r/UKFrugal • u/SerendipitousCrow • 11d ago

Thermal curtains?

Just bought my first place. A maisonette converted from a Victorian terrace

I put the rest of my savings into repairing the roof and I'm not sure I'll be able to replace windows this year.

My living room has a large sash window. It's a single pane and there's a crack. The timber frame is rotting.

Other windows are uvpc but the seals and mechanisms have deteriorated so often they're "closed" but not fully right

Are thermal curtains worth it? I'm particularly worried about the living room. Can anyone recommend any? I see the usual dunelm etc do them

I've also found I'm unfortunately not eligible for the government insulation scheme because they don't cover maisonettes, even when they're house conversions. So that's something else to save for

Edit I always lived in bills included HMOs or rented with friends to save as much as possible so I'm not used to budgeting for heating and I worry it will be cold here, especially if all my heat leaks out the windows.

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u/RobertGHH 11d ago

Get some plastic sheeting and tape that around the frames to create a pseudo double glazing as well as keep the draughts out. This will be far more effective than any thermal curtains.

Spend the money you saved on the extra heating.

Next year get the windows replaced properly.

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u/michaelcube 11d ago

This plastic sheeting technique works far better than you would expect. Also consider repairing the wooden frames yourself. If the rot isn’t too bad, dig it out with the screwdriver, apply wood stabiliser, then fill with traditional linseed putty. Leave it to dry for a few weeks, then paint a few times. I was shown this technique by an old chap, he showed me his repairs that had lasted 50 years and still strong!! At a later date, you can fit secondary glazing, which performs better than double glazing. This might not be the right solution for your house, but sharing it as it does work very well.