Good points there—curtains definitely help with insulation. I've had good luck with vinyl shutters too: sturdy, pet-proof, and decent at blocking drafts. Anyone tried insulated window film... does it actually hold up against curious paws?
I've used insulated window film a couple winters now, and honestly, it's great for drafts and keeping the heat in. But pet-proof? Eh... not so much. My cat decided it was her new scratching post within a week. If you've got curious paws around, I'd stick with shutters or heavier curtains. Another thing I've found helpful is weatherstripping tape—cheap, easy to apply, and pets don't seem interested at all.
Haha, sounds like your cat found a new hobby! Have you ever tried thermal honeycomb shades? They're pretty durable and insulating, plus my dog completely ignores them—maybe not as tempting as film. Also curious about the weatherstripping tape you mentioned... does it hold up well over time, or do you find yourself reapplying often? I've been thinking of giving that a shot around my drafty back door.
Thermal honeycomb shades are decent, but honestly, they're not a real fix for drafts—just a band-aid. If your back door is drafty, weatherstripping tape might help temporarily, but you'll probably find yourself reapplying every season or two. I'd recommend biting the bullet and installing proper door sweeps or adjustable thresholds instead. Costs a bit more upfront, sure, but it'll save you headaches down the road...and keep your toes warmer.
We moved into our first house last winter and had the same drafty back door situation. I initially went with honeycomb shades thinking they'd be enough...but nope, still felt that cold breeze creeping in. Eventually, we installed an adjustable threshold, and wow, what a difference it made. Wish I'd done it sooner—would've saved me from wearing three pairs of socks all winter, haha. Definitely worth the upfront cost for comfort alone.
"Eventually, we installed an adjustable threshold, and wow, what a difference it made."
Adjustable thresholds are underrated. I had the same issue with my front door—tried weatherstripping and heavy curtains first, but neither really cut it. Finally bit the bullet and installed an adjustable threshold, and honestly, it's night and day. People tend to overlook small fixes like this, but they pay off big-time in comfort and energy savings.
Adjustable thresholds can definitely make a noticeable difference, especially if you've already tried sealing elsewhere. Had a similar issue on a renovation job last year—client kept complaining about drafts around their windows, even after we upgraded the glazing and weatherstripping. Turned out the real culprit was actually the gaps around the window frames themselves. Once we sealed those properly, the drafts vanished. Makes me wonder, have you checked the framing and insulation around your windows yet? Sometimes the source isn't what you'd expect...
"Turned out the real culprit was actually the gaps around the window frames themselves."
That's a great point—framing gaps can really sneak up on you. Had something similar happen a few winters back. Thought I'd covered everything by upgrading to triple-pane windows and adding weatherstripping, but still felt drafts on colder nights. Eventually realized it wasn't just the frames or thresholds, but the insulation behind the trim itself. Whoever installed the original windows had skimped on insulation, leaving empty pockets behind the casings. Once we pulled those off and filled the voids with spray foam, it was night and day difference.
Have you looked into what's behind your window trim yet? Could be another hidden spot worth checking...
Had a similar issue myself, but honestly, I'm not totally sold on spray foam behind the trim. Sure, it sealed things up nicely at first, but after a few years, I noticed some shrinkage and gaps forming again. Ended up going back in with fiberglass insulation strips instead—seems to hold up better long-term. Curious if anyone else has seen spray foam lose effectiveness over time or if maybe I just got unlucky with the brand...?
I've actually had pretty good luck with spray foam, but I think the trick is in the application. If you go too heavy, it expands way more than you'd expect and then shrinks back later, leaving gaps. Learned that the hard way after turning my window frames into marshmallow disasters... But once I figured out to apply it lightly and layer if needed, it's held up nicely—even through some brutal winters. Maybe give it another shot with a lighter touch next time?