Let’s say something happened to a window in your house. Or perhaps you just don’t like it; something doesn’t quite feel right. You want (or need) to replace it. What’s the new window going to be? How will you choose? What’s right for your home? At Elite Gutters and Sunrooms, we’re more than happy to share our list of what makes the right window right. One of those is the material: we find vinyl windows to be superior to other forms of window, and as such only do vinyl windows.
Window Styles: Fashion vs. Practicality
Some windows look nice and fancy, but aren’t nearly so great for day-to-day use. Others might be a little drab, but work well for general living, rather than invitationals. Which one you choose is up to you. So let’s get started.
Single-hung Windows
First off, we have single-hung windows. It should be noted that single-hung and double-hung (which we’ll get to later) look identical. The difference? Single-hung windows have a locked top pane which can’t be opened. While slightly more difficult to clean than double-hung windows, single-hung windows are more useful in weather-affected areas, such as coasts: the locked top pane is better at preventing air leakage and infiltration.
Double-hung Windows
What about double-hung windows? They’ve achieved quite a reputation, to the point where they’re one of the most likely window styles in almost any home. As discussed before, double-hung windows have an openable top and bottom pane, unlike single-hung windows. Double-hung windows are also surprisingly easy to clean (yet another component of their popularity). If your home has small children around regularly, double-hung windows may be a better option than single-hung – despite being more expensive – because you can keep the bottom pane closed but open the top one, to allow fresh air while hopefully keeping anyone from falling out.
Sliding Windows
Next up: sliding windows. As would be expected from the name, sliding windows open horizontally instead of vertically. They’re most often used in areas where you might not have as much vertical space, such as a kitchen. As sliding windows are typically wider than they are tall, they’re sometimes employed to frame an especially stunning view of the outside world.
Other Windows
Then there’s the casement and awning window. These ones are interesting: they can be installed vertically (which swings outward from the house) or horizontally (which opens upward from the bottom of the window). Unlike hung windows, casement and awning (that’s one term) windows are operated by hand cranks. Unsurprisingly, they’re commonly used in rainy or wind-battered climates, since homes in such areas may need more security when grabbing some fresh air. Sadly, casement and awning windows are unlikely to be usable for installing a window air conditioner to cool your home, if you go that route.
Most of these styles are all fairly basic. Picture windows, though, could be a bit more on the fancy side: they don’t open at all, instead being used to frame a view or similar of the outside. Picture windows work best in areas with restricted access, like vaulted ceilings. You could also consider joining a picture window with a window or two of another style (single- or double-hung, casement and awning, or similar) to be able to get some fresh air and still frame a good view.
The Takeaway
That’s our list. The choice is yours, but here at Elite Gutters and Sunrooms, we prize quality. Give us a call and see how much we can make your life better.