Last weekend I decided to finally tackle sealing my drafty windows myself. Um, let's just say it involved a lot more YouTube tutorials and accidental glue mishaps than expected... anyone else have DIY window sealing stories gone wrong or surprisingly right?
Tried sealing mine a few years back—ended up with caulk everywhere but the actual gaps. Still not sure how that happened... Did you at least notice any improvement after your glue adventures?
Did mine last winter, and honestly, it made a noticeable difference. The trick is patience—rushing it just makes a mess (been there). If you're struggling with caulk going everywhere, try painter's tape next time. Tape both sides of the gap first, apply the caulk, smooth it out with your finger or a damp cloth, then peel off the tape before it dries completely. Keeps things neat and tidy.
Also, don't skimp on quality sealant. Cheap stuff shrinks and cracks after a season or two, defeating the whole purpose. Spend a bit more upfront and you'll actually save money in heating bills down the line.
Painter's tape is good advice, but honestly, a decent caulking tool beats fingers or cloth any day...less messy and smoother finish. Agree 100% on quality sealant though—cheap stuff is false economy.
Painter's tape saved me from a total disaster last year—wish I'd known about the caulking tool though, fingers were a mess for days. A few things I learned the hard way:
- Don't underestimate prep time. Cleaning off old sealant took forever and was way more annoying than applying new stuff.
- Quality sealant is definitely worth it. Cheap stuff shrank and cracked within months, had to redo half my windows.
- Ventilation matters... learned that after nearly passing out from fumes in my tiny bathroom window project.
Overall, sealing windows DIY-style is doable but expect some trial and error. At least now I have fewer drafts and slightly more dignity than when I started.
Honestly, I skipped the painter's tape entirely and just went freehand—turned out fine after a bit of practice. Tape felt like more hassle than it was worth, but maybe I'm just lazy... or lucky?
"Tape felt like more hassle than it was worth, but maybe I'm just lazy... or lucky?"
I've done it both ways, and honestly, skipping the tape can work fine if you've got a steady hand and patience. But for me, painter's tape is worth the extra hassle around windows—especially if you're sealing with silicone. Silicone smears are a nightmare to clean off glass once dried. Curious though, did you use silicone or something else? I've heard some folks swear by acrylic caulk for easier cleanup...
Silicone smears are a nightmare to clean off glass once dried.
I've actually found acrylic caulk to be pretty disappointing around windows. Sure, cleanup's easier, but it tends to crack and shrink over time—especially in climates with big temperature swings. Silicone might be messier, but it's way more durable and flexible. I'd rather spend a little extra time scraping off dried silicone smudges than redo the whole job again next season...