Honestly, I get where you're coming from, but I’ve seen a few cases where window upgrades did make a big difference, even before insulation. For example, in older homes with single-pane windows and warped frames, sometimes you’re just fighting a losing battle with drafts and leaks. Swapping those out for decent double-pane units (not even top-tier) can solve a lot, especially if the walls are tricky to retrofit with insulation. Guess it really comes down to the specific house... and sometimes a little bit of both goes a long way.
Guess it really comes down to the specific house... and sometimes a little bit of both goes a long way.
That’s fair, but I keep running into the cost vs. benefit dilemma. Like, double-pane windows aren’t cheap, especially if you’ve got a bunch of odd sizes or need custom work. I get that in some old houses with terrible frames, you’re basically heating the outdoors if you don’t swap them out. But if you’re on a tight budget, is it ever worth just doing targeted air sealing around the worst offenders and holding off on full window replacement? Or does that end up being false economy in the long run?
I’ve seen people spend thousands on windows and barely notice a difference because their attic or crawlspace was still leaking like crazy. Curious if anyone’s actually tracked energy bills before and after just doing windows vs. insulation first. Feels like there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here...
Honestly, I’ve been down this road. I had a 1920s place with drafty everything, and I started with air sealing and attic insulation before touching the windows. The difference in comfort and bills was noticeable, way more than what my neighbor got after dropping a fortune on new windows first. Sometimes it’s just not worth ripping out all the old stuff if you can fix the worst leaks for a fraction of the price.
FINALLY CRACKED THE CODE ON KEEPING CONSTRUCTION COSTS IN CHECK
That lines up with what I’ve seen on a lot of older homes. I worked with a client last year who was convinced new windows would solve everything, but after we focused on sealing up the attic and adding insulation around the baseboards, the place felt warmer and their heating bill dropped. Sometimes the charm of those original windows is worth preserving, especially if you can address the real culprits first. I do think windows matter, but they’re rarely the first thing I’d tackle unless they’re truly beyond repair.
