I'm in an apartment building, 6th floor, 1958 construction, aluminum-framed double-hung, double-paned windows. The window glass itself is at least 30yrs old, going by markings on some of them. The only maintenance they appear to have had was replacing the rubber glazing bead on the lower sash. Whoever did it used a single strip that doesn't tuck into the corners, and looks to be too small as well. And the pile weatherstripping is deteriorated. There are prominent drafts from the gaps left by the glazing bead and the worn-down pile.
After doing some research I've found replacement bead and pile, but I could use some guidance on properly sizing both of them. I think I'm good for the bead, focusing mostly on the gap between the edge of the sash and the glass, so the bead doesn't sink down in between the metal and glass and compromise the seal. I think the height of the bead is mostly an aesthetic thing.
It's the pile that I'm concerned about. It should go on both sides of the sash, so it seals against the inner frame, and along the top so it seals against the upper sash, both of which would be pretty tight. Should the height be measured to minimize the 'crush' or compression of the pile between the sash and frame? or is it better to use something that would squeeze more material in that gap?
Also for the bottom of the windows, where the sash goes into the frame, should I use pile there too? Or some other type of kerfed or stick-on weatherstrip? There's a draft coming up between the "dam leg" (new term I learned today) and the sash too.
After doing some research I've found replacement bead and pile, but I could use some guidance on properly sizing both of them. I think I'm good for the bead, focusing mostly on the gap between the edge of the sash and the glass, so the bead doesn't sink down in between the metal and glass and compromise the seal. I think the height of the bead is mostly an aesthetic thing.
It's the pile that I'm concerned about. It should go on both sides of the sash, so it seals against the inner frame, and along the top so it seals against the upper sash, both of which would be pretty tight. Should the height be measured to minimize the 'crush' or compression of the pile between the sash and frame? or is it better to use something that would squeeze more material in that gap?
Also for the bottom of the windows, where the sash goes into the frame, should I use pile there too? Or some other type of kerfed or stick-on weatherstrip? There's a draft coming up between the "dam leg" (new term I learned today) and the sash too.
