That’s interesting about the condensation sticking around. I noticed something similar after my swap—like, it definitely improved, but I still get a bit on the bottom corners during really cold snaps. I’ve wondered if it’s just the reality of living in an older house with not-great airflow, or if maybe the window install wasn’t as airtight as advertised. Out of curiosity, did your installer mention anything about adding extra ventilation or adjusting your home’s humidity? I had one contractor suggest a trickle vent, but then another said it wouldn’t make much difference unless the whole house had balanced ventilation.
Also, for anyone who’s had fiberglass for a while—do you find the frames ever get cold to the touch, or is that just me? Trying to figure out if that’s normal or a sign something’s off with the insulation job...
I hear you on the condensation—my 1950s place is like a science experiment every winter. I had the same debate about trickle vents, and honestly, the guy who said it’s only worth it with balanced ventilation might be onto something. My installer barely mentioned humidity, just shrugged and said “keep it under 40%.” As for fiberglass frames, mine get chilly too, especially when it’s below freezing. Not as bad as my old aluminum ones, but still noticeable. Maybe that’s just the tradeoff unless you go full triple-pane or add storm windows? Anyone ever tried adding those over fiberglass?
Not as bad as my old aluminum ones, but still noticeable. Maybe that’s just the tradeoff unless you go full triple-pane or add storm windows?
I put storm windows over my fiberglass frames a couple winters back—honestly, it helped a bit with drafts, but the frames still felt cold to the touch. Not sure you ever really get rid of that unless you go with triple-pane, like you mentioned. Balanced ventilation made more difference for condensation than anything else for me.
Yeah, fiberglass is definitely an upgrade from old aluminum, but you’re right—the frames still get chilly in winter. I’ve seen folks try foam tape or interior window kits, but honestly, unless you go full triple-pane, there’s always going to be a bit of that cold edge. Balanced ventilation is underrated for fighting condensation, though—totally agree there. Sometimes it feels like you fix one thing and another pops up… the joys of homeownership.
Sometimes it feels like you fix one thing and another pops up… the joys of homeownership.
Couldn’t agree more—every time I patch one draft, a new cold spot appears somewhere else. I did the foam tape thing last winter and it helped a bit, but yeah, those chilly frames are stubborn. Have you noticed any difference with curtains or cellular shades? I keep wondering if layering up the window treatments actually makes a dent.
Cellular shades do help a bit, especially if you get the double or triple cell kind—they trap some air and block drafts, but honestly, they’re just a band-aid. Curtains with thermal lining do more, but then you’re living in a cave half the day. When I finally bit the bullet and swapped my old wood windows for fiberglass, it made a bigger difference than any window treatment. Not cheap, and the mess was real, but now I barely notice cold spots. Still, I miss the old wood look sometimes... tradeoffs, right?
Totally get what you mean about the tradeoffs. I’ve always liked the look of old wood windows too—there’s just something about the character they add. But honestly, after fighting with drafty sashes and icy glass for years, I started to wonder if nostalgia was really worth the higher heating bills and constant touch-ups.
When I did my own swap (mine were original 1950s), it was messy and expensive, but the comfort difference was huge. No more waking up to cold air blowing through the bedroom. Did you notice your energy bills drop much? That’s been the biggest perk for me, even more than the comfort.
I do still miss being able to sand and refinish the old frames when they got dinged up, though... Fiberglass is tough but not exactly “fixable” in that DIY sense. Still, like you said, it’s all about which compromise feels right for your house and sanity.
I hear you on missing the old wood frames—there’s just something about being able to fix a scratch or repaint when you want. I swapped out my 1940s windows a couple years back, and honestly, the drop in drafts was immediate. My heating bill went down maybe 15% that winter, which was more than I expected. The fiberglass ones do feel kind of “set it and forget it,” though, which is nice…but I do catch myself wishing I could tweak them like the old ones. Guess there’s no perfect answer.
Honestly, I get the nostalgia for wood, but after dealing with peeling paint and stuck sashes for years, I was ready for something low-maintenance. My old windows looked nice enough, but every winter it felt like I was heating the whole neighborhood. Swapped to fiberglass last fall—yeah, not as charming, but the difference in drafts was night and day. I barely even notice them now, which is kind of the point.
I do miss being able to sand out a ding or change up the color on a whim... but I’d rather spend my weekends doing something besides scraping and painting. One thing that bugged me: the install wasn’t cheap, and I had to wait weeks for the order. Still, with how much less I’m paying to heat and cool the place, I figure they’ll pay for themselves eventually.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’d take boring and efficient over pretty and high-maintenance any day.
- Fiberglass is solid, but there are high-end wood windows with aluminum cladding that actually need almost zero maintenance and keep the original look.
- You can still get the efficiency—triple pane, low-e coatings, tight seals—just with a wood interior and metal outside.
- Cost can be up there, but if you’re in a historic home or want to match existing trim, it’s worth considering.
- I’ve seen folks regret going full synthetic when they miss the character down the line... just depends how much you value the original details.
- Not knocking fiberglass, but there are more options these days than just wood vs. plastic.