Noise can ruin the quality of life for many a multifamily dweller. From heavy footsteps on the floor above to the traffic outside, sound can filter in through windows and doors if developers don’t design and construct their properties with an ear toward noise mitigation.
“If you can’t keep your residents comfortable and provide them with a quiet place to live, they’re going to look for another place and leave your property,” says Bryant Nail, senior development officer with Houston-based PM Realty Group.
Noise reduction and mitigation are increasingly important as more properties are developed in urban and infill locations near busy freeways and heavily traveled streets, Nail contends. That’s why PM Realty Group specifically selects for its properties windows and doors that, when closed, seemingly act like the mute button on a TV remote control.
At the Heights at Park Lane in Dallas, for example, the company installed Kawneer’s curtain and window wall system for the project’s skin. The system does such a good job minimizing noise from nearby Central Expressway that PM Realty plans to use the product for its newest multifamily project, a 23-story tower in Dallas’ Design District. The 314-unit building, dubbed 1400 Hi Line, faces the city’s busiest freeway, Interstate 35.
“You have to worry about acoustics when properties are so close to highways,” Nail says. “We had to search for the right products, but they’re out there.” This month’s selection of products proves he’s right.
Solid Core: CMI’s new CraftMaster Conmore is a molded, flat-panel door engineered to provide enhanced dimensional stability and durability as well as excellent sound-insulating properties. Available in 6-foot 8-inch and 7-foot passage and bifold sizes, Conmore features five horizontal panels and solid-core construction. The doors contain a minimum of 70 percent preconsumer recycled wood content and are made with low-VOC primers and adhesives. For more information, call CMI at 800-405-2233 or visit www.cmicompany.com.
Custom Touch: Therma-Tru ’s New Classic-Craft Canvas Collection fiberglass doors feature a smooth, paintable surface. The doors allow owners to easily adapt them to the property’s interior and exterior finishes. They feature architecturally correct facets, including wide center panels and richly embossed details designed to rival those of high-end custom wood doors. For more information, call Therma-Tru at 800- 843-7628 or visit www.thermatru.com.
Hybrid Design: Milgard ’s Essence Series Windows & Doors combine the best of both wood and fiberglass. Their interiors provide the warmth and style of natural wood; the exteriors, the strength and durability of fiberglass. The series, available with double-hung or gliding windows, features Milgard’s SmartTouch lock. Available in various colors, the products sport a new exterior paint formulated to offer superior durability. For more information, call Milgard at 800-MILGARD or visit http://pro.milgard.com.
Safe and Secure: With Masonite ’s new Triple Lock Security Door, residents can enjoy maximum security with three locking points and steel construction that resists intrusion and impacts. The unit’s composite jambs are designed to naturally absorb shock by flexing and not splintering when force is applied. Masonite will cover the deductible on a homeowner’s insurance up to $1,500 if entry is gained due to a door failure. For more information, call Masonite at 800-663-3667 or visit www.masonite.com.
Clever Curtain: Kawneer ’s dualpurpose 2250 IG ribbon window and curtain wall system combines fabrication flexibility, labor and material savings, and water condensation management in a single package. The inside glazing requires no scaffolding, saving construction time and reducing installation costs. The 2250 IG is available in stock or fabricated lengths, adding additional labor efficiency. For more information, call Kawneer at 770-449-5555 or visit www.kawneer.com.
Frameless Glass: The NanaGlass SL25, the newest product from NanaWall Systems , is a frameless, operable glass wall system that can be installed on the exterior of balconies and patios and under second-story decks to create a sheltered living area. With no vertical stiles, the NanaGlass system admits uninterrupted views and natural light while forming an insulating air pocket over the building’s façade. For more information, call NanaWall Systems at 888-411-6262 or visit www.nanawall.com.
