Your bathroom is a space where you want to feel relaxed and comfortable. Allowing plenty of natural light shine in helps create this bright, rejuvenating space, but choosing windows for your bathroom can be challenging since you also need them to offer privacy. Here are some tips for choosing the best windows for the bathroom in your Cincinnati home.
If you have a beautiful view of your backyard or distant mountains from your bathroom, then it would be a shame not to enjoy that image. Large picture windows can be coated with privacy films made from silver. With this film in place, you can see out the windows, but nobody can see through the windows from the outside. If you want to let natural light in but don’t care about the view, opaque glass is an option. This glass is etched so you can’t make out an image through it, but it does allow light to shine in.
If you don’t want to take up a whole wall with large windows, consider mounting just asmall window or two higher on the wall. As long as they’re above chest level(about 5 1/2 or 6 feet up the wall) you should not have to worry about opaque glass or privacy screen, since anyone looking in will only see your head – if that.
If your bathroom has an exhaust fan, then you don’t need to worry so much about this. But in a home with no bathroom exhaust fan, it’s essential that the window is placed in an area where it will allow steam and hot air to flow out of the bathroom. Placing it next to the shower is a good choice. Keep location in mind when choosing windowsto ensure you get the right size.
This does not really come into play if, again, you have a good ventilation system and are opting for a big picture window. But if you plan on using the window for ventilation, even on rare occasions, it’s important that it’s easy to open. Casement windows, which open when you turn a crank, are a good choice for many Cincinnati homes. Sliding windows, which slide to the side, are also popular. Double-hung windows are not the best option if your window is located higher up on the wall since you have to side them up high to open them — you might struggle to reach the window.
Any material in your bathroom is going to be exposed to a lot of temperature fluctuations and moisture. You want to ensure it can withstand this so you’re not left replacing your windows again in a year. Composite window frames and sashesmade from Fibrex™ material are a good option for many Cincinnati homeowners. Fibrex won’t mold or rot like wood, it does not warp or bend, and it is a good insulator, so your bathroom doesn’t get chilly in the winter.
The right windows for your bathroom will let in plenty of light, protect your privacy, and keep your home comfortable. If you’re not sure which windows are right for your Cincinnati home, schedule a free in-home consultation with Renewal by Andersen.
