Down here in coastal Alabama, storm windows mean something different to us. We think HURRICANE, and nothing done on the interior is going to save you.

However, I asked my DH who is from MA, and he said he knows about them. He said that exterior works much better, because those stop thermal transfer from the glass into the wall cavity surrounding it. Whereas, the interior insert will only stop the cold transfer (or heat transfer I suppose) that hits the glass.

After thinking over the interior inserts, I realized that I had fitted my houseboat windows on the inside with a plastic sort of window composed mostly of bubble wrap. My desire was to stop the condensation that dripped inside the boat when the weather was cold out, and I had the heat on. Just like a mattress that sweats when there is cold air space below, and a solid surface beneath the mattress, you end up with puddles of water dripping down the walls. By putting the storm windows outside, you move the cold/warm contact to the exterior of your window, and it doesn't drip inside you house.

Or that is the way I see it, and I'm no scientific wonder.

I've also seen a Storey Publication for making interior insulated shutters out of a stiff layer of something, to which you attach a sheet of styrofoam or even batting (think SEWING) and covering it with fabric, glued on is easier than trying to sew.

You can also get two tension rods for curtains, and make insulated curtains quite easy to install and remove. One tension rod at the top and one at the bottom.

If you need to have clear vision out the window, or if you want natural light entering, you might try a heavy gauge of visqueen stapled to your inside window top and bottom. Not the molding if they show, but to the wood surrounding each sash.

Please tell us how intense is your need to block out the elements. Is air infiltration of your windows the last of many projects to make your house energy efficient? Do you own or rent? How good would be good enough, and how long would you want the solution to last?

I own an 1880 two story folk Victorian in north Iowa. Someone in the past put in vinyl replacement windows that leak air enough to make my sheer curtains move. The brand they used on some of the windows are made in such a way that it's not possible to put a storm window over it on the outside. I am not a spring chicken any more and will not even attempt to put storms on/off the second story. I have plastic on the inside now. There is a product made specifically for the purpose. I would like to use something more substantial and permanent. The inside storms can be taken off in summer, stored, and put back in in the fall. I would be able to do it standing in front of the window inside the house. No ladder or muscles needed.

I am not interested in any other method to block the air infiltration. I know all about all of the other ways you've listed. That is not what I'm looking for. I want to know which of the three brands I have looked at are worth buying one window to test.

Chris! GO BACK and get them! You can always take them back to the dump if you end up not using them! A bird in the hand..........

Lov, living in northern Iowa sure has its cold issues, as does a house built in 1880....WOW. Friends of mine in Muscatine (Letts, actually) have an old house with about 9 or 10 gables, had a windmill which charged a huge amount of batteries in the basement which were charged by that wind power. The front door faces west, but the long side with a covered porch faces south. The dining room opens off this porch, and the farm hands came in that way straight to the table. There are pairs of pocket doors to close off the living room to the left as it is the front room, and the entry hall is outside another pair of pocket doors. A small sitting room or parlor has pocket doors too, and that is used as their TV room, reading space, and when the doors are open it increases the size of the open dining area. The walls are colored with Venetian plaster with color in it, very old world feeling. There is a really nice bathroom just opposite the short hall that leads to the kitchen. The hands could wash up there. They are about to remodel that kitchen, and I'd love for them to come here with the current layout and show us what they plan to do.

I'll have to ask him about his window issues. They previously built a straw bale house with stucco and her wool carding equipment is there. She recently sold her unusual sheep but still gets the wool (lots of different colors naturally) and sells the spun skeins to mostly textile artists around the world. The run the Iowa Parrot Rescue on site, and that building is half dug into the earth on the north side of course, and a window wall to the south. When they do something, it is fascinating to watch. And sometimes participate.

Something with a foam cushion will fit any irregularities better, or the flexible tubing on the "indows"

You can test how well it will work yourself by making a frame of 1x2s and using heat-shrink plastic over them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Google: DIY interior storm windows

moccasinlanding, I've looked into their parrot rescue for my Sophie!! They are way farther south than I am. I worry about her after I'm gone. Not everyone wants or knows how to deal with a Mulaccan. My little diva came with baggage but she's my girl. I don't worry so much about the other parrots because they probably won't outlive me. Maybe.

My house is not anywhere nearly as fine as theirs. My farm house was a roof over the heads of the family. NO nice woodwork or walls. Or if there ever was it's long gone. I do have good outbuildings, though, and that's why I bought this place.

lazygardens, I can't believe I didn't think of looking harder for make your own windows instructions. I did look at plexiglass before it morphed into ready made windows. I might just revisit that idea. All I need is the plexiglass and the gasket. I can spend the day investigating your link. Thanks.

Something I did on the bottom of the bi-fold doors in the breezeway was the foam insulation that goes on pipes. There were some short pieces left over from another project and I tried them under the bi-fold doors. Worked like a charm. I wonder if that stuff comes little enough..... hmmm. Things to check on. Maybe I could use that around the edges of plexiglass. I'm trying to get something more permanent than the plastic.

Ha! following a link from a link from one of the links in lazygardens post, I found Indow Windows in the Historic Homeworks site! But I am also thinking of other ways to use plexiglass instead of plastic. I've had the plastic last a few years without taking it off but the south windows only last a couple of years.

Here is a link that might be useful: Historic Homeworks

This post was edited by lov_mkitchen on Sat, Dec 27, 14 at 14:22

lov, the pipe insulation on bottom of bifolds is a great idea. Think of that to keep them from wobbling or closing more than you wish.

Our sun porch is walled in polytetrafloroethylene or Lexan I would have chosen Lexan for my hurricane shutters but the code does .not allow that. I love light though. When you exceed 24 inch size either direction, you must factor it's expansion.

About two years ago we got indow windows for the second story of our house (built in 1925). They work wonderfully and are very easy to use. One of the added benefits is that not only does it help keep the cold air out, it significantly reduces the outside noise.
We haven't gotten them for the 1st floor yet as we want to restore those windows (most we're painted shut and the hardware removed years ago).

pnw123, Thank you! I think I will order one. Just one will probably cost a fortune in shipping. I can't let another year go by without doing something. I've read and reread the instructions for making your own with shrink plastic and I just don't know.... For the work involved and the lifespan of the plastic....... Maybe I will try one.

Lov, I hope you keep frequenting Smaller Homes. I for one, am not the only one around these parts who likes a new voice added to the choir. We like a new house to fret over. A new face at the Tuesday tea table.

Don't be a stranger? :)

Lov- I can't speak to the shipping cost, I'm in Portland, Oregon and they came out and laser measured and delivered :).

Lov- I can't speak to the shipping cost, I'm in Portland, Oregon and they came out and laser measured and delivered :).

I want them to come and measure for me and come back and install them AND wash the windows! They could run the vacuum, too, as long as they're here.

moccasinlanding, I come and read here from time to time, depending on my level of boredom with the rest of my life. I got stymied with the living room redo and abandoned it for now. I had a sudden financial drain and will have to wait a bit to do anything, even the windows.

I ordered 3 windows from a company in Wisconsin. Should be here in a couple of weeks. There's still enough winter left to test them. If I like them, I'll start ordering more.

We got indows for our 1928 house since we have casement and leaded glass windows which are very large. So far love them. They were easy to install and keep it warmer and are almost invisible as their white trim color matches our creamy trim. Great to deal with and fast production time! Just be very attentive when measuring ( they send you a digital laser measuring kit)

What company did you use?