Hello
Does anyone have any cost effective ways to insulate bedroom windows? They are all single glazed, the qoute to put double glazing in was just ridiculous
Are they are other ways to stop some of the draft coming though over winter.
Thanks
Window Insulation Ideas (Not Double Glazing)
dynamic007 on 27/05/2025 - 07:10
Comments
Internally blinds or curtains
Externally metal awning over window or retractable/ roll up canvas awning
Yeah, it was significantly cheaper then full replacement but it was still $10k for 3 bedrooms
😲
TBF, magnetite can be done DIY with those heat-shrinking retrofit sheets from amazon, flyscreen kit, some sheet/long magnets and foam seals. Sure, it isn't thermally broken, but it sure saves bagfuls of money.
Look up DIY storm windows on YouTube. This one is good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59OVXPiqu-I
Never underestimate how effective a heavy drape can be, but you’ll want to make sure you hit the floor and go from the ceiling (or if not, add in a pelmet).
Also are they aluminium or timber frames? In many cases, aluminium is worse at transferring cold inside the house than the glass itself.
This looks great, are they available in Aus ?
It’s a how to DIY video. You make them yourself…
If you've got a draft you need to check/replace your seals.
Thanks, I've changed the seals recently and still getting draft
As in air blowing in? If that's the case you might have a bent frame or gaps around it that need sealing.
what is the best way of checking?
It is a vertical sliding window, when we close the roller blinds and its windy there is slight movement in the blinds.I have checked with my hand to see where it could be coming from and it feels like around the frame but also the whole window just feels cold
@dynamic007: Turn all the exhaust fans in your house on and then feel around the frame with a wet hand. Even a minor leak will feel cool on your hand.
can i ask how much for double glazing windows?
Friends replaced timber windows on a WW2 era house with timber double glazed 6 years ago for a bit over $40k. I nearly fainted at the price.
I replaced one small 2 pane window myself and the 2 double glazed timber panes were $1k.
PVC is a lot cheaper, but still something like double the cost of a standard window.I now live in a home with full double glazing and it is hugely more comfortable, especially if you are in a cold climate. Heating costs are more than $1000p.a. lower (though I am comparing different homes).
If I moved again I would bite the bullet and get double glazing.someone needs to disrupt the construction industry in australia, overprice and under deliver!
if i have money, i would get the germans/swiss/chinese to set up shop here and kills all the local players
40k for 3 bedrooms
how many sqm is that? and type of panel? timber?
I did this DIY process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rb-ORfrItI
$60 for 10metres of film and $30 for 30metres of double-sided tape.
Windows no longer have condensation following cold nights and I like to think the room is warmer - I haven't done any tests to confirm.
Thanks for sharing. How's the draft been since ?
If it's draft coming through openings, then the above DIY solution won't work. The DIY did help with cold penetrating the glass.
There are a few youtube videos which inform on where to look to stop the draft that is coming through openings.
I can't find the 10 metres of film for $60 on the Bunnings website, care to share?
Sorry - I ended up buying the film on ebay
FILM: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/353959157304?var=623329935333&_t…
TAPE: https://www.bunnings.com.au/moroday-12mm-x-30m-clear-double-…
My house is surrounded by large single glazed aluminium framed windows and doors. Completed unecenomical to replace with double glazed options. Guessing would be well over 100K given the 3 bedroom quote in this thread. Would be cheaper to supersize solar and batteries to keep the house warm and cool. I did install honeycomb blinds (used Veneta Blinds) on all the windows and doors which has made a massive difference and they look great. Easy DIY install. Used to run space heaters overnight in all the bedrooms but no longer needed. Living areas are no longer freezing cold in the morning too. You do get a fair bit of condensation on the windows overnight, so you do need to raise the blinds in the morning to let them dry.
In some states in the US, it is mandatory to put double glazed windows in all new builds.
I have yet to see a house with double-glazed windows in Australia. Maybe more common in colder areas.
Again, Australia gets dealt the high prices, but not the high quality of other countries. I recently went to New Zealand, and was blown away by the consistently high quality of recently constructed houses, not just the construction, but the aesthetics and practicality of the houses, which were uniformly more beautiful and more fun looking than 95% of new houses I see in Australia, and also more nicely integrated into the environment. Disclaimer: I don't have any expertise in building quality, this is just based on my visual impressions driving around the country, and staying in a variety of Airbnbs over several weeks.
Thick curtains with pelmets on top is the most cost effective way
You can also use cellular blinds. Veneta is one local brand. There are people who have gone online via Aliexpress, with significant savings. Veneta does get their products made in China, which might explain the cost discrepancy.
We had new roller blinds put into the whole house last year when we moved in, we didn't know about the draft in winter
Get some gap filling rods and no gaps to seal everything that looks like it may leak.
https://www.amazon.com/window-wrap/s?k=window+wrap