How can I create storm windows cheaply?
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Honestly I would ask the landlord to replace and fix anything missing. It galls me to no end how many lazy and cheap landlords are out there. That being said, here are a few links to get you started!
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/make-inexpensive-storm-windows-using-plexiglass-23278.html
https://youtu.be/BKurS5Oh-Pk
https://youtu.be/0r9HfXyJAD0
You could always use plastic. We had the same issue with our house, when we moved in. Its very old, most of the windows even still had the wavy glass. There were few screens and storms. You might want to check with salvage places. I am lucky, we have a place near us that has stacks and stacks of windows and storms. Before we found that place we bought kits to make screens, it cost about $15 a screen. When it was time for storms we just got those plastic window kits and put that up to kill the draft
You would have to build a frame that perfectly fits your windows and silicone them in and you would not be able to open them like you would a window. The Plexiglas is really expensive to make them for all the windows. The plastic window film is almost unnoticeable when you shrink it and can be removed in the spring. It is probably the cost of one panel of Plexiglas to do your whole house. My mother, whose house is spotless, even at 97, has my brother and I put up the window film on her leaky windows in her apartment. Her place is almost solid windows and faces NW, so she gets lots of cold wind in the winter. It keeps out the cold air and reduces her gas bill a lot compared to when she doesn't have it. Keeps her place nice and cozy.
You could get window kits for clear plastic. You put them on the inside and they stop the flow of air in the winter. Frankly, we put bubble wrap on the inside of ours and left a strip at the top or on the side to be able to see. The bubble wrap does let in less light, BUT insulates much better and is very inexpensive. One roll can do 16 good sized windows. We left 6 to 12 inches free on every window to see out, depending on the need. It really cut down the air flow and cut our heating bill way down. We live in very cold climate most the year.
I have never used the bubble wrap because I love as much sunshine as I can get in the winter. I would buy the kits for putting the plastic up. Doing Plexiglas would be super expensive. Why not check at a habitat for humanity shop and see if they have any windows in your size and then talk to your landlord to see if he would purchase them if you did the work
we dont have a shop here but i will measure all the windows and see what t can find.
The window to the left in this picture has a covering of plastic. You would never know it even when the shutters are open. We also have a storm window there but this is a north east window and we are not far from the ocean. Of course we can not open the window but we have two doors in this room. As I recall we secured the tightened plastic by holding it in with the window stops. One friend in an old house with leaky windows got firm insulation panels and put them in her windows at night. She made little tabs out of tape to pull them out.
They sell window kits that are clear and very ez to put up and you use a blow dry to make it taut
A few years back we fell victims to the "private vendor in the entrance of Home Depot", long story short was it turned out to be a Mom and Pop company selling and installing large plexiglass pieces inside to the frame of the windows or doors. The seal on the frames were magnetic, well it worked good in theory until the weight of the plexiglass was stronger than the seal, it buckled and bayed inward.Many calls and as many excuses later, we settled out of court.
Go with the window kits that are clear and easy to put up, air is a good insulator in this instance.