window headers seem to attract drafts no matter what
Seriously, it’s like there’s a secret vent up there. I tried the foam too—ended up hacking away at it for an hour. Backer rod with silicone caulk is way less chaotic, and you can actually undo it if needed.
- Totally get where you're coming from—window headers are just stubborn spots for drafts.
- Tried foam once too, and yeah... it turned into a sticky mess that I regretted later.
- The backer rod + silicone combo is my go-to now. It’s cleaner, and if you need to pull it out later, you’re not scraping forever.
- Honestly, I think some houses just have weird airflow up there. Mine’s 1950s construction and I swear the wind finds every gap.
- Don’t get discouraged—sometimes it takes a couple tries to really seal those up.
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“Mine’s 1950s construction and I swear the wind finds every gap.”
Story of my life. My place is early 60s, and I’m convinced the drafts are just part of the original design. Maybe it was “natural ventilation” before that was trendy?
- Foam is a trap. Looks easy, but then you’re chiseling it out months later and cursing past-you for being optimistic.
- Backer rod + silicone is solid, but I’ll admit I once forgot to let the silicone cure before painting. Let’s just say, don’t do that unless you want fingerprints on your trim forever.
- Sometimes I wonder if the headers shift or settle over decades, making new gaps no matter what you do. Or maybe it’s just the house mocking me.
Takes a few tries for sure. At this point, I just keep a tube of caulk in the junk drawer... right next to all the other “temporary fixes” that somehow became permanent.
Yeah, the “natural ventilation” theory makes me laugh. My place is mid-50s, and it’s like the headers were designed to let in a breeze. I learned the hard way that expanding foam just crumbles after a few seasons—total mess. I’ve had better luck with weatherstripping, but even then, it feels like the wood just shifts and ruins all your effort. Sometimes I think these old houses are just determined to keep us humble.
I get what you mean about the foam—mine flaked away after two winters, and I was pretty disappointed. I’ve always wondered if part of the problem is moisture migration? Sometimes I think the shifting wood has as much to do with humidity swings as age. I tried a flexible silicone caulk around the headers last fall, and it’s holding up better than I expected. Not perfect, but less drafty. Maybe these old houses just need a little more compromise than we’d like.
That’s interesting about the silicone caulk—might have to try that myself. I’ve had similar issues with foam, especially in spots where the wood moves a lot through the seasons. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just impossible to totally seal these headers without gutting the whole frame, which I’m definitely not up for. My place is from the 1920s and it feels like the windows are always one step ahead of any fix I try.
I keep running into the same thing—every time I think I’ve sealed up a draft, something shifts and it’s back. Is it just the age of the wood, or is there some trick I’m missing? Does silicone actually flex enough for those seasonal changes? I’m always worried about trapping moisture if I seal too tight, too...
- Been fighting this same battle for years, and my house is only 50-something, so I don’t think it’s *just* the age. Wood moves like it’s got a mind of its own—swells up in the summer, shrinks in the winter, and just dares you to keep up.
- Tried silicone caulk a few times. It’s got some flex, but if you’ve got big seasonal shifts (I’m in the Midwest, so it’s a circus), it’ll eventually pull away or crack. It’s like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole with drafts.
- I’ve had better luck with those foam backer rods under the caulk, especially when the gap’s a bit bigger. Gives it something to grab onto and seems to hold up a little better.
- About trapping moisture—yeah, that’s a real thing. I got overzealous one year and sealed everything up tight. Next spring, surprise: paint peeling and a bit of musty smell. Turns out these old houses need to breathe, just like we do.
- If you’re worried about moisture, maybe look at those tape-style weatherstrips? Not as permanent, but easier to pull off if you need to air things out.
- Sometimes I just throw my hands up, jam an old towel in the header for the winter, and call it “vintage insulation.” Not pretty, but it works in a pinch.
Honestly, I think there’s always going to be some compromise between airtight and letting the house do its thing. If anyone’s actually won this fight, I’d love to know their secret...
- Totally get where you're coming from. My place is a 60s ranch, and those window headers have been a headache since I moved in.
- Tried the silicone caulk route too—looked great for about a season. Midwest winters hit, and by spring half of it had pulled away.
- I’ve also used backer rods, but sometimes the gaps are so uneven that it’s hard to get a snug fit all the way across.
- Did the “over-seal” thing once, thinking I was being clever. Next rainy season, I noticed condensation inside the header trim. Ended up with a little mildew and some paint bubbling. Lesson learned: these houses need some airflow, even if it means a little draft.
- Weatherstripping tape is a decent stopgap, but it doesn’t last more than a year or two before it starts peeling or losing its stick.
- Not gonna lie, I’ve stuffed a rolled-up T-shirt in the gap during a cold snap. Not fancy, but it beats freezing.
Honestly, I think you’re spot on—there’s no perfect fix, just a constant balancing act. If there’s a magic bullet, I haven’t found it yet...