How can I seal a huge window / prevent draughts?

Question

Hi. I recently moved into a factory loft in Brooklyn.

It's 19 degrees out. The window in my room is a) HUGE, and b) draughty as hell. I'm freezing at night. I need to seal this mother up. Any thoughts on the best way to go about doing this? The window is about 10' tall and 14' long, and is divided into 1'x6" panes of glass. I'm thinking: Plastic painters drops and duct tape. Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

Answer 1

I would put a foam or regular double face tape on the window frame and then put the plastic up.

First, make sure the plastic is bigger than the window. Measure twice, cut once.

Put up all of the tape first. If it is not sticking due to the cold, use a hair dryer or heat gun to warm up the window pane to at least room temperature. Don't pull the adhesive protection from the side the plastic will stick to.

Situate the plastic on one vertical side at a top corner. Pull the adhesive covering off as you stick the plastic. Then adhere the top horizontal. Be sure to keep the plasic taut as you attach the remaining surfaces.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Use a painters tape instead of duct tape, It will peel of later on and not take everything with it. Instead of painters drop, use something thicker, they have rolled sheet plastic. Buy a 20'x30' ft size or something close and double it up. The more layers the warmer it will be. It traps the cold air and gives you more insulation. You might use tacks or picture nails to hold the plastic up if its to heavy for the tape to hold. Still use the tape to seal it though. Tape newspaper to the window to help block the cold also. Once again the more layers, the better off you are. Good luck.

Answer 3

Good start, but use the thickest plastic you can find. Start with a pray adhesive, and place a three (3) inch wide bead around the perimeter frame of the window. If you can get some double sided duct-tape, place it around the perimeter, on the glued surfaced. now cut your plastic to size add four (4) inches to either the top or bottom; and four (4) inches to either side, this allows for trimming. taking one corner of the plastic and attach it to one corner of the tape at a right angle, pulling to the opposite corner and stretching the plastic. Once the top is done work one side down, also pulling and stretching the plastic, then the other. Trim the excess and finally starting in the middle, pull and stretch the plastic down towards each corner. Two things to remember. 1- If you can't get double sided duct tape, just use the spray adhesive on the perimeter of inside of the plastic sheet and 2- when placing on the frame perimeter leave one(1) inch of the glued surface exposed for the securing piece of duct-tape.

Also if you cannot find the size of plastic for your window you can splice two pieces together using the spray glue and duct-tape.

Answer 4

That sounds like it would work fine, but quit ugly. You might want to try a different tape though, duct tape tends to leave a mess behind when you remove it. You could try some heavy heavy drapes, like quilts too. It would help some. If you want to keep your view, I would look for the plastic that you can still see thru.

Answer 5

FORGET ALL THE OTHERS, USE A DOW CORNING CLEAR SILICONE SEALANT, CUT THE NOZZLE TO THE REQUIRED SIZE AND THEN LICK YOUR FINGER AND SMOOTH THE SEALANT IN, DO NOT SCRAPE IT OUT WITH YOUR FINGER, IT WILL DEFEAT THE OBJECT, BUT LICK YOUR FINGER AND LIGHTLY SMOOTH IT, IF YOU GET A RESIDUE ON YOUR FINGER WIPE IT OFF, AND START WITH A CLEAN FINGER TIP. I HAVE BEEN SEALING WINDOWS FOR 20 YEARS AS PART OF MY JOB. TRUST ME IT WORKS

Answer 6

that is quickest & easy to do.