Choosing Windows for Your Home

You may think a window is just a window but it’s not that simple. There are many various aspects to it that play a part in the look and functionality. The two most important things being the frame and glass of it. These contribute to heating and cooling cost as well as to how often they will need to be replaced or repaired. Varied materials have diverse reactions to weather and other conditions so this must be a part of the forethought when choosing what kind of windows you will put in your home whether you’re having a home built or are replacing your old ones. HGTV has written an article all about the different facets of windows and which are the better choice in their article “Choosing the Right Windows”.

Choosing Your Frame

There are many options to choose from when it comes to the type of frame you want your window to have. There are always positive and negatives to any material. HGTV points out several types of materials with their good and bad points.

• Vinyl: HGTV says that a “well-constructed, properly installed vinyl window can be a practical choice budgetwise while still offering excellent energy efficiency measures through insulated glass and tight construction that reduces air leakage.”
• Wood: We notice that “wood windows offer the best insulative value, though they also require more upkeep than vinyl, wood-clad or aluminum frames. Because of the potential for rot, they may not be the best choice for extremely humid or rainy climates.”
• Aluminum: HGTV brings out the aluminum may not be the best when it comes to saving on heating and cooling cost but it is one of the most practical materials when it comes to rainy and humid climates. In addition to this they also meet building codes for hurricane prone areas.
• Wood-clad: As they continued further with wood-clad they mention that it “seemingly offers the best of both worlds: a low-maintenance exterior (usually vinyl or aluminum) and a temperature-transfer-resistant wood interior.” However, it is subject to water intrusion and therefor proper installation is very important.

Choose Your Glass

Taking into consideration all the diverse types of glass that there are and can be installed in your home, HGTV has narrowed it down to one type of glass that produces the most energy efficient results. HGTV quotes John Lala, president of Rycorp Construction in Virginia Beach, VA as saying that “a double-pane window with low-E glass with a vacuum-sealed argon fill” is what is the most energy efficient. They are an extra $40 per window but they end up paying off because of how much it effects the utility bill. Another energy saving option is to get windows that have a small tint to them. HGTV says that “it’s undetectable to the eye, and they preserve paint and textiles in addition to keeping a house cooler”.

We have been building homes since 1982. Technology has progressed rapidly since then and we stay on top of current trends and quality materials to build our homes with. Choosing windows in your home has effects that you will see every month in your utility bill. We want to help you make the best choice possible when it comes to your new home or current home. We use mostly Vinyl and lifetime Vinyl Wood-clad windows in our homes with LOW-E glass. Please visit one of our communities to see the quality homes we build here at Bill Roberts Custom Homes.