The Ultimate Guide To Choose The Most Suitable Windows For Your Home

Without a window, our homes would be one big dark box. Windows are essential because they brighten up our home by letting in natural light.

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They aid ventilation by supporting the inflow and outflow of air in the home, make it possible for people in the house to see what is happening outdoors, and also enjoy the view outside. They also provide the home with heat while at the same time help to keep out the extreme cold.

Apart from all these, windows can impact on your home’s energy efficiency. Windows have evolved to become energy efficient because they help us shave some money off our energy bills by maintaining the home’s atmosphere in hot or cold temperatures.

How Windows Help In Making Energy Efficient Homes

Energy-efficient windows help by reducing the amount of money you spend on heating the home during the winter season and the amount of money you spend on cooling the home during summer.

An energy-efficient window keeps out the sun’s rays while locking in the heat when the weather is cold and keeping the heat outside when the weather is hot. Windows could achieve this if they are made with Low-emissivity glass. Other options that help to achieve this include reflective coatings, tints, and gas fill.

The window insulation also helps in making windows energy efficient. In place of metals, structural foam that is 100 percent polymer will make the window free of condensation and thermally efficient.

The glass panes also contribute to energy efficiency in windows. The latest technology allows windows to be made with multiple glass panes. Double and triple-paned glass windows will keep out ultraviolet rays from home. This helps to maintain the home’s temperature while also protecting your home furniture and fabrics from fading or getting damaged.

All these contribute to making your windows energy efficient.

Available Types and Styles of Windows For Home

There are different window types for various home types and purposes. Below are some common types of windows.

Awning Windows

Awning windows are paired popularly with wide picture windows and may be situated along the bottom, top, or sides of the picture window to ease airflow and ventilation. This window type opens out by hanging from the window sash’s top and controlled by a crank.

Awning windows can also be placed above doors. This type of window is not recommended in places where there are walkways or high traffic as it can obstruct movement.

Casement Windows

Casement windows, just like awning windows open outward and usually move from side hinges. The glass panes of casement windows are typically large, which provides significant lighting uninterrupted by framing options.

This window type also provides more ventilation compared to other window types. They are also very energy efficient when locked.

Single and Double-Hung Windows

Single and double-hung windows are prevalent, and many people are familiar with them. Double-hung windows have two mobile sashes while a single hung window has an immobile upper sash and a mobile lower sash.

Single and double-hung windows have an elegant look, which makes them visually appealing. They do not provide enough open areas like casement windows and can experience air leakage.

Bay Windows

Bay windows are used to create projections and angles in a building structure. As a result, bay windows let light into the home from different angles. Also, most bay windows are usually made with a side window that can be used as a space for the inflow and outflow of air in the home.

Sliders Windows

Slider windows open sideways through sliding. Although they cannot be tightly sealed like casement windows, they provide a significant amount of ventilation and offer a clear view. This is a simple type of window with primary seals, no mechanical parts, and no mechanism for tension.

How To Choose The Window Type For Your Home

Look at Your Budget

The amount you have set aside to spend on your window will influence the type of window you choose for your home. There are a variety of materials and brands at different price ranges. This means you will get a window type that fits your budget, and that also satisfies your needs and preferences.

Alanyze Your Home Structure

The structure of the home and where the window will be installed in the house will influence the type of window you settle for. Single and double-hung windows work in most locations in the home and add visual appeal to the home.

Slider windows are preferred in basements or below grade bedrooms as well as utility windows above basement walls. Bay windows ware best suited for family rooms and kitchens where the window sill can be utilized as a window seat.

There are also other window types. Analyze your home, where the window will be installed so that you can choose the type that is most suitable for you.

Alanyze Features: Best Insulated Window

Insulated windows improve the energy efficiency of the home. The term simply refers to windows with multiple glass panes instead if a single-window glass pane. The spaces between the glass panes are filled with a gas or left as a vacuum. This improves the efficient energy performance of windows.

Opt for a double or triple glass pane, and if your budget allows it, add a Low-E glass coating to keep out UV rays from the home and help to maintain the room’s temperature.

Frame Material: Wood or Metal

The frame type should also be considered before opting for a glass type. Different frame types come with different pros and cons. For aesthetics, performance, and durability, metal window frames are better options.

They aid the energy efficiency of windows and are easier to maintain compared to wood frames.

Glass Type

The wrong type of window glass will drastically reduce the energy efficiency of your windows, make your home uncomfortable, and increase your heating and cooling expenses. You can opt for double and triple glass panes. Single glass panes are no longer used because they do not aid the window’s efficiency.

You can also choose to opt for a clear glass for an airy feel or frosted glass to achieve some privacy in the home. There are also options for you to select your glass type in several colors. This allows you to settle for an option that complements the home’s décor and style.

All these need to be considered before opting for a glass type for your windows.

Abigail Jones
 

Hi, I'm Abigail. I like spending time tearing my house apart and putting it together back again. Join me on home improvement tutorials, tips on my blog.

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