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Draft-proofing & caulking

That whistling window is costing you $40 a month.

Starting at
$35
Typical visit
45 min – 3 hrs
Student rate
−10%
Lead time
2–4 days

Boston housing stock is old and the windows are original. In January you can hold a candle near the sash and watch it lean sideways. If you pay your own heat, that draft is a direct debit from your account, and if heat is included, you're still cold.

Weatherstripping, sash locks that actually pull the window closed, rope caulk in the gaps, and a proper bead around the frame make a genuinely dramatic difference for very little money. Every bit of it is fully removable in spring, so nothing here threatens your deposit.

We also re-caulk tubs and sinks, which is the other thing landlords love to charge for at move-out — a mildewed tub seal reads as damage even though it's ordinary aging.

What's included

  • Draft audit — we find the leaks before sealing
  • Removable weatherstripping and rope caulk
  • Sash and lock adjustment
  • Mildew-resistant re-caulking at tubs and sinks
  • Everything reversible for move-out

Typical rates

Pick your line items

  • Window draft-proofing$40

    Per window — weatherstrip, rope caulk, sash adjust

  • Whole-apartment draft package$245

    Up to 8 windows plus doors — best value before December

  • Door sweep & seal$55

    Per exterior or hallway door

  • Tub or sink re-caulk$90

    Old seal cut out, surface prepped, new mildew-resistant bead

  • Window insulation film$35

    Per window — the shrink-film kits, applied so they actually seal

Add to an estimate

Estimates, not sealed quotes · $75 minimum per visit

Questions

Draft-proofing & caulking, specifically

The things people actually ask us on this job.

When should I book this?

October, before the first hard freeze. Once it's genuinely cold every student in Boston discovers their windows at the same time and our calendar goes. October pricing is also the same as it is in January — we don't surge — so there's no reason to wait.

Will weatherstripping damage the window?

Not the way we do it. We use removable foam and V-seal, and rope caulk that peels off cleanly in spring. Permanent silicone on a window sash is what causes problems, and we don't use it there.

Is it really worth it if heat is included?

If heat is included and it's genuinely warm enough, honestly maybe not — spend the money on something that's actually bothering you. But most students with 'heat included' are in buildings where the radiator fights a leaking window all winter and loses. If you're wearing a coat indoors, it's worth it.