Choosing the perfect windows for your home is more complicated today than it was a few decades ago. In the past, as long as the window’s style and design matched the architectural style of the home, it was deemed perfect. While this criteria still plays a major role in the window selection process, there are a few more critical considerations to factor in these days to ensure you make the perfect choice.
Let’s face it: if a window does not match a home’s architectural style, it will look out of place and draw negative attention. Windows need to complement the home’s overall design. If you make the wrong choice in this aspect, getting everything else right won’t seem to matter much. For instance, if your house has a modern design, colonial-style windows will look like cheap replacement windows instead of beautiful features. Most homes built with modern architecture look best with windows that have prominent glazing and minimalist frame styles.
The location of the window also plays an important role both in terms of aesthetics and energy efficiency. Proper window placement will allow you to capture more sunlight or highlight an ideal view. Allowing as much natural sunlight inside the home not only highlights your interior design elements, but also saves you a significant amount of money on energy costs, as you can greatly reduce the amount of artificial lighting and heating you need indoors. It is important to have quality windows, though, as the heat loss through low end windows will cost you significantly more over time.
Don’t be afraid to show off your landscaping, backyard, or the general view from your house. Windows can act like huge picture frames around postcard-perfect views. A beautiful window can even make nature’s beauty the centerpiece of your interior design.
Choosing windows that complete the interior and exterior design of your home can be a challenge. It might take some time to get the right design and style, but having a good idea of what you want will make the search for the right window smoother. However, keep in mind that your task goes beyond just choosing the right style. You’ll also need to ensure that the window contributes to the overall beauty of your home.
Once you have chosen a window style you love, the next step is to consider your home’s design. Your new window’s suitability can depend heavily on your choice of materials.
Fortunately, you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to window frame, jamb, and trim designs. There are also various glazing options from which to choose. Let’s take a look at how you can make the most of these components.
Window frames today can be made of wood, aluminum, composite, fiberglass, or vinyl. You’ll have plenty of frame designs to choose from, but do keep in mind that you’ll want something that looks good and will last without being too difficult or expensive to maintain. Vinyl is typically the cheapest, but it generally means thicker frames that warp, discolor, and lead to seal failure faster than the alternatives. Wood windows provide better insulation than vinyl, but require much more maintenance. Even though wood windows will last longer, and look better, the upkeep makes them relatively unattractive to homeowners. What we recommend is a wood composite material. That provides homeowners with maintenance-free, rot-proof windows that don’t discolor or warp over time.
Trims are prefabricated boards that are used to cover the casings around the windows. When choosing trims, make sure that your choice conforms to the architectural style of your home. Note, however, that trims can also divert focus from the window itself. If you don’t want this to happen, you can opt for drywall returns instead of reveal trims.
While the glass doesn’t exactly affect the style of the windows, it’s also important to choose the right materials. In the past, single pane glass was the only choice. Today, many homeowners opt for gas-filled double pane windows because of energy efficiency. Triple-pane glass generally causes premature seal failure, sagging or warped sashes, and does not provide a higher level of energy efficiency than a high quality double-paned window.
When it comes to color, the choices are almost unlimited. What you’ll need to know about the color of the material is how long it will last. Some manufacturers extrude the color into the material. These products are a great option because they last longer and are easier to maintain than painted materials.
Choosing the right windows for your home is a bit more challenging than what you may have expected. But your efforts will certainly pay off when you see the final results. The tips we provided in Parts I and II should be enough to help you make the right choices, but we’ve decided to go the extra mile and give you a few more recommendations.
Everybody knows that wood looks beautiful and adds considerable value to your home. Wood is also an environmentally friendly option, which is why many homeowners choose it over other materials. However, wood is rather expensive to maintain and is highly susceptible to rot.
Fortunately, you do have other options. Some newer non-wood window products are manufactured with wood grain designs. They’re priced cheaper and made to last longer with minimal maintenance. If you’re bent on using a material that’s environment-friendly as well, however, you might as well rule out vinyl. While widely popular, vinyl doesn’t decompose. Instead, consider Fibrex, an environmentally friendly composite that has lots to offer in looks and function.
Fibrex windows are becoming very popular these days because they offer the benefits of wood in terms of style and value. What’s more, they are more durable as they are resistant to rot and pests. They are also much more environmentally friendly and easier to maintain. In fact, Fibrex is a green building material, which makes it an excellent choice for an environmentally conscious society.
Fibrex has energy-efficient qualities as well. Research has shown that Fibrex can prevent energy transfer nearly 700x more than aluminum. What does this mean? More than just energy savings, Fibrex essentially contributes towards making your home a much more comfortable place to live.
Another added benefit of Fibrex is that the color and finish can be extruded into the frame. This means that if you’re looking for a color interior (white, sandtone, etc.), the color is in the material itself. You will definitely not have any problems with fading colors, blistering or peeling paint, or the rotting and decay that wood is prone to.
We realize that was a lot of information. If you still have questions, or need some clarification, please give us a call, or visit our website. Choosing new windows can be a tough decision, and seeking an expert opinion is generally beneficial.
