Interesting experience—I usually find ReStore pretty consistent. Maybe it depends on who's working that day? I've had better luck donating construction materials to local Habitat chapters directly, rather than their retail stores...might be worth checking out next time.
"I've had better luck donating construction materials to local Habitat chapters directly, rather than their retail stores...might be worth checking out next time."
Good tip—I hadn't thought about going straight to the local chapters. I've only tried ReStore once, and it was a bit hit-or-miss for me too. Maybe it's just timing or who's working, like you said. When we replaced our old sliding patio door (talk about heavy!), we ended up listing it on Facebook Marketplace as a free pickup. Honestly, I was surprised how quickly someone came to grab it. Saved us the hassle of hauling it anywhere ourselves. Might be another option if Habitat doesn't pan out next time...
That's interesting about Marketplace—I usually avoid it because of the hassle of coordinating pickups, but maybe I'll reconsider next time. For heavy windows or doors, I've found that local salvage yards sometimes take them if they're in decent shape. Just call ahead first, because some places get picky about condition or style. Has anyone tried repurposing old windows into something else around the house? Always thought that could be a cool DIY project...
I turned an old window into a coffee table once—looked great, but honestly, it was more work than I bargained for. Stripping the paint, reinforcing the frame, adding tempered glass... cool project, sure, but be ready for some serious elbow grease.
"cool project, sure, but be ready for some serious elbow grease."
Yeah, sounds familiar... I once repurposed a big old window into a greenhouse cold frame. Looked straightforward enough, but sealing all those gaps to keep heat in was a real headache. Did yours at least hold up well over time?
Yeah, sealing gaps can be a real pain, especially when you're dealing with older windows that aren't exactly square anymore. I did something similar—turned a big salvaged window into a mini greenhouse—and ended up using weatherstripping tape and silicone caulk to seal it up. It's held up pretty well for about three years now, but every winter I still find myself patching up tiny leaks here and there... guess that's just part of the DIY charm, right?
"every winter I still find myself patching up tiny leaks here and there... guess that's just part of the DIY charm, right?"
Haha, totally relate to that "DIY charm" you're talking about. I tackled a similar project last fall—repurposed an old bay window into a reading nook—and sealing it was way trickier than expected. Ended up using expanding foam insulation around the edges, which worked surprisingly well. Have you tried that stuff yet? It's messy at first, but once it sets, it really fills those odd gaps nicely... might save you some winter patch-ups.
Yep, expanding foam is a lifesaver for those weird gaps. I remember when I replaced my kitchen window a couple years back—thought I'd measured everything perfectly, but nope... ended up with this awkward half-inch gap on one side. Foam insulation did the trick, but man, cleaning that stuff off my hands afterward was no joke. Gloves next time for sure.
Haha, been there with the foam-on-hands situation... spent an entire afternoon scrubbing that stuff off once. But hey, at least your window's sealed tight now—bet it made a noticeable difference in drafts and heating bills afterward, right?
Yeah, sealing it up tight definitely helps, but honestly, DIY foam jobs can be hit or miss. I've seen plenty of cases where folks think they've nailed it, only to find hidden gaps later causing sneaky drafts. Foam's great, but it's tricky—expands unpredictably and can warp frames if you're not careful. Still, if your heating bills dropped noticeably afterward, sounds like you got lucky... or maybe you're just better at it than most of us!