I feel your pain on the weather-stripping front. Last year, I went full engineer-mode—thermal imaging camera borrowed from a friend, caulk gun at the ready, and enough foam tape to wrap a mummy. Thought I'd nailed it, but nope... still felt like a ghost was breathing down my neck every windy night. Finally bit the bullet and upgraded to Kolbe windows about three months ago. Honestly, it's been night and day. The drafts are pretty much gone, and the house is noticeably quieter too.
Funny you mention your dog—I swear my cat is annoyed now that her favorite drafty spot by the window is gone. She used to sit there staring suspiciously at invisible intruders; now she just naps in disappointment.
Anyway, glad to hear someone else had similar results with Kolbe. Makes me feel better about the investment (and my DIY pride taking a hit).
I went through a similar DIY saga myself—spent weeks chasing drafts with weather stripping and foam sealant, convinced I could outsmart the wind. Eventually gave in and upgraded to Kolbe windows about a year ago. The difference was immediate: quieter rooms, stable temps, and my heating bill dropped noticeably. Still stings a bit admitting defeat on the DIY front, but comfort beats pride any day...
I get why you went with Kolbe, they definitely have a solid rep. But honestly, I've had pretty good luck with DIY sealing—just took some trial and error (and maybe a bit of stubbornness). I found that investing in higher-quality weather stripping and being meticulous about installation made a bigger difference than I expected. Still tempted by new windows eventually, but for now, my DIY pride is intact and the drafts are mostly gone...mostly.
Went the DIY sealing route myself a few years back—definitely helped cut down drafts, but after finally biting the bullet on new windows last spring, gotta admit the difference was night and day. Worth it long-term if you can swing it budget-wise.
• Gotta admit, new windows are nice, but honestly, heavy curtains and a good caulk job did wonders for me.
• Plus, no need to sell a kidney to afford 'em...
• Maybe I'm just cheap, but DIY still holds up pretty well here.
"Maybe I'm just cheap, but DIY still holds up pretty well here."
Haha, totally get this. When we first moved in, I was dead set on replacing all the windows—until I saw the quotes. Ended up doing exactly what you did: heavy thermal curtains, some weather stripping, and a weekend spent caulking every tiny gap I could find. Honestly, the difference was pretty noticeable, especially with drafts and noise.
That said, after about 10 years, we finally bit the bullet and upgraded to some mid-range windows (not Kolbe, but decent quality). Gotta admit, the convenience and comfort are nice—no more wrestling with stuck windows or dealing with condensation buildup. But yeah, the DIY route definitely bought us a good chunk of time and saved a ton of cash. Nothing wrong with keeping it simple if it's working for you...
Yeah, DIY solutions can definitely stretch your budget further, especially if you're meticulous about sealing gaps and drafts. We did something similar—weather stripping, caulking, even shrink-wrap window film in winter—and it worked surprisingly well for years. Eventually, though, upgrading to higher-quality windows made a noticeable difference in thermal performance and sound insulation. Not essential by any means, but the comfort factor is pretty hard to ignore once you've experienced it firsthand...
We went the DIY route for years too—plastic film, weather stripping, the whole deal. It definitely helped, but honestly, once we finally bit the bullet and upgraded our windows, the difference was night and day. Not just warmer rooms, but quieter too. Didn't realize how much street noise we'd gotten used to until it was suddenly gone. Worth the investment if you're planning to stay put awhile...
Interesting you mention the noise reduction—did you go with double or triple-pane glass? I've been debating upgrading myself, but the cost jump to triple-pane has me hesitating. Also curious if you noticed a big difference in drafts around the frames themselves. DIY sealing helps, but I've always wondered if new windows really eliminate those cold spots completely...
Triple-pane definitely has its perks, but honestly, the jump in cost might not always justify itself depending on your situation. I've installed both double and triple-pane windows for clients, and while triple-pane does offer slightly better noise reduction and insulation, the difference isn't always night-and-day noticeable—especially if your walls or attic aren't well-insulated to begin with.
As for drafts around the frames, new windows can significantly reduce them, but completely eliminating cold spots is tricky. Even high-end windows can have minor drafts if the installation isn't spot-on. DIY sealing helps a lot, but sometimes it's worth checking other areas too—like gaps around electrical outlets or baseboards. I've seen people spend big bucks on windows only to realize later that their drafts were coming from elsewhere entirely...
Have you considered getting an energy audit first? It might pinpoint exactly where your biggest heat losses are happening before you commit to expensive upgrades.