How To Compare Replacement Windows
Compare Replacement Windows
When the time finally comes time to select new windows for your home, it is easy to feel overwhelmed or intimidated by the options. Learning how to compare replacement windows is a tough task for any homeowner. After all, we all want a beautiful home that helps us feel comfortable and confident. Since windows are such a prominent feature of every home, it is only natural to want the best ones.
But, what makes one window better than another? And more importantly, how can you identify those features in real-time?
Truthfully, there is no golden rule to blindly follow when shopping for home materials. The best window for any home depends on its owners’ style, climate and budget. So, when selecting products for your home, compare options against your project’s specific requirements. And do not be distracted by your preconceived notions about particular brands or materials.
At Davis Window and Door, we stock a variety of window options from a number of premium manufacturers. Below we walk through some of our most popular window material types and styles, hoping that we will help you learn how to compare replacement windows.
Window Material Types
Most windows are manufactured using just one or two of the industry’s most popular materials — Wood, Fiberglass, Vinyl and Aluminum. Naturally, there are unique advantages and disadvantages that come with every window material. Sometimes multiple materials are combined to reap the benefits of each.
Below we walk through some of the advantages affiliated with each. While narrowing down your material options can sometimes feel like a tedious process, it’s an important step to determining which windows are right for your home. We understand that at Davis Window and Door.
Wood Windows
Wood Windows are perhaps the most popular option among homeowners who are pursuing a classic aesthetic. Whether you are looking to add a timeless charm to a new home, or to blend into a historic neighborhood, wood is a light, strong and beautiful material capable of performing in any climate. Not only can Wood Windows boost your home’s curb appeal and improve its energy efficiency, but they can be built to meet your project’s unique specifications.
Our premium manufacturers mill products from a variety of natural wood species, and they deliver a nearly unlimited array of shapes and styles.
Wood Clad Windows
If you like the beautiful look of Wood Windows but cannot justify the high-maintenance costs, Clad Windows may be right for you. A popular option for homeowners in climates where wood is not ideal, they are designed with wood interior frames and exterior surfaces which are cladded with other frame materials. Usually, that material is Fiberglass or Vinyl — something strong, weather-resistant and more durable than wood. So, as homeowners, you will have less chores.
As a result of their design, Clad Wood Windows generally have a longer life expectancy than Wood Windows. They are also lower maintenance — since the exterior is less prone to chipping, rotting or warping.
Visit our Wood Clad Windows page to learn more.
Fiberglass Windows
Fiberglass Windows are widely celebrated for their strength, durability, and low-maintenance requirements. While they may not feel as traditional as wood windows, they usually last longer and serve as a more hands-off investment for homeowners. The material of choice for building boats, bridges and hardhats, fiberglass is virtually unaffected by moisture and temperature fluctuations. They can be installed in any climate, and they almost never chip, rot or warp.
When you install fiberglass windows, your home’s curb appeal will withstand every seasonal change — from frigid winters to rainy springs.
Visit our Fiberglass Windows page to learn more.
Vinyl Windows
Vinyl is probably the most common window material throughout the United States. That’s because it is affordable, energy-efficient and extremely low maintenance. Vinyl Windows are made from PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), a strong, water-resistant material often used to construct household pipes. So, they do not absorb moisture during a storm, and they do not warp, rot or distort over time.
While Vinyl Windows may not feel as reliable as fiberglass windows, they are a logical choice for homeowners looking to stay on-budget. Regardless of the season, your windows will remain tightly in place year-round, offering energy savings since there will be little air leaks coming in or out of your home.
Visit our Vinyl Windows page to learn more.
Types of Window Styles
Once you decide which materials are best for your home, it is time to select the shape, style and size of your new windows. Again, the options are plentiful, and each comes with its own benefits and shortcomings. Unlike materials though, window shapes are not easily interchangeable. Each product serves a different role—and fits into a different space.
Awning Windows
Awning Windows feature single pane windows. They open outward, and function similarly to an umbrella. A popular option for kitchens and other central living spaces, they fit best in rooms where high placement is possible.
Architectural Windows
Architectural Windows refers to a style rather than a type. Usually, they are custom designed to meet homeowners’ specific tastes and requirements.
Bay / Bow Windows
Both Bay and Bow Windows protrude from the home to brighten rooms and deepen their connection to nature. Unlike other window types, they physically open additional space.
Casement Windows
Casement windows open and close by swinging outward, creating one of the largest possible entryways for fresh air entering your home. They are perfect for homeowners who want to maximize their intake of both fresh air and sunlight.
Double Hung Windows
Double Hung Windows slide either upwards or downwards to allow fresh air into your home. There is no cranking; Simply slide the pane you wish to move in the direction you want it to go.
Garden Windows
Garden Windows protrude from your home, and are truly designed with greenery in mind. Their side windows are also encased in glass, so natural light and beautiful views are plentiful — even when you are not at home.
Picture Windows
Picture Windows are usually fixed, so they cannot be closed or opened. However, their glass panes are often huge and wide, and do not have any grilles. This design gives homeowners an expansive and unobstructed view.
Slider/Glider Windows
Slider Windows glide horizontally along their window frames to allow fresh air into your home. They are among the easiest windows to operate, and their clean, discrete design allows you to brighten any room — even where space is limited.
Specialty Windows
Specialty Windows are one-of-a-kind, customized products built to meet the unique demands of a specific home. Available in stationary or operational styles, they can be made in almost any shape and matched to the details of your home’s architecture.
Compare Windows at Davis Window and Door
Replacing the windows in your home can be an overwhelming process. After reading through this post, we hope we have been able to help you learn more about how to compare replacement windows.
Comparing windows can be a time consuming task for any homeowner, which is why we are here at Davis Window and Door. We are a window company that has combined sales and technical experience of more than 100 years.
Our professional, insured staff can provide you with personalized service to help you select the right materials for your home. And once your windows are installed, we will help keep you cozy for years to come.