Windows discussions and local services.
hiking214
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RE: Getting new windows in without the headaches: my step-by-step
I’ve had the bowing issue too, especially with older wood frames. One time I got a little too enthusiastic with the foam and ended up fighting to get the window to latch right. I haven’t tried those low-expansion foams y...
RE: Why do my windows keep sticking no matter what I try?
That’s spot on about the sash cords. I’ve found the same - sometimes it’s just a matter of digging out fifty years’ worth of gunk from the pulleys or even just giving the weights a little WD-40. But I’d add: humidity can...
RE: How much time did you spend replacing your windows?
I’m right there with you - foam always seems like a shortcut, but it’s just too unpredictable, especially in these old places where nothing lines up. I’ve had to redo trim more than once thanks to overexpansion. Shims an...
RE: Keeping rooms bright but cool - how do you do it?
I get the appeal of those window films, but I’ve honestly never been totally sold on them - at least not for older houses like mine. Maybe it’s just the way my windows are set up (original wood frames, a bit drafty), but...
RE: Anyone actually notice a difference with krypton-filled windows?
I’ve got to agree, the sound reduction with krypton was way more noticeable than any storm window I ever tried. We put them in about five years ago when the city repaved our street and suddenly every garbage truck sounde...
RE: Quieting down city noise: which window upgrades actually work?
Blackout curtains do help a bit, but honestly, they’re not a magic bullet for city noise. I tried the thickest ones I could find - helped with light and drafts, sure, but the sound still got through. Plus, they’re dust m...
RE: Does anyone else notice the greenish hue from low-e windows?
That’s exactly how I described it to my wife - like someone turned the “cool” slider up in Photoshop. We swapped out our old single-panes for low-e a few years ago and I obsessed over that greenish cast for months. You’r...
RE: Can blackout curtains really make a difference for light sleepers?
I’ve lived in the same drafty old house for over twenty years, and I can say blackout curtains made a bigger difference for my sleep than I expected. I used to wake up at 5:30 every morning because the sun would creep in...
RE: Tried weatherstripping tape for cold windows - worth it?
I’ve wondered about those magnetic insulators too. My gut says they’re probably more hassle than they’re worth unless you never open your windows all winter. Shrink film is fiddly but at least it’s cheap and does the job...
RE: Privacy upgrade dilemma: smart blinds or switchable glass?
Couldn’t agree more about the hassle of changing out glass. When we remodeled our place back in 2012, I thought about switchable glass for the bathroom, but the cost and the idea of being stuck with it if it ever failed ...