Windows discussions and local services.
rsmith55
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RE: Would you splurge or save on Jeld-Wen windows if you were building from scratch?
Couldn’t agree more. When we built our place in northern Minnesota, I went with Jeld-Wen’s mid-tier line mostly because the budget was already stretched thin. I obsessed over the install - watched the crew like a hawk, m...
RE: Triple pane vs double pane windows: worth the upgrade or just extra cost?
That lines up with what I found too. We did a full window swap in our ‘72 ranch - double pane, argon fill, low-e glass - and the difference from the old aluminum single panes was night and day. I ran the numbers on tripl...
RE: Quick tricks for holding a cracked window together?
I’ve been in the “tape and hope” club for years, too. Packing tape is ugly but it’s held a few cracked panes together through some wild Midwestern winters at my place. I tried duct tape once - looked like I was prepping ...
RE: Swapping out window hinges: do you go solo or call in the pros?
I get the appeal of having an extra set of hands - especially with those old, heavy sashes. Still, I’ve found that sometimes working solo actually gives me more control, weird as that sounds. You mentioned, That’s e...
RE: Thinking about swapping out windows myself - is it worth the hassle?
That’s the part nobody warns you about. When I did two upstairs windows, I swear I found dust in my shoes a week later. The trim eats up time, too - especially if your house isn’t perfectly square (mine’s 1950s, so nothi...
RE: When the bugs invade: a backyard mystery with two types of screens
I hear you on the magnetic screens - mine lasted about two months before the bottom looked like a curtain after a tornado. I tried those “pet doors” you can add to regular mesh, but my terrier just ignored it and made hi...
RE: Do you go classic or modern with new windows?
That’s almost exactly how it went for us. I tried weatherstripping and those shrink-wrap kits for a couple winters, but honestly, the drafts just never stopped. Once we switched to modern double-pane units, our heating b...
RE: Would you take out a loan just to get new windows?
Funny thing - when I swapped out my old single-pane windows (mid-80s house), I expected the energy bill to drop way more than it did. Comfort-wise, yeah, it was night and day. No more drafts or cold spots near the living...
RE: Why my windows don’t freeze up anymore in winter: a weird discovery
That’s been my experience, too. I went all-in on sealing up every crack and gap in my 1950s basement a couple years back - figured it’d solve the winter drafts and maybe help with the musty smell. It definitely made the ...
RE: Making tiny rooms feel bigger: which windows actually help?
I swapped out the old double-hung in my tiny guest room for a wider awning window that opens from the bottom out, and it made a bigger difference than I expected. More light, better airflow, but it doesn’t swing into the...