Glass vs. Plexiglass

[wyattt]

Ok so I was wondering if anyone has tried or uses plexiglass for the windows within a studio. Glass for the window size I want is 2x the price of plexi glass (that's using 2 panes).

[blunderfonics]

If you require isolation between the rooms then plexiglass is not the way to go. Soundproofing is usually achieved by having heavy/massive walls spaced at a distance. The same basic principals apply to studio windows. Plexiglass is much lighter than glass of the same thickness, so you would require a much thicker sheet in order to achieve the same amount of room-to-room isolation.

Plexiglass also scratches extremely easily to the point where it would eventually be a drag to look through.

[Scodiddly]

Actually you might want to use both! Generally when there's a double-glazed window in a studio, the two pieces of glass are different thicknesses so that a frequency that will resonate in one pane won't resonate in the other. So if you're really really on a budget and can't afford thick enough glass, putting in a sheet of glass next to a piece of plexi might be better than two thin sheets of just glass.

But in either case you're going to need something like 1/2" at a minimum to really stop sound.

[BenLoftis]

Here's an idea. Use a thinner piece of glass on both sides of the wall. Use a very thick piece of plexiglass, installed at an angle, in the middle of the wall. Thick plexi is a lot cheaper than glass and by mounting it at an angle you will reduce the coupling between the two parallel glass surfaces. And since it is totally enclosed you won't have a problem with scratches.

Just a thought .. tell us how it goes!

-Ben Loftis
http://www.studiooutfitters.com

[mus1k_freak]

i just did double pane glass in my studio and glass was WAY cheaper then plexi glass....

[BenLoftis]

Looking at www.professionalplastics.com, a 12" x 24" piece of 3/4" plexi is about $35. I'm not sure what thickness of glass would have an equivalent STC. Does anybody know how they compare?

How thick was the glass you used? The original poster says plexi is cheaper in his location...

-Ben Loftis
http://www.studiooutfitters.com

[blunderfonics]

I had a hard time finding any hard data regarding the weight/density of plexiglass but Wikipedia and a few plexiglass manufacturer's websites claim that it is 50% the weight of glass. So in theory, a pane of plexi would need to be 2X the thickness to achieve the same amount of ixolation as glass.