Drafts are the worst, especially in old builds. I worked on a 1940s guest cottage last year—client wanted to keep the original windows for “character,” but we ended up adding interior storms and beefing up attic insulation. Not cheap, but made a huge difference for winter guests. Sometimes you gotta pick your battles...
Keeping original windows is always a tough call—love the look, but man, the drafts can be brutal. I’ve found that interior storms are a solid compromise, though sometimes folks underestimate how much attic insulation alone can help. If you’re thinking about a backyard guest house, budget’s going to depend a lot on how “original” you want to keep things versus going for energy efficiency. I’ve seen projects swing from $60k for basic prefab shells up to $200k+ when folks want custom finishes and green upgrades. It’s not cheap, but investing in good insulation and air sealing up front saves headaches (and heating bills) down the line. Sometimes it’s worth nudging clients toward modern materials that mimic old charm—less drafty, more comfy.
Honestly, I’m always amazed how much people overlook insulation when they’re budgeting for these projects. You can have the prettiest windows in the world, but if your walls and roof are leaky, you’ll just be heating (or cooling) the outdoors. Have you thought about going all-electric with heat pumps or solar? That can really change the long-term math, even if it bumps up the upfront cost a bit.
You nailed it about insulation. I’ve seen folks drop serious cash on fancy fixtures and then skimp on what’s behind the walls—just doesn’t make sense. I always say, you can buy the best windows money can get, but if you’re basically living in a sieve, you’ll be paying for it every month when the bills come in.
Heat pumps are definitely worth a look, especially now that the tech’s gotten better for both heating and cooling. Solar’s great if you’ve got the right roof angle and not too many trees throwing shade. Upfront, yeah, it stings a bit more, but over time, you’ll probably thank yourself.
One thing I’d add: don’t forget about air sealing. It’s not as “sexy” as solar panels, but it makes a huge difference. Had a client once who went all-in on solar but left the attic basically open to the outside… let’s just say their electric bill didn’t drop like they hoped.
Long story short—don’t let the shiny stuff distract you from the basics.
Don’t get me wrong, insulation and air sealing are key, but I’d push back a bit on the idea that solar’s just a “shiny” extra. In my experience, if your utility rates are high and you size the system right, solar can actually help offset the cost of running efficient heating/cooling—especially if you’re building from scratch. I’ve seen folks get close to net zero on a small guest house by combining solid insulation, tight air sealing, and solar. It’s kind of about balance, not just picking one “basic” over the other. Sometimes the upfront sting is worth it for the long-term payoff.
