I must insulate two large windows, 8 feet by five feet

[tatertop]

My cats will tear clear plastic to shreds.
I am thinking of taping insulating foam sheet directly onto the windows. Is this a good solution?

[flowomo]

1. like the dark, do you?

[tatertop]

3. the pink stuff lets light thru

[purr]

2. I know the cats will tear plastic.. BUT they have the plastic that you

heat and it like seals itself to the window and leaves no gaps. I use that on my basement windows in the winter and boy does it work and my cats never bothered it.

[tatertop]

4. is their an air gap?

These windows are OLD and COLD in the winter time.
Brrrr

[purr]

7. I dont think so..

its very very tight when you do it right. I got it at home depot.

[tatertop]

8. I don't have a draft, I have ice cold windows

I think the plastic would become ice cold as well.
Brrrrrrrrrrr

[flowomo]

5. are looking to stop heat loss by draft or convection?

[tatertop]

6. convection

[flowomo]

9. well, drapes are the best... but those cats....

so, maybe making a "storm window" insert from... what is that stuff? mylar? or just 1/8-inch or 1/16-inch rigid plastic. The cats won't bother it and you can use it year after year. Just frame the plastic in furring strips and screw into the window frame. Lets you see out pretty well and is easily removed for cleaning/airing/reuse.

[tatertop]

10. Never thought of that. Where do you buy rigid plastic?

[flowomo]

11. any hardware store.... home depot, lowe's etc...

it comes in 4x8 sheets. Make them cut it if you need it cut.... can be tough to cut (splintery). The framing is easy: two thin pine boards (say, 3/8's each) lapped over the plastic (though a groove to accomodate the plastic makes a neater job.

[tatertop]

12. nice, very nice

[flowomo]

13. look here:

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=63&Page=1&utm_id=1&utm_term=cast+acrylic+sheet&cookie%5Ftest=1

this is too thick, but the idea....

CRYLIC This plastic sheet is completely transparent, flexible, and exhibits great resistance to breakage. Acrylic is excellent material to use in place of glass for windows, skylights, doors, partitions, etc. It is lightweight, half the weight of glass, and it is virtually unaffected by nature. Acrylics transparency, gloss and dimensional shape are virtually unaffected by years of exposure to the elements, salt spray or corrosive atmospheres. These materials withstand exposure to light from fluorescent lamps without darkening or deteriorating. They ultimately discolor, however, when exposed to high-intensity UV ligh below 265 nm. It can take temperatures from -40 deg F to 180 deg F (intermittent to 200 deg F). Fabrication is easy, as it can be sawed with fine tooth blades, drilled with plastic drills, sanded and polished. Also, it can be cemented with Acrylic cement. It meets FDA standards, is UV stabilized, and has a UL 95 Flammability rating. The forming temp is 350 deg F. Applications include inspection windows, sight gauges, windshields, meter faces, protective covers, safety shields, tanks, desk tops, displays, trays, and chair pads.

[flowomo]

14. an old building at the college where I teach has HUGE windows...

this is how they handled it.

[tatertop]

15. I see