Rope caulk is the unsung hero of drafty windows, honestly. I’ve tried those “clear” silicone strips and they just peeled off after a week—plus, my cat thought they were a snack. Have you ever tried those shrink-wrap window kits? I’m torn on them... they work, but man, they look like a science experiment gone wrong.
Shrink-wrap kits are a mixed bag for me. Here’s what I’ve found over the years:
- They’re cheap and do block drafts, but yeah, they look like you’re prepping for a NASA launch.
- Tenants tend to poke holes in them (sometimes on purpose, sometimes not).
- Rope caulk is way easier to remove come spring—plus, you don’t have to drag out the hair dryer.
- If you want something more permanent, storm windows or even swapping out for double-pane glass pays off long-term. Upfront cost, but less hassle every winter.
Honestly, I keep a stash of rope caulk in my toolbox. It’s not glamorous, but it works... and cats seem to ignore it.
Storm windows really are the unsung heroes, aren’t they? I tried shrink-wrap for a couple winters—my old house looked like it was ready for deep space. Rope caulk works in a pinch, but nothing beats decent glass when the wind howls. Worth every penny if you can swing it.
Rope caulk works in a pinch, but nothing beats decent glass when the wind howls.
I hear you on the rope caulk—used it last year when a draft popped up outta nowhere. It helped, but honestly felt like putting a band-aid on a broken leg. Did you go with double-pane or just standard storm glass? I’ve been pricing out options, and the upfront cost is hard to swallow, but my heating bill’s brutal. Wondering if you noticed a big difference right away or if it was more gradual over time.
I totally get the sticker shock with new windows. Honestly, I went the DIY route for a while—picked up those plastic shrink film kits and a caulk gun, did the whole house one winter. It wasn’t glamorous, but it made a bigger difference than I expected. Not quite as good as real double-pane, but my heating bill dropped a bit and I didn’t freeze. Sometimes small fixes buy you time until the budget lines up for the big upgrade.
