Command Windows

Fix a Vinyl Window That Won’t Stay Open (Spiral Balance Replacement)

The first time one of my vinyl double-hung windows started sliding down on its own, I blamed the “old house curse.” Then it nearly took my fingers with it. What actually failed was a small, hidden part that does a big job: the spiral balance (a spring-loaded rod tucked into the side track). When it...

DIY Magnetic Interior Storm Windows (Budget Build)

I grew up holding the flashlight for my grandpa while he did weekend fixes that always seemed a little magical, like turning a rattly old window into something that actually felt solid. Fast forward to me buying a neglected 1970s split-level, and winter taught me a hard lesson: even “pretty good”...

How to Build and Securely Mount Heavy Window Planter Boxes

The first time I hung a window planter box on my 1970s split-level, I did what a lot of optimistic DIYers do: I trusted “outdoor” screws, eyeballed the bracket spacing, and assumed the siding would forgive me. It did not. The box held for a while, then slowly sagged, and the wet soil stayed damp...

Paint Multi-Pane Windows Faster With Liquid Masking Tape

I learned to respect window grilles the hard way in my 1970s split-level: the first time I repainted a multi-pane sash, I spent more time taping tiny squares than I did actually painting. And even after all that, the tape still let paint creep in a few spots. Liquid masking tape (sometimes called...

Replace Broken Sash Cords and Weights

I grew up holding the flashlight while my grandpa coaxed old windows back to life. Years later, in my own 1970s split-level, I met the same problem in a different outfit: double-hung windows that would not stay up, cords snapped somewhere deep in the frame, and paint everywhere like it was applied...

How to Apply Heat-Blocking Solar Window Film

The first time I tried solar window film on my 1970s split-level, I treated it like a giant phone screen protector. I rushed the cleaning, fought a few stubborn bubbles, and ended up trimming it twice. The good news is that solar film is pretty forgiving if you use the right process, but large...

DIY Wood Frame Exterior Window Awning

I grew up holding the flashlight while my grandpa “improved” whatever needed improving that weekend, and one lesson stuck with me: anything you hang on the outside of your house must shed water like its job depends on it, because it does. An exterior window awning is a perfect example. Done right,...

Insert vs. Full-Frame Window Replacement

I grew up holding a flashlight for my grandpa while he “just took a quick look” at a window that was sticking or leaking. Those quick looks taught me something that still holds true: windows rarely fail in just one way. Sometimes the sash is the problem. Other times, the real trouble is hiding in...

Replace a Stripped Casement Window Crank

The first time one of my casement windows started cranking without actually moving, I assumed the sash was painted shut or the hinges were binding. Nope. The handle was turning, the window stayed put, and the whole thing felt like a toy. Most often, that points to a stripped crank handle, worn...

DIY Craftsman Window Trim

The windows in my 1970s split-level were the definition of builder-basic: drywall returns, skinny casing (or none at all), and that slightly unfinished look you only notice once you can’t unsee it. The good news is you do not need a historic home or a fancy millwork catalog to get that solid...

Replace Broken Glass and Reglaze a Single-Pane Window

The first time I reglazed a window in my 1970s split-level, I thought it would be a simple “pop the glass out, smoosh new putty in” kind of Saturday job. It was not. I found ancient, rock-hard glazing, a couple of stubborn glazing points that refused to quit, and more tiny glass slivers than I care...

Repair a Rotted Wood Window Sill With Epoxy Putty

The first time I found rot on an exterior window sill in my 1970s split-level, I did what most DIYers do: I poked it with a screwdriver and immediately wished I had not. The “solid” paint skin gave way to soft wood underneath, and suddenly I was pricing full window replacements I was not ready for....

Cellular Shades vs. Roman Shades for Bedrooms

I have made a lot of “good enough for now” choices in my fixer upper, but bedroom window treatments are not one of them. If a shade leaks light at the top or rattles when the furnace kicks on, you feel it at 2 a.m. That is why this cellular shades vs. Roman shades decision is worth a real...

Renter-Friendly Window Treatments: 5 Ways to Hang Curtains Without Drilling

I grew up holding the flashlight while my grandpa fixed things “the right way,” which usually meant drilling. Fast-forward to apartment living and then my own fixer-upper, and I learned a different skill: getting curtains up without leaving evidence behind. The good news is you can get real privacy...

Hang Curtains Higher and Wider

I learned the “hang them higher and wider” trick the hard way in my 1970s split-level. The windows weren’t tiny, but once I put curtains up the normal way, everything looked shorter and more cramped. When I moved the rod up near the ceiling and pushed the panels out past the trim, the whole wall...

Smart Motor Kits for Existing Blinds: Worth It?

I love a good retrofit. My 1970s split level taught me that “good enough to keep” is a powerful category, especially when the budget is tight and the to-do list is long. So when smart blind motor kits started popping up as a way to automate what you already own, I was immediately curious. Here’s...

Moisture-Resistant Window Treatments for Bathrooms

I learned the hard way that “bathroom humidity” is not the same as “a little moisture.” In my old 1970s split-level, the hall bath had a shower fan that sounded like a tired lawn mower and moved about as much air. Anything fabric near that window stayed damp, and anything wood nearby eventually...

Do Thermal Curtains Lower Winter Heating Bills?

I used to think “thermal curtains” were mostly marketing until my old split-level taught me a winter lesson: glass gets cold fast, and a cold window surface can make a room feel cold even when the thermostat is trying its best. The first time I hung a properly sized thermal panel tight to the wall,...

Child-Proof Window Treatments: Safe Cordless Options

I still remember the first time I walked into a friend’s living room and noticed the blind cord hanging down like a toy. Their toddler was already making a beeline for it. It is one of those “once you see it, you cannot unsee it” moments. If you have young kids, visiting grandkids, or a curious pet...

Deep Clean Faux Wood and Real Wood Blinds Without Taking Them Down

I used to treat blinds like they were disposable. In my 1970s split-level fixer-upper, I would wrestle them down, snap a clip, bend a slat, then “reward” myself with a new set I didn’t budget for. Eventually I figured out the grown-up move: deep clean them right on the window, with the right tools...