Home Construction Improvement

Noise Control Benefits with Simonton StormBreaker Plus® Windows and Doors

By Todd Fratzel on Doors, Windows

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PARKERSBURG, W. VA. – What do the following three things have in common: honking horns, barking dogs and your neighbor’s favorite rock band? The answer? They’re all annoying noises that can be prevented from entering your home if you have Simonton StormBreaker Plus® windows and doors.

Made with laminated glass that can help lower the transmittance of outdoor noises into the home by 50 percent over standard windows, StormBreaker Plus double hung, picture and casement windows have a Sound Transmission Classification (STC) rating of 35. Similar styles of traditional replacement and new construction windows have an STC rating of 25 to 28.

STC ratings measure the ability of sound waves to penetrate walls. For windows, STC ratings range from 18 to 38. The ultimate in noise reduction, a sound-proof recording studio, is generally constructed to have an STC of 45-50.

“The highest STC rating you can have for a window is 38 to block out exterior noise, so with a 35 rating, these windows rank high in preventing noise infiltration into the home,” says Tom Kraeutler, host of The Money Pit, a nationally-syndicated home improvement radio show. “Research shows that an improvement of 5 STC rating points equates to a 50% reduction in noise reaching into the home. This is really significant for homeowners who want to keep ‘home sweet home’ as ‘home quiet home’ so they can more fully enjoy their living conditions.”

According to Kraeutler, homeowners are asking their windows to “do” more than ever before. “Windows used to be simply a way to bring light into the home,” says Kraeutler. “Nowadays, windows play a vital role in helping save on overall energy costs, protecting the home during severe weather and intruder attempts, and reducing ambient noise traveling to the interior of the house.

“My advice is for homeowners to do a strong amount of research when selecting windows for their home. By selecting a product like StormBreaker Plus, you can lower your energy bills, reduce your homeowners insurance premiums, receive a break-in warranty that covers lost/stolen property and also reduce unwanted noises penetrating into the home.”

For homeowners wishing to reduce the sounds of planes overhead, nearby construction work and car alarms going off at 2am, StormBreaker Plus windows and doors can be a quiet solution. Constructed with impact-resistant laminated glass, the units feature durable steel or aluminum reinforced vinyl frames. Windows and doors with Keepsafe® Maximum laminated glass are so resistant that they come with a break-in warranty that covers lost/stolen property and 100 percent of the insurance deductible (not to exceed $1,000) from an intruder break-in.

Simonton StormBreaker Plus picture and geometric window styles are impact-resistant windows. Picture and geometric window styles are available with Energy Tax Credit (ETC) glass packages that qualify homeowners to receive up to $1,500 in tax credit when purchasing qualifying energy-efficient windows. According to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, homeowners can gain a tax credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of qualifying energy efficient upgrades to a maximum of $1,500 per household for 2009 and 2010. For more information, visit www.simonton.com/energytaxcredit.

Two Simonton ETC glass package options are currently available for StormBreaker Plus picture and geometric windows. They include:

• The ETC Super Solar SBP glass package, which includes a one-inch IGU, Super Spacer® System, Argon gas fill and Low E glass on one surface with impact-resistant glass.

• The ETC Super 366 SBP glass package, which includes a one-inch IGU, Super Spacer System, Argon gas fill and LoĒ³-366® glass on one surface with impact-resistant glass.

Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR® qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. For the second year in a row, Simonton ranked “Highest in Builder and Remodeler Satisfaction among Residential Window and Patio Door Manufacturers” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Builder and Remodeler Residential Window and Patio Door Satisfaction StudySM. Simonton was also ranked #1 in quality in the 2009, 2007, 2002 and 1998 Brand Use Studies sponsored by Builder magazine and has won three Best-In-Class Awards from Market Research Associates.

Founded in 1946, Simonton’s hallmark has been to deliver its made-to-order products in five days or less. Part of the home and security business of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), Simonton delivers award-winning products nationwide to key markets throughout the 48 continental United States.

For information, call (800) SIMONTON (1-800-746-6686) or visit www.simonton.com.