As it can get pretty chilly in the Bay Area during the colder months, SF Gate offer some weatherproofing tips for old windows. Weatherproofing can not only help you warm your home by restricting unwanted drafts but also help you save energy and reduce overall cost in utility bill and home improvements.
Materials:
- Self-adhesive metal or vinyl v-strips
- Self-adhesive vinyl foam
- Scissors or tin snips
- Caulk
- Caulking gun
- Painter’s tape
Instructions:
- First, measure the length of the window sash where the panes of the glass are held, sealed and supported.
- With either a metal or vinyl v-strips, cut the strip so that it fits the groove. This will create a channel for the sash.
- Remove the adhesive backing of the metal or vinyl v-strips and apply it to the groove in the sash channel.
- Once you have the metal or vinyl v-strips, fasten the self-adhesive vinyl foam to the corners of the underside of the window.
- Check to see whether your old windows are single or double hung. If the windows is double hung, lift the bottom sash to the top and lower the upper sash 2 inches. Seal the lower rail with weatherproofing v-strips. If the window is single hung and the top sash is stationary, use a small piece of adhesive foam on the outside of the lower sash to press it against the top sash. This will help hold the two sections together when the window is shut.
- Apply painter’s tape around the interior window trim. This will help eliminate unsightly caulk smears as well as help create smooth, straight caulk lines on the window frame.
- With a caulking gun, squeeze out a small amount of caulk for weatherproofing seal around the interior window trim.
- You can then remove the painter’s tape.
Source: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/weatherproof-old-windows-20655.html
By: Paul Doh