I keep hearing that patching up old windows is worth it, but I’m still on the fence. My place is late '40s, and some of the sashes are warped to the point where I’m not sure weatherstripping would even help. I did try caulking and a bit of reglazing on one of the better ones, and yeah, it cut down the draft a little, but it still feels cold near the glass in winter.
Did you notice any issues with condensation after adding storms? That’s my big worry—trapping moisture and making things worse. Also, how did you deal with the windows that were really far gone? I’ve got a couple where the wood is soft in spots and I can poke a screwdriver right through. At some point, patching seems like throwing good money after bad... or am I missing something?
- Had the same problem with a few of mine—if the wood’s soft enough to poke through, I just bit the bullet and replaced those sashes. Not worth the hassle.
- Storms helped with drafts, but yeah, sometimes got a bit of condensation. Made sure the vents were open and kept an eye on it.
- For the rest, weatherstripping did more than I thought, but nothing’s perfect on these old windows. Sometimes patching works, sometimes it’s just time to move on.
Sometimes patching works, sometimes it’s just time to move on.
Totally get that. I tried patching a couple of mine last winter—looked fine at first, but by spring the rot was back and even worse. Ended up replacing those sashes too. It’s frustrating how much work old windows can be, but feels good when you finally fix the draft for good. Weatherstripping helped me more than I thought it would, though... did you notice any difference in your heating bill after?
Yeah, patching only got me so far too. I kept trying to save the old wood, but after a couple rounds of rot coming back, I finally gave in and replaced the worst ones. Weatherstripping was a game changer for me—didn’t expect it to make such a difference, but my heating bill actually dropped a bit last winter. Not huge, but enough to notice. Flashing’s another thing I used to skip, thinking it wouldn’t matter much... turns out, it really does keep the moisture out. Learned that one the hard way.
Totally get where you’re coming from—patching can only take you so far, especially once the rot gets in there for a second (or third) round. I see a lot of folks try to save old wood, but sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet and replace it or you’ll be chasing leaks and drafts forever. Weatherstripping’s one of those things most people overlook, but I’ve seen it make a bigger difference than folks expect, just like you noticed. Even a small drop in the heating bill adds up over time.
Funny you mention flashing. Years ago, I thought it was overkill too—just another step, right? But after seeing water sneak in behind the siding on a job, wrecking all the hard work, I never skip it now. It’s wild how much damage a little missed flashing can do. Curious, did you end up doing the flashing yourself or bring someone in? I know some homeowners are handy, but those corners and tricky spots can be a pain.
That’s interesting about the weatherstripping—I always thought it was just a minor thing, but now I’m wondering if I should check all my windows again. With flashing, I’m honestly a bit intimidated. Did you find it tricky to figure out which type to use, or is it pretty standard for most houses? I keep reading about different materials and methods, and it’s kind of overwhelming. Also, did you notice any issues after installing it, or was it smooth sailing?
I keep reading about different materials and methods, and it’s kind of overwhelming.
I totally get what you mean about getting overwhelmed—there are like a dozen types of flashing and everyone online seems to swear by something different. For my place (1950s ranch), I stuck with the basic aluminum step flashing for the windows, mostly because it matched what was already there. Honestly, figuring out where to overlap the pieces took a bit of trial and error, but once I got into a rhythm it wasn’t bad. No leaks since then, so I guess it worked. Didn’t notice any issues after, just had to touch up some paint where I scratched the trim.
Honestly, figuring out where to overlap the pieces took a bit of trial and error, but once I got into a rhythm it wasn’t bad. No leaks since then, so I guess it worked.
I get sticking with what’s already there, but I actually went the other way. My place had old aluminum too, but I switched to that flexible flashing tape stuff around the windows. It felt weird at first, but honestly, it sealed up some weird gaps that metal just couldn’t cover. No leaks so far, but I guess time will tell. Sometimes matching the old isn’t always better...
I hear you on the flexible flashing tape—it really does get into those odd spots where rigid metal just can’t. Still, I’ve always been a bit wary about how well the adhesive holds up over time, especially with big temperature swings. I stuck with aluminum since my house is older and already had it everywhere, but I do wonder if I’m just being stubborn about tradition. Guess we’ll both find out in a few years...
I’ve always been a bit wary about how well the adhesive holds up over time, especially with big temperature swings.
That’s a fair concern. I’ve seen some of the early flexible tapes lose their grip after a few years, especially on south-facing walls that bake in the sun and then freeze all winter. But the newer stuff has come a long way—some brands now have adhesives rated for crazy temp swings, and I’ve pulled off siding after a decade to find the tape still stuck tight. It’s not perfect, but I’d trust it more than some of the old asphalt-based flashings.
Aluminum definitely has its place, especially with older homes where it matches what’s already there. The biggest headache I see is getting a good seal at corners or around weird window shapes. That’s where the flexible tape really shines for me—it just hugs those tricky spots without needing a ton of caulk or fiddling.
I get sticking with what you know, though. My dad still swears by copper flashing and won’t touch anything else. Maybe in ten years we’ll both be proven right—or wrong...