What is a storm window?

An extra window mounted over the main one, usually outside. Its layer of glass and still air keeps the main window warmer and shields it from weather. Older Winnipeg storms are usually wood, hung in the fall and swapped for screens in spring.

Are storm windows worth it in Winnipeg?

On an older house with single-pane sash, a sound storm is worth keeping: it cuts drafts, reduces room-side frost and protects the original wood. Over modern sealed-unit windows they add little. The real question is whether the window behind the storm is worth keeping.

Can a cracked storm window be fixed, or does it need replacing?

Usually fixed. Most wood storms hold one pane in glazing putty, so a glass pro can cut a new pane and reglaze it; aluminum storms use a gasket. Replace the storm when the frame itself is rotten. Send a photo with the size to get started.

Do interior storm windows work as well as exterior ones?

They can. An interior storm sits tight against the room side, which cuts drafts well and leaves the outside of the house unchanged, a plus on a heritage facade. Exterior storms do more to protect the old wood sash from weather. Some houses use one kind upstairs and the other down.

Will storm windows stop frost on the inside glass?

They reduce it on single-pane windows, because the inner glass stays warmer. They won't stop it in a very humid room, and a storm that leaks cold air can make it worse. Lowering indoor humidity helps most.

Storm windows · Winnipeg

Storm windows: still worth it in a −30 °C city?

A storm window is a second window fitted over the main one, usually outside. On older Winnipeg houses, wood storms have protected single-pane sash for generations, and many still do the job. A rotten, rattling or cracked storm can often be repaired or reglazed. We connect you with local pros who work on storms and older windows, and who'll tell you if it's time to retire them.

Repair and reglazing for old wood storms
New exterior or interior storms
Straight advice on when to replace instead

Get a free quote 204-200-8407

Wood storms on the upper floor, and spares by the porch waiting for the seasonal swap.

How storms work

What a storm window does

A storm adds a pane and a pocket of still air outside a single-pane window. Frost on the room side is condensation from indoor air, not a failed seal; our frost versus fog guide explains the difference.

A warmer inner sash

The trapped air keeps the inside glass warmer, so there's less frost on the room side in a cold snap.

Protection for the wood

The storm takes the rain, snow and wind, so the original sash and its putty last longer.

A tight storm helps; a leaky one hurts

Gaps or broken glass let cold air wash over the inner window, and room-side frost gets worse. Frost on the storm itself usually means humid air is leaking past the inner sash.

Old wood storms

Old wood storms: repair and reglazing

Most old storms are simple: a wood frame and one pane held in glazing putty. That's why they're worth fixing.

Cracked glass can be replaced, and crumbling putty dug out and redone; that's reglazing. Opened joints can be glued and pinned, and soft spots filled before the storm is primed and painted.

The same pros often work on the window behind it. If the inner sash sticks or rattles, see wood window and sash repair. Storms with a summer screen insert can be rescreened too; see window screen repair.

New storms

New exterior or interior storm windows

New exterior storms

Made to fit the opening in wood, aluminum or vinyl. Many are triple-track, with glass and a screen that slide, so there's no seasonal swap.

Interior storms

Fitted inside the window, often held by magnets or a compression seal. They leave the outside of the house untouched and come out easily in summer.

Storm doors are a separate job

They cover an entry door, with their own glass and hardware. See storm doors and storm door glass.

Heritage homes

Storms on heritage homes

In Wolseley, Crescentwood and much of River Heights, most houses date from 1960 or earlier, and many still wear original sash and wood storms. Keeping them is often the simplest way to keep the look of the house.

If your home is on the City's heritage list or in a heritage conservation district, Armstrong's Point or Crescentwood-Enderton Park, changing windows or storms may need a heritage permit. Check with the City before replacing either. Our Wolseley and Armstrong's Point page covers what's typical there.

What affects the quote

What shapes the price of storm window work

Repair, reglazing or new storms
Number and size of storms
Condition of the wood: paint, rot and loose joints
Exterior or interior storms, and how they mount
Access to upper-floor windows

A photo of the house showing the storms, plus a close-up of any damage, is enough for a first opinion.

Ask about your storms

Free quotes from independent local pros.

When to move on

When to retire storms and replace the window instead

Storms make sense while the window behind them is worth keeping. If the inner sash is rotten or you're done with ladders every fall, a modern sealed-unit window does both jobs.

There's the rebate, too: an ENERGY STAR triple-pane replacement may qualify with Efficiency Manitoba, and storms don't. Our replacement windows page covers the options. In a heritage district, check the permit first.

Questions

Storm window questions

Explore your options

Local pros work on storms and older windows across the city and nearby, including Wolseley & Armstrong's Point, River Heights & Crescentwood and Selkirk.

Send a photo of your storm windows

A photo of the house and a close-up of any damage is enough to start. We pass it to a local pro who works on storms, and they'll say whether repair, new storms or new windows makes sense.