Yeah, skipping the upper floors is a classic regret. I’ve seen it more times than I can count—folks get nervous about the height, figure they’ll just do the easy stuff, and then wonder why their bedrooms are freezing come January. I get it though. Ladders aren’t everyone’s idea of a good Saturday.
I’ll say this: the payoff for doing those upstairs windows is legit. In my own place (1910s two-story), I held off on the attic dormers for years because I was dreading the scaffolding rental and the hassle of working up high. Finally caved after one winter where I could practically feel the wind blowing through the old sashes. Roped in my brother, spent a long weekend up there, and honestly? The difference was night and day. The heating bill dropped, and it actually felt comfortable up there for once.
Painter’s tape is a game changer for caulking, no question. I used to end up with caulk all over my hands and window frames until someone showed me that trick. Still, sometimes you just gotta accept it’s going to be messy and keep a roll of paper towels handy.
One thing I’ll push back on a bit—DIY storm windows are totally doable if you’re careful, but you’ve got to respect your limits. If you’re not steady on a ladder or you’re dealing with really old, brittle glass, sometimes it’s worth calling in help rather than risking a fall or a broken pane. But if you can swing it safely, those upper floors are where you’ll see the biggest improvement, hands down.
Funny enough, I used to think caulking and storms were all about drafts and bills, but after doing mine right, I noticed way less dust and outside noise too. Didn’t expect that bonus.
Anyway, yeah—it’s a hassle, but in my experience, it pays off way more than you’d think at first glance.
Not gonna lie, I’m a huge fan of tackling those upper floors too, but I do think sometimes the hassle just isn’t worth it if your windows are in rough shape or you’re dealing with weird access.
Couldn’t agree more there. I’ve seen folks try to DIY storms on ancient windows and end up with a bigger headache (and repair bill) than if they’d just paid someone for those tricky spots. Sometimes it’s about picking your battles—like, I did my own first floor storms, but hired out for the attic dormers and honestly, no regrets.“if you’re not steady on a ladder or you’re dealing with really old, brittle glass, sometimes it’s worth calling in help rather than risking a fall or a broken pane.”