1. MATERIALS. Think about how you want the interior of your home to look. Do you want to be able to change color when your decor changes? Or are you the type of person who wants to do it once… and never worry about changing the look again? The materials from which the windows are made are wood, vinyl, composites or aluminum. Then there are the combinations of those materials. Wood with aluminum or vinyl facing, vinyl with vinyl, interior wood “sheets” or laminates, thermally broken aluminum, solid vinyl, cellular vinyl, and wood dust/vinyl dust composites. Each one has features that can meet your particular needs.
2.GLASS. There are double pane, triple pane, double pane with a film sandwiched between them, as well as many types of glass coatings that reduce the passage of heat, light and ultraviolet radiation. You absolutely want, at the very least, a low-e coating that will reflect heat off the glass. In the winter, when the heat is coming from inside the house, you want it to bounce back into the house. In the summer, when the heat is coming from outside, you want it to bounce back and stay outside. This is what Low E glass does. There are many grades of Low E. Get the best you can afford. You can also find windows with self-cleaning coatings.
3. CHARACTERISTICS. Everyone wants their windows to tilt inward for easy cleaning. Almost all new windows can do this today. However, some are easy to tip and some are hard to tip. You may want to try them before you buy so there are no surprises. There are several options such as double locks, screen locks, vent locks for partial opening, all available on most quality windows. Stay away from single-hung windows. These are the ones where the bottom sash goes up and down and tilts for easy cleaning, but the top sash doesn’t even open! Single-hung windows are a nightmare to clean!
4. COLORS. Today’s state-of-the-art windows are available in an amazing variety of color combinations. Manufacturers can make a vinyl window with the same color on both sides, such as bright white, soft white, tan, or almond, etc. Or they can paint the exterior surface with a long-lasting paint that adheres to vinyl. There are dozens of exterior colors available with this method. Then there are the so-called co-extruded frames. This is where the base inner color is extruded (like toothpaste coming out of a tube) and a secondary color is extruded onto the outer surface at the same time. This process creates an even more durable exterior colored surface. The third method is to apply a vinyl laminate to the exterior surface. This is also a very stable method due to the space age glues used in production. Interior laminates are also available in various wood grains and even paintable and stainable “sheets” that look and feel like wood. Finally, you can even get real wood laminate on the inside, with maintenance-free vinyl on the outside. Pick a color/material combination that matches your home!
5. DECORATIVE OPTIONS. Call them mullions, louvers, or grids, bars that divide a large area of glass into smaller sections can add interest to any window style. The bars themselves are available flat, contour, pencil, snap-on, between-glass, attached to the outer surfaces of the glass, and even “true split lights.” True split windows mean that a window with 6 small panes is actually 6 individual pieces of glass (either single pane or two panes). Simulated split glass is made by bonding the grid material to the outer surfaces of the glass. They typically have a space bar fitted between the two panes of glass to complete the effect of simulating a true split light window. Grilles are available in many colors and materials to match window surfaces. Some manufacturers also have LED glass and etched glass as options. Many of these options are actually separate panes of glass, sealed between the double panes of insulated glass.
6. WINDOW STYLES. There are only 9 basic style windows available in the US market. The most common is the double hang. If joined many more window configurations can be added, ie both sash slide up and down for ventilation. Sliding windows are similar, but you open them by sliding them to the left or right. Panoramic windows are fixed and do not open for ventilation. Casement windows are the type that open for full top to bottom ventilation with a full screen. Bow windows: have equal-width sash or picture windows mounted in a smooth curve. The bow windows are considered more of a contemporary look. Bay windows have a central picture window with a double pane or frame on each side…usually mounted at a 30 or 45 degree angle. The bay window has a more traditional look and a very dramatic visual statement. You may need to add a roof or “close” to keep the elements out of the top of the projecting arch or bay window. The garden windows project 90 degrees from the wall of the house and have a built-in glass roof. These are great in a kitchen for growing herbs and may have vents to allow for ventilation in the summer. Awning windows open from the bottom and are used when the shape of the opening is wider than it is tall. You can leave them open in light rain and still get ventilation. Finally there is the “hopper” window. This type of window opens into the house from the top of the opening. It is usually used in a base. You can join many of these style windows together to get combination windows that meet a specific need. A professional window dealer will be able to help you choose what is best for your home and lifestyle.
Whether you want to replace your windows to save energy, reduce maintenance, or increase visual appeal, today’s window options can fit any lifestyle and budget. Be sure to learn about the installation process to ensure that your investment will pay for itself year after year with minimal effort.
