How to insulate windows for the winter: protection from cold and drafts

Despite the popularity of energy-saving structures made of metal-plastic profiles, there are still many adherents of wooden windows. A number of reasons force one to make a choice in favor of wooden structures: a healthy indoor microclimate, environmentally friendly material, high decorative qualities of the product.

A positive property - the ability of natural material to “breathe”, has another side - increased heat loss indoors. Owners of wooden windows need to take timely care of reliable insulation for the cold season.

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Experts have calculated that an apartment loses 30% more heat through the window perimeter than through the same wall area. Which, by the way, can also be insulated. Read about insulating an apartment from the inside.

Places on windows with poor seals can be detected with a burning candle. On a windy day, we will carry it along the window frame, where the flame will fluctuate, there is a place for heat leakage. Such areas must be insulated from the inside and outside of the room.

You can invite specialists to do the work, but it won’t be difficult to do it yourself with the help of improvised materials and special materials.

(1 method) Insulating wooden windows using paper and fabric strips

The simplest, rather primitive, but very economical way is to insulate wooden windows using paper and paper or fabric strips. Completing of the work:

• we tear paper, newspapers, wallpaper into pieces, twist them into strips;
• soak in water and clog the cracks between the window frame and sashes using a knife or ruler;
• Carefully glue strips of paper or fabric of small width (4-5 cm) along the joints, coat them with a solution of laundry soap or make a special glue (paste) from flour or starch.

Paste recipes:

• Flour paste: take flour and water in equal proportions (1:1), mix well until lumps disappear and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Starch-based paste: 2 tbsp. Dissolve the starch in water and add a glass of boiling water in a thin stream, keep it on the fire for a short time.

It is not easy to clean a window from this insulation; sometimes the paint is removed along with the paper, and pieces of it and prints of printing ink remain on the surface of the window frame.

Simple and forgotten insulation also includes window putty and even children's plasticine.

Complex repair

What does window repair or restoration include? Using the example of one company from St. Petersburg, let's look at the list of services. So, you can count on:

• Installation of new sills and window sills;
• Strengthening window hinges;
• Adjustment of sashes;
• Application of Swedish technology for insulation;
• Replacement of glazing beads;
• Painting windows.

Not a bad list, right? The prices are quite reasonable, considering that the service includes the entire package listed. Below is the price from the website.

(3rd method) Self-adhesive foam tape - convenient and reliable insulation for a wooden window

You can buy such insulation in any store; it is easy to work with, although the whole process takes a lot of time.

The procedure for laying elastic, resilient material - foam tape, for insulation and insulation:

• we measure along the perimeter the joints between the window sashes and the window frame;
• we take into account the width of the gaps, and buy foam tape a little thicker than what is required when measuring;
• We clean the mounting points from dust and dirt and degrease the surface with alcohol or acetone;
• We remove the protective base and glue the insulation onto the pre-designated area.

For better sealing, it is necessary to cover the top with self-adhesive paper, which is best removed in the spring, but the foam rubber can be left and used for several seasons.

Cost of services

Window insulation includes several procedures. Below in the table we give the approximate cost of the services of contractors.

(4 way) Tubular seal for a wooden window

The tubular seal does not lose its quality for a long time, is durable, and does not limit the ability to open and close the window.

Rubber seals are convenient to use, especially if the gap has different widths along its entire length. When purchasing, make sure that the rubber is soft and elastic.

• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gaskets are suitable for even openings, are considered the most reliable, and are often laid in two layers;
• Rectangular polyurethane seals are suitable for openings of equal width; insulation areas can be covered in two layers.
• Seals come with a self-adhesive base - it is convenient and easy to attach, so that there are no problems with use, you need to pay attention to the expiration date.
• Seals are also available without self-adhesive tape; they are attached to the base using silicone sealant.

General operating rules

So, if you break down the entire insulation process into stages, you get:

1. Stage one: Cleaning the frame and glass from dirt and dust. Treatment with chemical compounds (soap, alcohol solutions for glass). This will allow you to disinfect both frames and glass.
2. Stage two: Everything: both glass and frames need to be wiped dry. In any case, this will allow you to remove the peeling paint and see other window defects.
3. Stage three: If you decide to use a sorbent, then it’s time to put it between the frames. Even if it doesn't look like a design decision, make it not very noticeable.
4. Stage four: Lay insulation. Remove its remains from wood and glass. Seal the unevenness and try to bring the sealed insulation into the same plane as the frame.
5. Stage five: Finishing or camouflage work. It is better to hide the insulation behind tape, paper or paint.

And some more tips:

1. Before you start work, estimate their volume: large gaps are unlikely to be sealed with tape or strips of paper. And it will be difficult to stuff thick foam into small ones. When sealing cracks, it is better to use several types of insulation at the same time. And just seal everything on top with one type of disguise.
2. Do not take on the type of insulation that is not suitable for the weather or time of year.
3. Don't try to use technology that you don't understand. It’s better to ask friends who have done this or supermarket consultants about it. They are usually willing to give such explanations.

That's it - the job is completed! Have a cozy winter.

(5th method) Insulation of wooden windows with polyurethane foam

Modern insulation that hermetically seals all cracks and cracks, both on the outside and on the inside of the window - polyurethane foam.

Removes gaps and cracks:

• between the frame and the slope (pay special attention from the outside);
• under the windowsill is the place where warm air leaks the most;
• between the window and the beam located above it;
• between the slope and the window sill.

Insert the end of the tube into the crack and start blowing out the foam by pressing on the cap. Having filled all the cracks, wait until it hardens and remove the excess with a knife. The foam on the outside of the window must be plastered or painted, since polyurethane foam (the composition of polyurethane foam) is subject to the destructive effects of ultraviolet rays.

Need to remember:

• You can work with polyurethane foam if the air temperature is not lower than +5° – (+30°);
• foam can expand, so the frame must be secured with spacers, otherwise distortion is possible;
• fill the cracks with polyurethane foam to 1/3 of the width, because it, having increased in volume, will occupy the necessary space;
• the filling goes from the bottom up along the seam to prevent the seal from falling out.

A cheaper, but more troublesome method of insulation is a putty made of plaster and chalk (2:1) with the addition of water. With this mixture we can easily seal the cracks, and the surface has an attractive appearance. By the way, there was a time when plaster bandages were used to insulate windows, which were used in medicine to fix bones during fractures. They were moistened with water and applied to joints and along cracks and crevices.

Handles, hinges...

When insulating windows with your own hands, you need to start with the fittings. As employees of the same Kyiv company for repair and installation of windows say, if the problem is not started, it can often be solved by adjusting the fittings. Since the topic of our article is, after all, the thermal insulation of windows, it is only worth saying here that the average cost of ordering an adjustment from a company in Kyiv costs approximately 100-150 UAH. ($4), and in Moscow 400-700 rubles. You can correct this yourself by watching the video:

(6th method) Insulating wooden windows with paraffin

One of the oldest and most proven methods is using paraffin as a sealant. This insulator retains its properties for several seasons.

Heat the paraffin in a metal container in a water bath (60-70) and draw it into a medical syringe without a needle. The gaps are filled quickly and efficiently. If the width of the voids is impressive, place a ribbon or clothesline in them and pour hot paraffin on top.