Had a similar experience myself—when I pulled the trim off, I found they'd just loosely packed fiberglass insulation in there too. But I'm not totally convinced expanding foam is always the best solution either. I've seen it over-applied, causing frames to warp slightly, and then you end up with windows that don't open smoothly. Did you use the low-expansion type specifically for windows? Curious if anyone's had issues with foam expanding unevenly...
I had the same worry about foam expanding unevenly, so I went super careful with the low-expansion stuff. Worked okay for me, but I've heard some people swear by sealing tape instead. Anyone tried that route? Curious if it holds up in colder climates...
Tried sealing tape last winter—honestly wasn't impressed.
- Easy install, sure, but started peeling at corners after a couple months.
- Temps dropped below zero here regularly, tape seemed brittle and lost adhesion.
- Foam can be messy, but at least it stays put.
I've had mixed results with sealing tape too—it's pretty hit-or-miss depending on the brand and prep work. If you ever give it another shot, try wiping down the window frame with rubbing alcohol first to remove dust or oils. Also, warming up the tape slightly with a hair dryer before applying can boost adhesion, especially in colder climates. Foam's reliable, sure, but sometimes a little extra prep makes tape worth reconsidering...
I've definitely found prep makes a huge difference too. A few winters back, I tried sealing tape without much thought—just slapped it on and hoped for the best. Predictably, it peeled right off after a week. Next season, I took the extra step of cleaning with alcohol and warming the tape like you mentioned, and it held strong all winter. One thing I'd add: avoid applying tape when it's super cold out already—midday sun helps the adhesive bond better.
"avoid applying tape when it's super cold out already—midday sun helps the adhesive bond better."
Yeah, learned that one the hard way myself. Last winter, I waited until temps dropped below freezing to seal my windows—big mistake. Tape barely stuck, and I ended up redoing it on a warmer afternoon. Curious though, anyone tried silicone caulk instead of tape? Heard mixed things about ease of removal come spring...
Curious though, anyone tried silicone caulk instead of tape?
I actually gave silicone caulk a shot last year. Worked great for sealing drafts—definitely better than tape in my experience—but yeah, removal was a bit of a pain come spring. Had to carefully scrape it off and ended up touching up some paint afterward. Still, the energy savings were noticeable enough that I'd probably do it again...just maybe with a lighter hand next time, haha.
"removal was a bit of a pain come spring"
Yeah, silicone caulk definitely seals better than tape, but scraping it off was such a hassle I swore never again... Maybe try removable caulk next time—heard it's easier to peel off and won't wreck your paint.
I agree that silicone caulk is effective, but the removal process can indeed be tedious. Last winter was my first experience sealing windows as a homeowner, and I opted for silicone thinking durability was key. It did keep drafts out exceptionally well, but come springtime, I found myself carefully scraping with a razor blade and still ended up damaging some paint around the frames.
After some research, I discovered removable weatherstripping caulk—it's designed specifically for seasonal sealing and supposedly peels off easily without leaving residue or damaging surfaces. I've read several reviews from homeowners in colder climates who swear by it. It seems to strike a good balance between sealing effectiveness and ease of removal. Might be worth considering if you're looking to avoid repainting window frames every year...
"After some research, I discovered removable weatherstripping caulk—it's designed specifically for seasonal sealing and supposedly peels off easily without leaving residue or damaging surfaces."
Great suggestion on the removable caulk. Have you tried it yet to see if it really comes off smoothly? I've seen mixed results depending on the brand and how long it's left on. Also curious if you've considered window insulation film kits? They're pretty easy to install, and removing them in spring is usually hassle-free—no scraping or repainting needed...just a thought.