Different Ways To Insulate Old Wooden Windows

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

• Window putty
• Window tape
• Stick-on seal
• Cut-in seal (Swedish technology)
• Glass bonding

If old Soviet-made wooden windows are installed in the apartment, then in winter you cannot avoid blowing cold air from the street and the formation of ice on the glass. The thing is that old windows are not airtight.

Due to the drying out of the wooden profile, rather large cracks are formed in them, through which the flow of icy air from the street takes place. It, in turn, cools the window, which leads to the formation of condensation, and, accordingly, ice and puddles on the windowsill.

To get rid of such unpleasant phenomena, it is necessary to insulate wooden windows for the autumn-winter period.

You can insulate windows in various ways, we will consider below the main ones.

Window putty

The joints between the window profile are sealed with putty, which is similar in consistency to plasticine, except perhaps a little harder. The places where the glass adjoins the window frame are also smeared. This method of insulating wooden windows has been used for many years, it was also used by our grandparents. However, it is still relevant.

You can buy putty at a hardware or home improvement store. And you can make it yourself by mixing chalk powder and linseed oil in a ratio of 4 to 1. But it is easier to buy, and it will turn out cheaper.

The disadvantages of using putty include absolute unaestheticness - the windows will look, to put it mildly, not in the best way. In addition, the putty must be changed every season.

But there are also advantages - using putty is an effective and cheap way of insulation. It is available to everyone.

Window tape

Window tape acts on the principle of putty, that is, it temporarily closes existing cracks, preventing cold air from entering. However, this method is much less effective, since the adhesive tape has almost zero thermal insulation index. Therefore, if you decide to insulate the windows with tape, then pre-fill the cracks with cotton wool, tow or other similar material. And only after that, stick the tape. Such insulation will be much more effective.

The disadvantages of window insulation with tape are as follows:

• It looks ugly.
• An annual repetition of the procedure is required.
• Peeling off the tape will damage the paint on the window, which will lead to accelerated damage to the wooden profile.

Plus only one - low cost, the necessary materials will cost quite cheaply. Putty and scotch tape also have one common drawback - if you fill up the gap between the closed doors, then you will not be able to open them for airing.

Stick-on seal

The seal is a thin rubber profile with a round, rectangular or other shape.

On one side, it has an adhesive surface, which is covered with a film. To insulate a wooden window, it is necessary to remove the film and glue the seal around the entire perimeter of the sashes (it is better to also around the perimeter of the window frame, if the design of the window allows it). When the sash is closed, the rubber will compress, closing the gap between the sash and the window frame.

Before gluing, the surface of the wood must be washed with soapy water and degreased with acetone or, better, alcohol.

A properly glued seal lasts long enough (3-4 years). That is, it does not need to be changed annually, plus it allows you to open the flaps for ventilation.

Cut-in seal (Swedish technology)

The cut-in rubber seal is not glued to the window surface, but inserted into a pre-made groove.

The groove is also milled around the entire perimeter of the sash and / or window frame. It is recommended to add silicone sealant to the groove before inserting the seal. So the seal will hold better and a possible cold bridge will disappear.

The advantage of the mortise seal is that it lasts much longer than the glued one.

If you install a good one made of high-quality rubber, then it will not be possible to change it for 7-8 years.

However, it is very difficult to install it, especially to make an even groove with a cutter. If you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better to order window insulation using Swedish technology from professionals. Otherwise, you risk ruining the window.

Please note that insulating windows using a seal will not save you from gaps between the glass and the frame. Cold air will still penetrate from them. Therefore, it is necessary to insulate the glass separately using putty, tape or glue (it will be written about it below).

Glass bonding

Glasses on old Soviet-made wooden windows, as a rule, do not fit tightly to the window frame, which leads to the penetration of cold air through the existing cracks.

Fortunately, fixing this problem is quite simple, you need to:

• Carefully remove the glazing beads without damaging them.
• Remove glass.
• Clean the glass-to-wood junction and apply a thin layer of silicone sealant to it.
• Install glass and glazing beads back.

Once dry, the sealant will seal the gap between the glass and the wooden frame.

Gluing the glass with a sealant and installing a rubber seal will make the windows much warmer and eliminate blowing. This combination is the best for insulating Soviet-style wooden windows.

Note

It is quite difficult to remove the glazing beads without breaking them, since they are usually in a deplorable state and deform even with a weak load.

But this is not scary, because ready-made glazing beads can be bought at a hardware store for mere pennies.

Cutting them into the desired length, painting and nailing is not difficult.

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