You're spot-on about thermal curtains needing proper use—seen plenty of folks just hang 'em and wonder why they're still chilly. But gotta say, shrink-wrap kits...eh, not my favorite. I've seen them sag or peel mid-winter, and then you're back at square one. EPDM tape isn't flashy, but done right, it lasts longer and seals tighter in my experience. Still, can't argue with goofy if it keeps your toes from turning blue...
"EPDM tape isn't flashy, but done right, it lasts longer and seals tighter in my experience."
Yeah, EPDM tape's pretty solid. I remember helping my brother seal his old farmhouse windows—shrink-wrap kits were a disaster there too, peeling off halfway through January. Tape held up way better...but man, applying it neatly was trickier than we expected.
Yeah, EPDM tape's pretty solid. I remember helping my brother seal his old farmhouse windows—shrink-wrap kits were a disaster there too, peeling off halfway through January.
Haha, totally feel you on the neatness struggle. Trick I learned: peel the backing off slowly as you press it down, inch by inch—keeps things straighter. Still, even a wonky EPDM job beats drafty shrink-wrap any day...
EPDM tape can be decent, but honestly, it didn't do much for me last winter. My place is older and the window frames are pretty uneven—tried the slow-peel trick too, but still ended up with gaps. Eventually switched to rope caulk, and it was way easier to mold into weird corners and crevices. Not the prettiest solution, I'll admit, but hey...beats freezing my toes off in February.
"Eventually switched to rope caulk, and it was way easier to mold into weird corners and crevices."
Rope caulk is definitely underrated—I've had similar experiences with uneven frames in my old apartment. EPDM tape worked okay-ish for me, but I found it tricky to get a tight seal around those awkward angles. One thing I tried last winter was combining rope caulk with shrink film insulation kits. The rope caulk filled the bigger gaps nicely, and then the shrink film created an extra barrier against drafts. It wasn't exactly HGTV-worthy, but it made a noticeable difference in comfort (and heating bills).
Have you or anyone else here experimented with shrink film kits alongside caulking or tape? Curious if others found it as helpful as I did, or if there's another combo worth trying out this winter...
Shrink film kits definitely helped in my drafty old house, but I had mixed results pairing them with caulk. For me, rope caulk was great for filling gaps, but sometimes it made the shrink film harder to get smooth—ended up looking like a wrinkly mess. Still, comfort over aesthetics any day.
"EPDM tape worked okay-ish for me, but I found it tricky to get a tight seal around those awkward angles."
Same here—never could get that stuff to stick right. Maybe I'm just tape-challenged...
EPDM tape can be finicky for sure, especially if the surface isn't spotless or it's too cold out. I've had better luck with silicone weatherstripping—sticks easier and handles weird angles better. Still, nothing beats patience and a hairdryer...
EPDM can be tricky, agreed. Couple quick tips:
- Warm tape indoors first (hairdryer trick is gold).
- Quick wipe with rubbing alcohol helps adhesion.
- Silicone's good, but EPDM lasts longer outdoors.
Drafts are stubborn beasts... patience wins every time.
Good tips, especially warming the tape—makes a huge difference. I've found silicone easier to handle indoors, though EPDM definitely holds up better outside. Curious if anyone's tried foam tape instead... does it last or just crumble after a season?
I've tried foam tape a couple times... honestly, it's hit or miss. Indoors it holds up okay, but outside? One winter and it turns into crumbly dust. Learned that the hard way—my yard looked like a foam snowstorm come spring.