Ended up doing the “old school” method: tape measure, level, and checking diagonals for every opening. It’s tedious, but it saved me from having to shim everything like crazy.
I can relate—my house was built in the late 40s, and I was surprised how much things had shifted over the decades. The first window I measured looked fine at a glance, but when I checked diagonals, it was almost 3/4" off. I thought using a laser would be more precise, but with all the weird angles, it just didn’t account for those little dips and bows in the old framing.
I agree with tackling the worst offenders first. I replaced a cracked kitchen window last winter and instantly noticed a difference—no more icy draft right at the breakfast table. As for black frames, I almost went that route because they look sharp, but I hesitated after reading about heat gain. My neighbor has them on his south-facing side and says they get hot enough to burn your hand in July.
Curb appeal is nice, but honestly, comfort and energy bills matter way more to me. Still figuring out which style actually fits the house’s vibe... nothing like overthinking window grilles for three weeks straight.