Here's something I didn't know until I watched a pro do it: apparently, if you skip sealing the window frame properly (like with that expanding foam or tape stuff), you can lose way more heat in winter than through the glass itself. Wild, right? I always figured the glass was the weak spot, but nope—it's those little gaps around the edge. Anyone else surprised by this, or have tricks for getting a good seal without making a mess?
Funny, I thought the same thing for years—just assumed the glass was the culprit. Turns out those tiny gaps are basically a highway for drafts. I tried that foam once and made a total mess, so now I use the low-expansion stuff and painter’s tape to keep it tidy. It’s not perfect, but way better than freezing by the window every January. Honestly, sealing made more difference than swapping out for double-pane glass did in my old place.
That’s been my experience too—people obsess over the glass, but those gaps around the frame are where you really lose heat. I learned the hard way after a winter where my “brand new” windows still let in a draft you could practically feel across the room. Turns out, the installer just slapped in some insulation haphazardly and called it good. I had to pull off the trim and redo everything with low-expansion foam. It’s messy if you’re not careful, but painter’s tape helps a ton, like you said.
I’ll add: sometimes it’s not just the big gaps, but little cracks or spots where the foam didn’t fill all the way. I go back after it cures and check for cold spots with the back of my hand or even a cheap thermal camera (got one of those phone attachments on sale—worth it for peace of mind). If there’s still a draft, I’ll hit it with a bit of caulk or more foam as needed.
Honestly, I think people underestimate how much difference proper sealing makes versus just upgrading to fancy glass. Double-pane is great, but if air’s sneaking around the edges, it doesn’t matter much. I’d rather have an old single-pane window that’s sealed tight than a leaky new one.
One thing I don’t love about the foam is how it can bow the frame if you use too much, especially on older wood windows. That’s why I stick to the low-expansion stuff now—learned that lesson after a window got stuck shut. Not fun in the summer when you want some fresh air.
Anyway, sealing up those gaps made my place way more comfortable and actually cut down on outside noise too. Not perfect, but worth the effort.
Couldn’t agree more about the sealing. People get fixated on triple-pane or whatever, but if you leave a thumb-sized gap around the frame, you might as well leave the window open. I’ve seen “pro” installs where they didn’t even bother to caulk the sill... wild. Low-expansion foam’s definitely the way to go—seen too many warped frames from the big stuff. Honestly, most of the energy savings come from what you can’t see, not what you can.
- That’s exactly what got me—spent ages picking out windows, barely thought about the seal until I felt a draft last winter.
- Used low-expansion foam on one window and regular on another (ran out mid-job)... the frame on the second one bowed just a bit. Not super obvious, but annoying.
- Mess-wise: painter’s tape along the edge before foaming helped a ton. Peels right off after, no sticky residue.
- Still not sure if I trust just foam or if I should add that flexible tape stuff too. Anyone actually notice a difference?
I get where you’re coming from. I used just foam on one set of windows and then tried the flexible tape on another room, mostly because I’d read somewhere it helps with shifting over time. Honestly? The difference wasn’t huge, but the tape did seem to cut down on tiny drafts when the temps dropped. I’m still a little skeptical about how much it matters long-term, but if you’re already going through the trouble, it’s not a bad backup. The painter’s tape tip is gold, by the way—wish I’d known that before my first attempt...