Soundproofing is the new footage. It’s a bit of an audacious statement to make, maybe, but spend five minutes in a modern Indian home and it seems kind of self-evident. Homes aren’t getting quieter. Cities are getting denser. Traffic, construction, generators, neighbours, pressure horns. All of it leaks in. And what people don’t want more of, now at least, is space. It’s peace within the space they already occupy. Here at GREFET, we are seeing this change every day in speaking with architects, developers and home owners, and know how soundproofing is the new square footage.
Why and How to Do It
A decade ago, the currency for worth was square footage. Bigger living rooms. Wider balconies. Extra bedrooms. Today, the question has changed. Will I be able to sleep without traffic noise? Will I be able to work if not for some uninterrupted white noise of my home environment? Can I feel serene at home even though I’m in the middle of a city?
What this translates to is that acoustic comfort has become an integral part of design, not a special treat for those who can afford it.
There are a few reasons behind this change:
- Work-from-home and hybrid work cultures
- High-density living closer to the street and commercial areas
- Glass in larger openings instead of solid walls
- Deeper consciousnesses of mental and physical health
All the square footage in the world isn’t going to fix these problems. Sound control does.
The Window Problem Everyone Hears but No One Talks About
Walls rarely fail acoustically. Windows do. Modern homes love glass. Floor-to-ceiling sliders. Wide casements. Corner openings. They offer light, views and ventilation. But they can also become the weakest link for sound insulation if badly designed.
Some of the mistakes we often come across when looking at projects:
- In areas where there is noise, use thin single glazing
- Improper sealing between frame and sash
- Inconsistent fabrication tolerances
- And filling in the gaps as an afterthought
Even windows that look like they’ve been engineered for upscale aesthetics can perform less well than you might expect if the system is not designed with acoustics control in mind.
What Actually Works
At GREFET we take a systems approach to soundproofing, rather than treating specifications like a check box.
Several factors work together for good acoustic performance:
- Aluminium multi-track profiles with the chance to deeper glaze
- Correct glass packages that are designed to help reduce noise
- Quality hardware to seal the tight and even-moving parts
- Fabrication and installation — controlled, with trained crews
Sound reduction is cumulative. Miss one detail and the whole system work less well.
How It Shaped the Way We Think About Design
When we start to value sound then our designs change. Architects begin situating openings more purposefully. Developers stop value-engineering critical components. Homeowners start to realize that a quieter home seems expanded, more premium and calmer even if the carpet area is unchanged.
We’ve seen it firsthand. Sound is something clients seldom discuss after they’ve installed it. They discuss how the space feels.
- Conversations feel private
- Sleep quality improves
- Living rooms feel more serene, even when the traffic is heaviest
That emotional jolt is a lot more powerful than an additional couple of square feet.
The GREFET Take
At GREFET, we can’t afford to be silent. We tend to think of it as better living.
The soundproofing in our homes will determine whether we find them liveable, as Indian cities grow upwards and outwards. The future of home comfort won’t hinge merely on scale. It will be measured in calm. Soundproofing is the new square footage. And it’s here to stay.
