Today’s modern homeowner wants to find windows that are not only stylish but can help them save energy by minimizing the cost of heating and cooling the home. If you are building a new home or want to replace your existing windows, you should understand what will give you the biggest bang for your buck without going over budget.
Many people understand that having a wooden frame means that you will have a window that is less prone to transferring heat and cold than an aluminum frame because metal will conduct temperature easier than wood. However, this does not mean that wood is the best choice for an environmentally friendly window. There are many different kinds of materials available for window frames, and each has advantages and disadvantages.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a less expensive material; however, it isn’t cheap. Any well-constructed vinyl window will be able to be a great and practical choice in terms of the budget and it still offers great energy efficiency. Vinyl windows can be limited when it comes to colour.
Wood
Wood windows give you the best insulative value, although they do require more maintenance than vinyl, wood clad or aluminum frames. However, they do have the potential to rot so they might not be a good choice for humid or rainy locations. Well-built wooden windows will be able to last a long time, and a lot of original wood windows in older homes are in great shape because of the cut and species of wood used.
Aluminum
Aluminum is not the best performing material for heat transfer or loss. They are practical when it comes to humid or rainy climates, and they meet building codes in hurricane prone areas because of how strong they are.
While the frame is important, a lot of buzz around windows comes from the glass. When looking for windows that are qualified for Energy Star status, the manufacturer needs to meet the standards for two main metrics known as u-value and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). U-value measures a window’s resistance to heat loss. And SHGC measures how much heat enters a home through the glass.
Even if you splurge and spend your money on expensive windows, it is meaningless if they are not installed correctly. Beware of any contractor who uses too much expanding foam or sealant in order to get the window to fit properly. These materials are not actually waterproof and might lead to problems in the future. Pre-installation waterproofing is the best option and is usually done long before the windows are installed.
Installing flashing and proper caulking if not done properly will cause a lot of problems for the builder and buyer, which could have been avoided in the first place. Double-hung windows are a good option, however not for extreme climates. Casement windows are good for areas where wind is an issue. Picture windows usually don’t open, however, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
