Would you bother with three layers of glass for a cabin in the boonies?

That lines up with what I’ve seen too - double glazing is a solid upgrade for most climates, especially if you’re dealing with an older cabin that’s already a bit drafty. Triple glazing does offer better thermal performance on paper, but unless you’re somewhere with really extreme temps or a ton of wind, the difference in comfort just isn’t dramatic. I’ve found that sealing up rim joists and adding insulation in the attic often gives you more bang for your buck. Funny how people focus on windows and forget how much heat just sneaks out through the roof and floor...

Yeah, totally agree about the attic and rim joists - when we moved into our place last fall, I was all hyped about getting new windows right away. But after talking to a local contractor, I realized most of my heat was just floating out through the (barely-insulated) attic and those weird gaps in the crawlspace. Ended up rolling out a bunch of insulation up top and stuffing foam around the joists, and honestly it made a way bigger difference than I expected.

I get why people focus on windows, though - they’re just so obvious, you know? But triple glazing seemed kinda overkill for our setup. Maybe if we were up north or something... but in the end, double glazing felt like enough, and the extra cash went further fixing up other drafty spots.

Funny thing: after all that, the old single-pane windows don’t bother us nearly as much as before. Might swap them eventually, but for now, not in a rush. Sometimes it’s the less glamorous fixes that really pay off.

I totally get the logic behind focusing on attic and rim joist insulation first - did the same thing in our old place and it was a game changer. But I’d push back a bit on holding off with the windows, especially if you’re out in the boonies and planning to be there long-term. Here’s the thing: even with good insulation elsewhere, those single-pane windows still bleed heat on really cold nights, and they can get pretty drafty over time.

What worked for us was tackling it in phases. First, we did the attic and crawlspace, then we swapped out just the worst windows (the north-facing ones that took the brunt of the wind). Even double glazing made a noticeable difference in comfort, and condensation issues basically vanished. Triple glazing might sound like overkill, but if you’re off-grid or trying to keep heating costs super low, it can add up in the long run - especially if you’re not planning to replace them again for decades.

Just my two cents from living through a couple rough winters... sometimes the “obvious” upgrades are worth bumping up the list after all.

I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’m still on the fence about triple glazing for a cabin unless you’re in, like, northern Canada or somewhere with brutal temps. We did new double-pane windows in our last place (midwest winters, nothing crazy but still cold), and the difference from single-pane was night and day. I just can’t say I noticed enough of a gap to justify the extra cost of triple glazing - at least not in our climate.

One thing I found: after we sealed up the attic and rim joists, most of our drafts disappeared. The windows were still the weakest link, sure, but with good caulking and some heavy curtains, it was manageable. Maybe if I was building new and planning to be there forever, I’d think about triple glazing. But for an older cabin or if you’re stretching the budget, double seems like a solid upgrade without going overboard.

Curious if anyone’s actually seen their heating bills drop a ton after going triple? For us, the biggest savings came from plugging up all those sneaky air leaks around doors and outlets...

You nailed it - sealing up those drafts and insulating the attic made a way bigger difference for us than any window upgrade ever did. I swapped out all the old single panes for double glazing in my place (northern Wisconsin, so winters are no joke), and honestly, I couldn’t justify triple either. The cost just didn’t add up compared to the returns. Heavy curtains and a tube of caulk go a long way... sometimes I think people get too hung up on window specs when the real culprits are those sneaky leaks everywhere else.

sometimes I think people get too hung up on window specs when the real culprits are those sneaky leaks everywhere else.

That hits home. I spent one winter convinced my ancient windows were the problem, but after crawling around with a candle (highly scientific method, I know), it turned out half the heat was escaping through gaps around the baseboards and even an old dryer vent. I did end up going with double glazing for peace of mind, but honestly, after a weekend with a caulk gun and some foam tape, my heating bill dropped way more than when I swapped out the glass.

Triple glazing always sounded cool - like, “Fort Knox for your windows” - but the price tag made me laugh. Especially for a cabin that mostly sits empty during the week. Heavy curtains do wonders at night, and if you’re out in the boonies, who’s judging your curtain taste anyway? I guess unless you’ve got a wall of glass facing north and zero insulation, triple feels like overkill. Anyone else ever try just beefing up weatherstripping before taking the pricey plunge?

Weatherstripping changed the game for me. I thought my drafty living room meant I needed to shell out for new windows, but turns out there were gaps everywhere - door frames, attic hatch, even a spot under the kitchen sink that was basically an open invitation for cold air. Picked up some foam tape and one of those door sweeps, and it made a bigger difference than I expected.

I get the appeal of triple glazing, especially when you see those ads with the frosty windows and toasty rooms, but for my place (1970s ranch, not exactly airtight), I couldn’t justify the cost. Heavy curtains and a couple weekends of plugging leaks did way more than I thought possible. Not saying new windows don’t help, but sometimes it’s like putting on a fancy jacket when your shoes are full of holes, you know? For a part-time cabin, I’d probably stick with the basics unless you’re really feeling the chill.

Totally get where you’re coming from - sometimes it’s the little fixes that make the biggest difference. I’ve got an old farmhouse and honestly, before I even thought about fancy glass, I found a draft coming up through the floorboards. Ever mess with those window shrink kits? Curious if they’re actually worth the hassle for a seasonal spot like a cabin, or just another thing to fuss with every fall.

Ever mess with those window shrink kits? Curious if they’re actually worth the hassle for a seasonal spot like a cabin, or just another thing to fuss with every fall.

Shrink kits are like the duct tape of window fixes - cheap, quick, and surprisingly effective... until you want to open a window in February and end up peeling the whole thing off by accident. For a cabin you’re not in all winter, I’d say they’re not the worst idea. Honestly, it’s way less commitment than messing with new glass or storm windows, and you can slap 'em up in an afternoon, maybe with a beer in hand.

But yeah, if you’ve got drafts coming up through the floorboards, I’d hit that first before worrying about triple glazing. No point shelling out for three layers of glass if the wind’s just going to sneak in from below. Ever try those foam gaskets for outlets or the old-school door snakes? Sometimes it’s the weird little fixes that make life warmer (and cheaper).

Anyone else ever try to “shrink wrap” a window only to realize you missed a corner and now it flaps like a flag every time the wind picks up?

Had a good laugh at the “flapping like a flag” bit - been there, done that. I’ll never forget the first time I tried those kits in my old hunting shack. Thought I’d nailed it, then a nor’easter rolled through and the plastic sounded like a snare drum for three days straight. Honestly, for a seasonal cabin, I’d stick with the shrink kits and maybe some rope caulk if you want extra insurance. Triple glazing’s overkill unless you’re wintering up there or just really love spending money on windows.