Storm window guide · The basics
What are aluminum storm windows, and why do Midwest homes have them?
An aluminum storm window is a second window that mounts on the outside of the one you have. It traps an insulating layer of air, stops drafts, and takes the weather so your original window doesn't. In the Midwest, with long winters and a lot of older houses, it is an affordable way to make an old window warmer.
How an aluminum storm window is built
- The frame. Extruded aluminum, screwed into the outside of the window opening against the blind stop. It stays up year-round.
- Glass and screen inserts. On a tilt-track window, a glass insert and a screen insert ride in tracks. Slide the glass down in summer for air through the screen; close it in winter.
- Weatherstrip. Woolpile on the inserts and an interlock where they meet keep wind out.
- Sill expander. A strip at the bottom that adjusts to the slope and unevenness of an old sill.
- Finish. Baked enamel in white, bronze, beige or black depending on the model, mill finish on the 240, or a custom color. No painting.
Our Model 140 and Model 240 are tilt-track windows built this way. The 130 and 260 are one-lite windows for openings where you want one clear view.
Why Midwest homeowners put them up
- Heating bills. Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin sit in cold climate zones 5 through 7. Department of Energy modeling found low-E storm windows over old single-pane windows cut heating and cooling energy by roughly a quarter to nearly half in those zones, depending on the house. See the numbers.
- Drafts. Old double-hung windows leak around the sash. A storm window closes that off from the outside.
- Older houses. Many Midwest towns are full of houses with original wood windows. A storm window keeps those windows, and the look of the house, instead of tearing them out.
- Weather. Ice, snow and wind-driven rain hit the storm window first, so the wood sash and sill underneath last longer.
- Cost. A custom storm window costs a fraction of a replacement window and goes up without a remodel. See our prices by size.
Why aluminum
Aluminum is strong for its weight, so a slim frame holds a large piece of glass without blocking the view. It doesn't rot, swell or need paint, and it holds a baked enamel finish for many years.
Custom size matters
Old window openings are rarely square or standard. A stock storm window leaves gaps that let wind through. We build each window to the width and height you measure, so it fits the opening you have. Here's how to measure.
Questions
What is an aluminum storm window?
A second window, made of an aluminum frame holding glass and screen inserts, that mounts on the outside of the window you already have. It adds an insulating air space, blocks drafts and shields the old window from weather.
Why do Midwest homeowners install storm windows?
Long, cold winters and a lot of older houses with original wood windows. A storm window cuts heat loss and drafts, protects the wood from snow and sideways rain, and gives a screen for summer air, for much less than replacing the window.
How long do aluminum storm windows last?
Good aluminum storm windows last 30 to 40 years, sometimes longer. The baked enamel finish doesn't need painting.
Can I open my window with a storm window on it?
Yes. On a tilt-track storm window the glass and screen inserts slide, so you can lower the glass and get air through the screen.
Do aluminum storm windows come in custom sizes?
Ours do. Corn Belt builds every storm window to the opening you measure, in Des Moines, Iowa. Pick up free at our shop or we ship by truck freight anywhere in the lower 48 states.
Let's size your openings.
Call, email or send a note. We'll answer questions about measuring and get you a quote.