A quiet bedroom in five days: acoustic windows and full insulation

The problem: a wall that let everything through

This townhouse in Bagnères-de-Bigorre had serious sound insulation problems along one whole wall: ageing windows, a period plywood lining, and roller shutter boxes acting as genuine acoustic bridges to the street. For a property let as short-stay accommodation, quiet is not a luxury, it is a requirement.

New windows, fitted without tearing everything out

All the windows were replaced with grey uPVC frames and reinforced acoustic glazing, combining fixed panes and opening casements to suit each opening. I opted for a retrofit installationRetrofit installation: the new window is fixed onto the existing frame of the old one, which is kept because it is still sound. It avoids a full tear-out: less damage to the walls, less time on site, carefully executed sealing. Known as pose en rénovation on a French quote.: the existing frame is kept, and the new window is fitted over it. On an old house with an ornate front, it is the method that protects the building fabric while gaining several classes of energy and acoustic performance.

The tricky part of this job: the roller shutter boxes. They were opened up and completely re-insulated from the inside, with particular care on sealing the junctions, as that is often where the noise keeps coming through, even with new windows.

A wall overhauled from top to bottom

On the inside, all the existing plywood lining was stripped out, radiator and sockets included. The wall was re-insulated then relined with plasterboard, finished with two coats of paint, in coordination with a partner tradesman. While we were at it, a switch was added for the external roller shutter: as long as the wall is open, you might as well take the chance to tidy up the wiring.

Five days, on the clock

The real constraint on this job was the calendar: the property is a short-stay let, and every day out of action counts. With the owners, we scheduled the measuring up and the preparation around the slots that suited them, then synchronised the window deliveries so that everything was ready for day one. The result: the whole job (removal, fitting, insulation, lining, finishing) was completed in five days, with minimal disruption for them.

The questions I often get asked

Does acoustic glazing really make a difference? Retrofit installation or full tear-out, how do you choose? Can roller shutter boxes be insulated without replacing them? What financial help is there for replacing windows?

I have practical answers to all of that, and two articles to dig deeper: retrofit installation or full tear-out and the grants for replacing windows. And for your own situation, call me: the quote is free.