Had a weird experience last winter—my cabin’s windows started leaking cold air after just two years. Thought double glazing would be enough, but maybe the wind and snow here are too much? Anyone else notice windows wearing out faster when you’re far from, well, everything?
Had a weird experience last winter—my cabin’s windows started leaking cold air after just two years.
Yeah, I’ve seen this happen out in remote spots. Sometimes the wind just finds every weakness, no matter how good the install seemed at first. My place is about five years old and the double glazing still holds up, but I had to redo all the caulking around the frames last fall. Turns out, even new seals can shrink or crack fast with all that freeze/thaw. Not sure if it’s “wearing out” faster, but definitely needs more TLC than windows back in town. Maybe check your seals before swapping out the glass? Sometimes it’s a cheap fix.
Interesting—two years does seem quick for leaks, but I’ve noticed remote cabins really put materials to the test. Did you use expanding foam or just regular caulk around the frames? Sometimes that makes a difference, especially with big temperature swings. I had to go back and add weatherstripping after my first winter because the original stuff just didn’t cut it. It’s wild how much more maintenance these windows need compared to city houses.
- Used regular caulk, not foam. Figured it’d be enough, but maybe not for these temps.
- My weatherstripping was toast after one winter too—guess I underestimated how much wind gets through here.
- Didn’t expect to be redoing window seals already.
- Do you think foam would hold up better long-term, or just make a mess if I need to redo things later?
Foam’s definitely messier, but honestly, it kept the wind out better for me. I used the low-expansion stuff around my kitchen window last fall—looks a bit rough if you peek behind the trim, but I haven’t felt a draft since. The caulk just shriveled up and cracked after one freeze-thaw cycle. Not sure if it’s just our “middle of nowhere” weather or what, but nothing seems to last as long as it should out here.
Weatherstripping’s a joke in my place too. I went through two rolls before winter even hit full force. Kinda feels like the windows themselves are fine, it’s just all the stuff *around* them that gives up first. If you ever find something that actually lasts more than a season, let me know… otherwise I’ll be out there with a can of foam and some hope again next year.