"Ended up doing fiberglass on just the worst windows (west-facing ones). Definitely pricier upfront, but zero regrets so far."
Fiberglass is solid for durability, no argument there...but if budget's a concern, have you considered quality cellular shades or insulated curtains first? I've seen clients get decent results cutting heat and UV damage without jumping straight to window replacements. Might buy you some time to save up for better windows down the road. Just something to think about before committing window-by-window.
Might buy you some time to save up for better windows down the road. Just something to think about before committing window-by-window.
Fiberglass definitely holds up well, but honestly, I've seen some pretty impressive results with insulated curtains too. Had a client last summer who was convinced she'd need new windows right away—west-facing, brutal afternoon sun—but she tried heavy thermal curtains first and said it made a noticeable difference. Still ended up replacing eventually, but bought herself a couple extra years. Curious, did you notice a big comfort difference immediately after swapping to fiberglass?
Fiberglass is solid, but honestly, I didn't notice a huge comfort jump right away. A bit quieter, sure, but temperature-wise it wasn't night and day. One thing that surprised me was how much difference sealing around the frames made—cheap fix, noticeable improvement. Also tried thermal curtains in our bedroom last winter; they helped more than I expected. Not saying fiberglass isn't worth it long-term, just that smaller fixes can sometimes get you pretty far without dropping serious cash upfront.
Did you notice if sealing around the frames helped more with drafts or noise reduction? I've been debating between weatherstripping and thermal curtains myself... wondering which tackles drafts better.
I've done both, and honestly, sealing around the frames with weatherstripping definitely made a noticeable difference with drafts. Noise... eh, not so much. Thermal curtains helped a bit with drafts too, but they're more of a bonus than a main fix. I'd say start with weatherstripping—it's cheap, easy, and you can always add curtains later if you still feel chilly. Plus, curtains are nice for privacy anyway, so win-win.
I get what you're saying about weatherstripping, but honestly, I didn't find it as effective as you did. Maybe my windows were just too old or something, but after sealing them up, I still felt drafts coming through the glass itself. Ended up trying those plastic window insulation kits—the ones you shrink-wrap with a hairdryer—and they actually worked surprisingly well. They're cheap enough to experiment with, and installation is pretty straightforward:
1. Clean the window frame thoroughly.
2. Apply the double-sided tape around the edges.
3. Stick the plastic sheet onto the tape.
4. Use a hairdryer to shrink it tight.
It looks a bit weird at first, but once it's tightened up, it's barely noticeable. Definitely cut down on drafts more noticeably for me than weatherstripping alone. Noise-wise though... yeah, nothing short of actual new windows seems to help much there. Curtains are nice for privacy, but if you're really feeling chilly, I'd suggest giving the plastic film a shot before spending more money on curtains or anything else.
"Noise-wise though... yeah, nothing short of actual new windows seems to help much there."
Yeah, totally agree on the noise issue—plastic film helps with drafts but won't do much for sound. I ended up layering heavy thermal curtains over mine, and honestly, that combo made a noticeable difference without breaking the bank.
Yeah, heavy curtains can help dampen some of the sharper noises, definitely a decent quick fix. But honestly, if you're dealing with constant traffic or noisy neighbors, eventually biting the bullet for double-pane windows pays off big time in comfort and resale value... just sayin'.
Double-pane windows are great, no doubt, but they're not always the silver bullet people think. I remember a client who shelled out big bucks for new windows, expecting total silence from street noise. Sure, it helped, but he was still bothered by vibrations and low-frequency sounds from trucks rumbling by. Sometimes, sealing gaps around existing windows or adding weatherstripping can make a surprising difference without breaking the bank. Worth trying smaller fixes first before diving into a full window replacement, IMO.
Yeah, good point about vibrations. I had a similar issue at my old place—spent a weekend sealing gaps and adding some heavy curtains, and honestly, it made a bigger difference than I expected. Still, low-frequency noise from trucks was tough to block completely. Anyone tried those acoustic window inserts or soundproof curtains? Curious if they're worth the money or just another gimmick...