When you’re house-hunting, a wall of windows signals lots of natural light and aesthetic appeal.
But when you’re renovating, all that glass can equal major expense and lots of decision-making headaches.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
As tempting as it is to scrimp, windows aren’t the place to be overly budget-conscious.
Nearly every window seals out wind when the temperature is comfortable.
This compromises the window’s seal.
Only the highest-quality windows perform well when temperatures plunge below zero.
If you’re starting a renovation or building a home, select andorder your windowsas early as possible.
But custom windows cost more and may take several weeks to arrive.
That’s why wiggle room is critical.
What Are Windows Made of?
We’ll break down each of these features in more detail below.
The higher the R-value, the better.
The lower the numberwhich typically ranges from .20 to 1.20the better.
The higher the number, the greater the heat gain.
This number will fall somewhere between 0 and 1.
Visible transmittance:If you care about natural light, this is your number to consider.
(This number takes into account the glass as well as non-transparent features, like frames and grids.)
Condensation resistance:Loathe foggy windows?
The higher the number, the better the resistance.
The leadingwindow replacement companiesoffer a wide range of windows appropriate for specific climates.
Vinyl contracts and expands with changing temperatures, reducing its ability to seal.
It can also warp if exposed to very hot sunlight.
However, wood has natural insulating properties, and most people prefer the way it looks.
Aluminum cladding can be painted, as long as you apply a primer first.
you’re able to also buy windows with hard-baked paint finishes.
Fiberglass Windows
Some manufacturers make fiberglass windows, in addition to the standard offerings mentioned above.
Fiberglass is stronger than vinyl, less prone to contracting and expanding, and less likely to warp.
It needs to be protected by paint, which manufacturers anticipate by applying a hard finish at the factory.
Tilt-Out Windows
Many windows tilt out for easy cleaning from the inside.
A block-framed window has no flange and slides into an opening.
This is the right choice when you want to install a replacement window into an existing frame.
In older single-glazed windows, glazing compound (putty) on the outside holds in the panes.
For newer windows, snap-in molding pieces take the place of putty.
The two panes create an insulating air space between the two sheets of glass.
The larger the air space, the greater the insulating power.
Note that gas-filling usually costs more and can prolong delivery time.
Triple-glazed windows, featuring three panes and two air spaces, are also available.
These are not common, because the extra insulation usually isn’t considered worth the significant increase in cost.
The grid lifts off for easy cleaning.
