“sometimes even the best installation can’t fight against an old house that’s moving around every season.”
That hits home. My place was built in the 40s, and no matter how careful I am, the floors and frames just do their own thing. I once spent hours air-sealing a window, and by the next spring, the sash was rubbing and there was a draft again. I do think you can spot a lazy installer, though—had one guy skip caulking under the sill “because it won’t show.” Sure didn’t show until the first big rain. Sometimes it’s both: old bones and shortcuts.
“Sometimes it’s both: old bones and shortcuts.”
That’s the truth. My house is from the 30s and nothing’s ever square. Even the best work gets tested by a few freeze-thaw cycles. But yeah, you can always tell when someone cuts corners—skipping caulk, rushing trim, not checking for level. It’s one thing to fight the house settling, but laziness just makes it worse. I’ve learned to watch every step or just do it myself.
That reminds me of when I had to redo the back bedroom windows. The installer came in, seemed to be in a hurry, and I noticed he didn’t even bother to check the old frame for rot—just slapped the new window right in. Sure enough, a year later, I found water damage under the sill. Ended up pulling it all apart and fixing it myself. It’s wild how much difference a little patience and attention to detail makes, especially in these older houses where nothing lines up like it should.
I’ve gotten pretty picky about who I let work on the place now. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just the nature of these old homes or if shortcuts are more common these days. Have you ever had someone actually do a job right the first time? Or is that just wishful thinking with houses this age?
Funny you mention that—my place is an old 1920s bungalow and it’s like every project uncovers some “surprise” nobody warned me about. I did luck out once with a plumber who actually took the time to trace a leak back to a hairline crack in the old cast iron, instead of just replacing the obvious stuff. But honestly, those folks are rare. Makes me wonder if it’s just that old houses scare off the careful workers or if everyone’s just in a rush these days. Ever had someone actually take their time and explain what they’re doing, or is that just me hoping for too much?
- Totally get what you mean about the “surprise” factor. My house isn’t as old (built in the 50s), but it’s like there’s a secret handshake with every wall you open—usually involving spiders or weird wiring.
- Had a HVAC guy last month who actually showed me what he was doing, step by step. Even pointed out a few things I could keep an eye on myself. Felt like finding a unicorn, honestly.
- On the flip side, had a window installer who tried to tell me my sills were rotted through when they were just dirty. He barely looked before giving me a quote for “full replacement.” Red flag city.
- I’ve noticed the folks who take their time usually aren’t rushing to get to the next job. Maybe it’s just luck, or maybe old houses attract people who like puzzles… but yeah, they’re rare.
- Not sure if careful workers avoid older homes or if it’s just that everyone’s overbooked these days. Either way, I’ll take anyone willing to explain what’s going on—even if it means listening to a 20-minute rant about copper pipes vs PEX.
I’ve noticed the folks who take their time usually aren’t rushing to get to the next job. Maybe it’s just luck, or maybe old houses attract people who like puzzles… but yeah, they’re rare.
It’s wild how that “rush job” mentality shows up in window replacements. I always ask installers about U-factor and air leakage ratings, just to see if they know their stuff or are just pushing a sale. The ones who can explain why a certain window works better for my climate (cold winters, humid summers here) tend to be the ones who’ll actually check the sills instead of assuming rot. Curious—did your HVAC guy talk about insulation or air sealing at all? Sometimes those little details make a huge difference in energy bills, especially in older homes.
- I totally get what you mean about installers who actually know their stuff. The last window crew I talked to didn’t even mention U-factor until I brought it up, which set off a little alarm bell for me.
- When my HVAC guy came out, he was all about insulation—kept pointing out spots where old fiberglass was sagging or missing. Didn’t say much about air sealing, though, which surprised me since our place is drafty in winter.
- It’s wild how much difference those details make. After we added some spray foam around the new windows, our heating bill dropped a bit (nothing crazy, but noticeable).
- Curious if anyone’s ever had an installer push for a full frame replacement “just in case”? I feel like they sometimes use scare tactics about rot when a good look would show it’s fine.
- Anyone found a good way to check air leakage themselves before calling in the pros? I’ve tried the candle trick on windy days, but not sure how reliable that really is…
Anyone found a good way to check air leakage themselves before calling in the pros? I’ve tried the candle trick on windy days, but not sure how reliable that really is…
I’ve tried the candle thing too—sometimes it works, sometimes it’s just drafty enough to flicker no matter what. What’s been more helpful for me is running my hand around the frames on a cold day, especially near the bottom corners. If I feel a temperature drop or moving air, I know there’s a leak. Blue painter’s tape over the suspect spots can help narrow it down, too. Not super scientific, but it gives you a baseline before you spend money on pros. You’re right about installers pushing full replacements, by the way—had one try to convince me my 90s windows were “dangerous.” They’re not perfect, but they’re not rotting out either… sometimes you gotta trust your gut.
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Couldn’t agree more. Some installers see older windows and immediately go into “replace everything” mode, but a few drafts don’t mean you need to take out a second mortgage.“sometimes you gotta trust your gut.”
- Candle trick is classic, but yeah, it’s not always reliable—especially if you’ve got forced air or pets running around. I like the hand test too, especially on a cold day. If you want to get a bit fancier, try an incense stick. The smoke trail is easier to see than a candle flame and less likely to blow out.
- Painter’s tape is actually a clever move for narrowing down leaks. I’ve seen folks use plastic wrap or even dollar bills (close the window on one and see if you can pull it out easily—if so, that’s a loose seal).
- About the “dangerous” windows… unless yours are falling apart or have lead paint flaking off, that’s mostly scare tactics. Old doesn’t always mean unsafe.
- Quick tip: If you do call in a pro, ask them to show you exactly where the problem spots are—don’t just take their word for it. A good installer will walk you through it, not pressure you.
Not every draft means disaster. Sometimes it’s just weatherstripping or a little caulk away from being fixed.
Totally agree about the scare tactics—had a guy try to tell me my 1960s windows were “a hazard to my family” because of a little draft. Ended up fixing it with some rope caulk and new weatherstripping for under $20. Not every old window needs tossing.