QandAs: Home

What is a Storm Window?

Answer:
Many homes benefit from the addition of storm windows,

both in terms of weather protection and energy savings. A storm window is a second window designed to be installed externally or internally in the same frame as a primary window. A storm window protects the primary window from damage caused by wind, moisture or debris during inclement weather.

A storm window can be constructed from a number of materials, from a basic sheet plastic to polycarbonate to tempered glass. Storm windows can be as simple as sheets of reinforced plastic stapled over an existing window for a single season or almost as elaborate as the primary window they protect. The frames for storm windows can be made from plastic, vinyl, wood or metal, and should be available in the same standard sizes as the primary windows.

Installing a storm window involves measuring the area within the existing window frame and finding a precise match at the glass store or home improvement center. Some people who live in smaller apartments or houses with few windows or upper floors may want to install interior storm windows, which provide protection if the primary window becomes damaged or broken.

Maintenance of an indoor storm window may be easier than having to climb a ladder to install or clean exterior storm windows. Those with numerous windows and no upper floors may want to consider exterior storm windows for maximum protection against the elements.

There is also some insulation benefit with the installation of a storm window, but a thin plastic window is not a replacement for a double paned insulated glass window. External storm windows should also have small weep holes in the bottom of the frame to prevent moisture build-up between the two panes. Trapped moisture can cause serious wood rot, which in turn can lead to even more expensive damage to the entire window frame.


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