I like the look of my 1920s windows, but I keep wondering if I’m just being sentimental.
Honestly, I get that. I went back and forth for ages because my house has the original wavy glass and I love how it distorts the light. When I put up interior storms, condensation wasn’t a big problem unless it was super cold and humid inside. Noise-wise, they cut down on street sounds a bit, but not as much as my neighbor’s new double panes. Still, it felt like a good compromise for keeping the old vibe. Curious if anyone’s found a storm panel that really blocks out noise?
I hear you on wanting to keep the wavy glass—there’s something about that old look you just can’t fake. But honestly, if noise is a big deal for you, even the best interior storms only go so far. I’ve seen folks try laminated glass panels for extra soundproofing, but it’s more involved and not always cheap. Sometimes, swapping out just the sashes for double-pane inserts (while keeping the old frames) strikes a balance. It’s not perfect, but it can help with both drafts and noise without totally losing the character. The trade-off is, you might notice the new glass doesn’t have that same shimmer in the light... depends what matters most to you.
I've worked on a bunch of old houses where folks are torn between keeping that classic look and wanting the modern comforts. One job stands out—Victorian place from the 1890s, still had original wavy glass in most of the windows. Owner was dead set on keeping that charm, but street noise was driving her crazy.
We tried interior storms first. Helped a little with drafts, not so much with sound. Ended up doing double-pane sash kits in the front rooms facing the street, left the rest untouched. Definitely lost some of that shimmer you mentioned, but it was way quieter and much easier to keep warm in winter. She told me later she barely noticed the visual difference after a few months—guess you get used to it.
Honestly, it comes down to what bugs you more: the noise or losing a bit of the old glass vibe. If you barely notice the difference day to day, comfort might win out. But I get why folks want to hang onto those little details... it’s what makes an old house feel special.
That’s a great way to put it—what bugs you more, the noise or losing the old glass look? I keep wondering if there’s ever a real “right” answer with these old houses. I’ve stared at my own wavy glass for years, but honestly, when winter drafts hit, I start wishing for something cozier. Did you notice any change in how the house felt overall after swapping just those front windows? Sometimes I worry about creating weird temperature differences room-to-room. But yeah, it’s wild how quickly we adapt to visual changes and just enjoy the comfort.
- Totally get what you mean about the drafts.
- Swapped two windows in my 1920s place—noticed the living room stayed warmer, but yeah, the temp difference between old and new rooms got more obvious.
- Honestly, I missed the wavy glass for a bit, but comfort wins out fast.
- No regrets here, just had to tweak how I heated each room.
Honestly, I missed the wavy glass for a bit, but comfort wins out fast.
That’s what surprised me too—how quickly you forget the old quirks once the drafts are gone. Did you notice any difference in noise levels with the new windows? I found my place got way quieter after switching to modern double-pane, even though I was worried it’d mess with the house’s vibe.
Did you notice any difference in noise levels with the new windows?
Yeah, huge difference. I worked on a 1920s bungalow last fall—after swapping out the old single panes, street noise dropped way down. At first, folks worry about losing character, but honestly, peace and quiet grows on you fast. The only thing I missed was how the old glass made headlights look all wobbly at night... kind of nostalgic, but not enough to go back.
I get the nostalgia for old glass—there’s something about those wavy panes that just feels right in an older house. I grew up in a place with original windows, and yeah, the way the streetlights would ripple through on rainy nights was weirdly comforting. But after living through a couple Midwest winters with those same windows, I can’t say I miss the drafts or waking up to ice on the inside of the glass.
Last spring, I helped my cousin swap out his 1935 cottage windows for modern double-glazed units. He was dead set against it at first, worried it’d kill the whole vibe of the house. We went with wood frames and divided lites to keep the look close to original. It’s not exact, but you really only notice if you’re looking for it. The difference in noise and heating bills was immediate. His dog doesn’t even bark at passing trucks anymore, which is a bonus.
I get why people want to stick with classic, especially if you’re into restoring every detail. But honestly, after you’ve lived with the quiet and the steady temps, it’s hard to care about losing a little “character.” If you’re really attached to the old look, there are companies making new glass that mimics those wavy imperfections. Not cheap, but it’s an option.
For me, I’d rather have a warm house and some peace than keep fighting with sticky sashes every season. The only thing I truly miss is how easy it was to swap out a broken pane—new ones are a pain if you crack them. Still, worth it overall.
I get where you’re coming from, but I still lean classic when it comes to windows, even with the extra work. My place is from the 1920s and yeah, sometimes it’s a bit drafty in winter, but I love how every window’s got its own quirks. I just use those old-school storm windows and heavy curtains, which helps a lot. Not saying it’s always practical, but for me, there’s something about keeping the original stuff that just feels right—even if it means cursing at a stuck sash now and then.
I get the appeal of those old windows—there’s definitely something charming about the original woodwork and all the little imperfections. But, man, I just can’t get past the energy loss. I live in a 1940s place myself and held out for a while, doing the storm window routine and piling on the thermal curtains every winter. It helped some, but my heating bills were still way higher than they needed to be. Plus, I was always chasing drafts with weatherstripping tape that never seemed to stick for long.
Eventually, I bit the bullet and swapped out a few of the worst offenders for modern double-pane units. Honestly, the difference was immediate—no more icy air sneaking in around the frames, and my furnace actually got to take a break for once. I still kept a couple of the original windows in rooms where it felt important for character (and where they weren’t falling apart), but I don’t miss fighting with stuck sashes or repainting every couple of years.
I get that it’s not as romantic as keeping everything original, but sometimes practicality wins out—especially when you’re tired of wearing three sweaters inside your own house. There are some decent-looking modern options now that mimic old styles pretty well, though they’re definitely not cheap. Still, between lower energy bills and less hassle, I’d say it’s been worth it for me.
Guess it comes down to how much you value authenticity versus comfort (and how much patience you have for stubborn old hardware).