War with the single pane windows.

**Thevail** · 08-16-2009, 05:54 PM

So I've posted before in other posts about my war with my 1924 single pane windows. They lose heat like having a sheet of kleenex between you and the outside snow, they're insanely fragile because the glass is so old, and they get condensation on the inside that is ruining the inner frames. AAAGH!

But I've finally found the cure!

Get a piece of plexiglass cut to size to fit the opening on the outside of the window.

To the plexiglass attach that magnetic tape that comes in rolls from the hardware store. I use a thin bead of gorilla glue since the adhesive that comes on it is PUNY. Allow to completely dry.

Nail or screw or glue (whichever way works best for you) that thin steel strapping tape they use to secure bundles of wood like 2 by 4s or things that come on pallets to the frame around the window that you'll be fitting the plexiglass to.

Voila! Magnetically sealed storm windows that not only turn it into a double paned window, but are nearly unbreakable from the standpoint of flying branches (or baseballs).

The initial project is a lot of tedious measuring and securing, but they stay up even in a good stiff wind storm, they're dead easy to remove in the spring/summer, and the plexi is easier to store over the summer than regular storm windows.

**Wendy99** · 08-16-2009, 06:33 PM

very creative - good idea!! =)

**Ceashels** · 08-16-2009, 06:55 PM

That's brilliant!

**Grainlady** · 08-16-2009, 07:23 PM

What a brilliant idea....

Here's another method that might help you out this winter. We live in a 3-year old house with energy-efficient double-pane windows, covered with insulated Levolor blinds, and we have been warmer adding this simple and effective method to all our windows.

Bubble Wrap Window Insulation

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects...bubblewrap.htm

Check furniture stores for large sheets of free or inexpensive bubble wrap.

**Brat** · 08-17-2009, 07:52 PM

We did this in our travel trailor only on the inside and used velcro to hold them in place..We even did the screen doors..really made a difference.

We did this after we rebuilt the camper and put 1 inch foam insulitation all the way around it..It is a 30 ft trailer and even in November you can heat it with a couple of candles. Almost always had on vent open because it was to hot in there..

We are cold weather campers and this made a big difference...It is kind of expensive but it also helped with the cooling in the summer.

**Thevail** · 08-20-2009, 04:14 AM

I wonder if you could sandwich the bubble wrap between the plexi and the glas... hmm..

**ladytoysdream** · 08-20-2009, 06:03 AM

I would think the bubble wrap would be best on the inside of the house side. Your orginal glass is the meat of the sandwich.
If you have a real good fit with the plexiglass, I would not mess around with that.

My hubby's parents need to do something with their windows.
Like yesterday. Now I see why it costs them so much to heat with fuel oil for their house. Heat goes back out the windows.
Thanks goodness they went to a outside wood furnace like we did, last year. Can even walk around barefoot in there now in the winter.

We went to all new windows 3 yrs ago in our entire house. We had decent windows with 2 panes of glass with them 6" apart. Hard to explain those windows. It's a doublewide. Outsiide windows and screen were in place year round. Then in the winter, we set the inside windows in place. Our new windows are energy star efficient.
Got to take them off our taxes along with the extra insulation we did.

**shadowfax** · 08-24-2009, 12:03 PM

Awesome I was trying to come up with a way to do something like this with plexi and was getting stuck on a way to put it up and take it down easily. I also have a couple of old single pane glass windows that are very large and so rather expensive to replace.

**Momof3girls** · 08-24-2009, 12:57 PM

Thanks for the idea!

**dmarie** · 08-24-2009, 05:16 PM

We use to sell alot of stuff on ebay and there is a guy on ebay that has the best prices on bubble wrap i don't remember the name but look on ebay. I"m going to try this i hate covering the windows with tape and plastic the bubble wrap would be great to for privacy also i would assume.

**frugalfranny** · 08-24-2009, 07:37 PM

Two neat ideas.......both thevail and grainlady..........thanks.

I have a couple basement windows that could use a bit more insulation. I am going to give this a try. Already have the bubble wrap that would fit them so will go with that.