Sometimes I wonder if any window actually lives up to the “lifetime” promise in mountain weather.
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? I replaced mine last year (mid-winter, no less—bad timing) and even after hiring a supposedly top-notch installer, I still found a sneaky draft by the couch. Turns out, one little missed spot with the spray foam made all the difference. Mountain weather just finds every weakness, no matter how careful you think you’ve been.
I’ve noticed that even when you get high-end windows with all the fancy seals, it really comes down to whoever’s putting them in and whether they care enough to double-check their work. Sometimes I think “lifetime” guarantees are more about paperwork than actual performance at 7,000 feet. The wind up here is relentless.
Funny thing is, my neighbor swears by his old wood windows—says he just re-caulked and added storm panels and hasn’t had a draft in years. Makes me wonder if new isn’t always better…
Sometimes I think “lifetime” guarantees are more about paperwork than actual performance at 7,000 feet.
I get what you mean. I put in new vinyl windows last fall and figured I’d finally ditch the drafts, but nope—wind found its way in around the edges anyway. Installer came back twice to re-seal. It helped, but it’s not perfect. Honestly, my old windows with heavy curtains did almost as well. Maybe I just expect too much from “modern” upgrades?
That’s wild—my neighbor had the same thing happen after his “energy efficient” window install. I swear, sometimes it feels like all the fancy seals in the world can’t beat a good old draft blocker. Maybe it’s just mountain life?