Noise

Additionally, Soundproof Windows address a number of problems that pre-war buildings routinely face. Older constructions are often plagued by drafts from substandard insulation; this allows heating and air conditioning to escape while letting dirt and soot in, wasting energy and soiling furniture.

Installing an interior Window effectively insulates pre-war buildings and traps external contaminants that drafts threaten to bring indoors. With light frames and narrow sight-lines, CitiQuiet Windows don’t take anything away from a pre-war building’s historic charm.