Storm Windows vs New Windows

[MountainManDan]

Marine rated Storms Give Both More & Better Seals & 2X Stronger Glass - thou - Marine Storms are Fixed ..
No Issue as Not Opening Really Big Windows anyhow ..

3 Things on Storms ~ Measure ~ Measure ~ Measure ..then there @ Least 5 Other Items ..

I'll Try to Hit upon some all Important Items . .

1. Prep is all about Prep ..

Not Foaming - Complete Window Jam was 3 Sides Only - Prepped Drilled & Filled ~ Foam - Pest Foam is Hardest Sealed Type Foam ..

100% all way around on 3 Sides as there has to be some Breathing - especially at Tall Windows - Really any windows ..

Drilled Pest Foam Filled then Cut off - Cleaned Sanded More Prep & Painted

THIS GIVES YOU A REAL - LOOK AT - LEAKS IN JUST CAULKING WINDOW

JUST SEE WHERE HARD CLOSED CELL FOAM LEAKED OUT EVERYWHERE . .

Then SCRAPED that all Off ~ Sanded & Painted . .

Over Fire Door ~ Exit ~ at Bottom of Basement so like My Feet are 11ft - 12ft or when I was Sitting doing all
Finish Work - not 100% Done in this Pic but almost .. Razor All Glass . .

Still Have to Place Storm . .

 

[MountainManDan]

I Order Storms 1.5" Wider & 1.75" Taller - Nice E Coating - Not Super Best E-coating but Works ..

By Ordering Larger U Avoid Loosing View and Gain more Glass which Does all Work anyhow .. 2X Strength
Holding Tabs : Do allow Removal If Needed to Clean - so - 1.5 Yr & Still Spotless .. Much Quieter & Area's
where Big 5 Windows are - much Cooler in Summer & Warmer on Cold Nights in Winter . .

Utility Bills on Average with 80% Windows are seeing $45-50 Lower ..
Just Got Last 3 Windows in Up Stairs - which were some of Worst Leaking Units .. so should be Consistent $50 less or more ..
In Ten Years that $50 will be more like $75-$80 as Utilities Bills Climb . .

We Pulled all Glass Panels Before Trimming with Special Alloy Blade on Circular Saw . . which Started to Vibrate More on Last 2 Lengthwise Cuts .057 Think Aluminum . .
Blade was Dulling some .. after 5 Windows - then Finished with Grinder . . to Remove Burrs !

( Had to Feed at Certain Speed for Best Results )
I also Cut a Starting Slit with Grinder & Ending Slit to Keep from Bending !

Could have been done with 100% Grinder ~ Slower . . but works . .

Some Installers just Used Sharpe Razor & make Lots & Lots of Scores to Bend Off
Snap Lines .. I Found this to be NOT as Clean ..

Easy Set Up Table Got Job Done : Larson Marine Storms 503E for $205.oo
Got Job Done are Quite & Leak Proof x 5 Units Tall Windows ~ saved ~ 4K vs Brand New Install Windows ..
As really can't do After Market Unless - Really Wide Jams 4.75" min.
Good Amount of Work .. but Prep did Trick . . - Not Half Much Work Doing Brand ~ New Windows
of this Size $ $ $ $

 

[MountainManDan]

Seeing most important item in windows is Glass
Order Windows must Larger then Cut Frames back some say just Score with Razor 5 Times & Break Alu. Off !
We found this ~ Not Case ~ .057 Thk. Material also wants to Bend . .
​

A Few Other Items that are Different about Storm Window Installs ~
You Use a Different Type of Caulk ~ It's Called Rope ~ You have Weeps in Bottom 2 Outside Corners
Here I used a Double Row - as most - Rope Caulk Today is Thinner & Lighter then in Old Days . . still cheap Thou ..
It is Easiest Way also when Doing Storms = No Mess also ..

A WORD ABOUT WEEPS - DEPENDING YOUR HOME - MAY NOT NEED TO USE THEM - JUST CAULK RIGHT PAST ..
IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOMES HUMIDITY CONTROL & AMOUNT OF MOISTURE BEING PLACED INTO HOME ..

If Your Home is Over a Non-Controlled Open Crawl Space then by All Means Use them ..Living Space is Over well Controlled Space or Basement . . Seal them Up ( NO Fog ) Issues or Condensation . . Have NO issues & I SEALED Weeps

but I left Bottoms of Old Jams NON_FOAMED . . To Act as Internal Drain Points .. If Required ..
AIR GAP IN BETWEEN BRICK & OUT SHELL . .
( I have Sprayed Home Clear Breathable Sealer ) Water will NOT Enter , but Vapor is able to Leave !

NOTE - Little Tiny Corner being Removed ( Shinny ) Right next to Lower Right Screw Head - I had to remove that do to Fact I Ordered Over Size Storms - then Cut Back Mount Fins to Max Out Glass ~ & ~ Loose No View Area ..

As Contractors will Order standard Size & will Loss 2" of Viewing at every window Edge & Top & Bottom ..
Not to Mention Glass does all Work - so want to Max that Effect . .

Normally Storms could Remove as Much 2" of Viewing on all sides . . Then - Talking More Alu which isn't Big Deal - If Your Installing for Speed . .
Glass does Good Work - just Need enough Alu. to Cover Old
Jams for Protection . .

THIS IS PICTURE OF DETAIL THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED TO MAXIMIZE STORMS OVER ALL EFFECT & MINIMIZE
VIEW LOST . . 1.5" Wider ~ & ~ 1.75" Taller

also Note Weep - I did Fully Seal this Area up much more might be small 1/16" hole when Mounted . .
NOTE : SHINNY Grinding Area - that had to be Removed to Fit & Seal Flat on Casings

 

[JHZR2]

Makes sense to me.

I have an old storm window over a large stained glass window on my landing. I really have to wonder if a newer/better, more modern one would be of benefit…

 

[Cujet]

Wow! Windows can be a huge expense. Nice job!!

 

[MountainManDan]

Thanks Men

Savings Adds up with Self Installs - this - Took Time . . which many might not have ..Today's World . .
( Installation is Very Important )

E~Coatings do Help Bunch - there are - Carbon Graphite Coated Tints to be Had for Lower Budget & Far Less Time Intensive . .
As this Progresses ~ I'll Try ~ cover some of those Topic's . .

Tools for DIY for Storms :

 

[MountainManDan]

Shifting from Storms ~ New Windows ~ Installs - get way More Intense & Way more Tools & Ladders needed . .

Utility Bill ~ Savings Generally is Greater with New Windows vs Storms , but On Large Windows with Price Tags $1000 each
most will start Weight in that Cost . .

1. If You Not Super Careful - could get - Taken Advantage of By Manufacture or Buyer on Your Order .. Try Go Direct . .
2. Designs now Favor Triple Glazing's - which - Generally have Extra E-Coatings which really Help Heat Retention & Heat Rejection ..

Also Weighting into Cost : New Windows : Now You have to Calculate In Trimming Out - Inside _ Real Cost Factor . .

Before - After

Old Window have Big Leaks ~ Many ~ that only be ~ Addressed with Full Trim Out . .