- Totally get it about the rope caulk. It’s not pretty, but
Same story here—my 1920s windows laughed at foam strips.“they work better than half the ‘official’ weatherstripping out there.”
- Tried V-seal too… it worked okay for a season, then started to curl up on the edges.
- What actually helped most was putting up the shrink film kits in fall. Not the most elegant solution, but it stopped the drafts and my heating bill dropped a bit.
- Still layer up sometimes, though—old houses have their own “charm,” right?
Shrink film kits definitely help, but I’ve always found them kind of a pain to put up and take down every year. Maybe I’m just impatient, but I hate having to reapply tape and get the hair dryer out. Honestly, I switched to using those magnetic interior storm panels a couple years ago—way easier to pop in and out, and they don’t block the view. Not the cheapest, but they’ve held up better than the film for me. Drafts are still a thing with these old windows, but at least I don’t have to peel plastic off every spring.
- Totally get the hassle with the shrink film—lining up the tape is always fiddly for me too.
- Magnetic panels sound interesting. Do they actually seal tight around uneven frames? I’ve got some old, warped sills.
- Appreciate your take on durability vs. cost. Gives me something to weigh before trying them out.
- Still not sure if I’d miss the extra insulation the film gives, but less mess is tempting.