Who cares about windows? A lot of people care about windows. Windows can make or break a design of a home. I learned my lesson when we tried to reduce the cost of a home we were building recently. Not all windows are created equal. When you try to value engineer a home by changing the windows, make sure you not only look at the exterior elevations, but also the interior elevations. The architect most often has placed these windows very thoughtfully and reducing or increasing a window size, can seriously affect the interior aesthetics to a room. So let’s look at what some of the experts say about window manufacturers. According to multiple sources, some of the top window manufacturers include: Andersen Windows, Marvin Windows, Pella Windows, Milgard Windows, Jeld-Wen Windows, and Weather Shield Windows, all recognized for their quality, durability, and variety of styles and materials.
Now you have to decide on what material you prefer. I love wood windows, but they are definitely harder to maintain. Below you will find the pros and cons of wood windows.
Homeowners today have more window choices than ever before and each manufacturer has convincing arguments that their particular type of window frame is the best. This article makes no attempt to sell the homeowner on a particular type of window; the only goal is to provide the homeowner with unbiased information regarding the pros and cons of wood windows so the homeowner is better equipped to make an informed decision.
Deciding what is right for a particular home remodel can be exceptionally difficult, especially when it comes to replacing windows. Homeowners who are conflicted should talk to someone who knows windows inside and out, such as the window experts at United Home Experts. We install virtually every type of window imaginable, which means our recommendations can be based solely on what is right for a particular home and for a particular budget and not on which product they are expected to push.
There are vinyl windows, steel-framed windows, clad wood, composite, aluminum, and fiberglass windows as well as genuine wood. A lot of choices; a lot of pros and cons to weigh and consider.
For many people, especially those in older, more traditional homes, there really is no choice other than real wood-framed windows. There are several advantages, as well as drawbacks, to genuine wood.
Genuine wood has a look and a feel to it that nothing else can match. Wood is classic; wood is solid; wood is the real deal. Virtually all other window frames attempt to mimic the look of wood. Why settle for cheap imitations when the real thing is available?
Genuine wood frames help to insulate a home far better than almost any other kind of window. Real wood provides 400 times more insulation than steel window frames and 1,800 times as much as aluminum-frame windows. The additional insulation that real wood provides can help keep a home warm in the winter and cool in the summer and can save the homeowner on utility bills all year round. Wood-framed windows also provide an excellent barrier to outdoor sounds” much more so than virtually any other frame.
Wood frames are also easy to install so long as the installer has basic tools and carpentry skills. A homeowner can guarantee that wood windows will be properly installed by employing the services of a true professional from United Home Experts. The skilled technicians at United Home Experts have years of experience installing wood-frame windows and provide a guarantee with each installation.
For the homeowner attempting to go “green,” genuine wood window frames are as environmentally sound as it is possible to be. Wood is the very definition of eco-friendly. Trees are a renewable resource, and wood window frames need never end up in a landfill but even if they do, they naturally break down into compounds that are beneficial to the soil.
Wood, if given care, will last a lifetime. The same cannot really be said of most other types of frames. Also, unlike metal frames, wooden frames are not prone to rust – a decided plus in many locations.
It should be noted that it is also possible to purchase wood-clad window frames. These are wooden frames that are covered on the outside with vinyl or even aluminum. The advantage to wood-clad frames is that the outside of the window is protected from the elements while the inside retains the look, feel and insulating properties of genuine wood.
As far as aesthetics are concerned, wood wins hands-down if the homeowner chooses to paint. While some other types of frames may accept paint, wood embraces any color a homeowner chooses to apply. Wood not only welcomes paint, it virtually demands it. Wood also enhances the value of most homes. The reason most other types of frames attempt to look like wood is that the majority of homeowners prefer wood, and genuine wood window frames almost always demand a premium whenever a home is sold.
The need for paint is one of the disadvantages of genuine wood frames. Wood was once a living substance, and if left untreated it can rot or warp and will begin to look old. Wood frames which have not been properly cared for can twist slightly or can swell with moisture, making it difficult (if not impossible) to raise or lower the window. Homes near the ocean, which are subject to salt combined with moist air, are especially vulnerable; wood-frame windows in these homes will need more attention than those in many other areas of the country.
Wood is also vulnerable to insects, especially (but not limited to) termites. Of course, if the home is sided with wood then the tiny extra amount of wood in a wood-framed window makes little difference. Keeping the frame properly painted will ward off insects.
Another disadvantage can be “cost”. Wood frames generally have a higher initial cost than vinyl or steel frames. Keep in mind, however, that wood frames can last far longer than most other frames if properly maintained, and wood never rusts. Many homeowners also feel that the rich, solid, traditional appearance of genuine wood more than makes up for its initial cost difference.
All of this presupposes that the supplier of the wood frames has provided the homeowner with good quality wood to begin with. Wood should be free of knots and warping and should have the outward appearance of being in perfect condition. Homeowners can be assured of excellent quality if they deal solely with companies that have an excellent reputation and which are known locally.
In most cases having choices is good, but when it comes to choosing the right windows for a home remodel, the sheer number of choices can become overwhelming. The trick is to seek professional help and advice. The professionals at United Home Experts know windows and they genuinely care about the looks of a home as well as the homeowner’s wallet. Ask for help from the professionals, because choosing the right windows is a decision that most homeowners have to live with for many years.
If you love wood windows and want to go another step up, we used European vented windows in our Tuscan style home built in 2011. Below you will find the details to the background of German style vented windows. Not only are they beautiful, but also so functional.
Written By Bauwerk Building Solutions
If you’ve traveled to Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, you’ve seen a so-called “tilt and turn window”. If you’re lucky, you’ve used one!
Tilt and turn windows are considered the de facto window option in much of Europe. Why? Tilt-and-turn windows promise unique functionality and design, enhanced security, better quality, superior thermal efficiency and exceptional durability and longevity. That said, the tilt and turn functionality is only one aspect of European window design. In this blog post, we will explain what’s special about tilt and turn windows to help you decide if they are the right fit for your project.
Tilt and turn windows can turn open like a door and tilt for secure ventilation.
Tilt and turn windows are the standard in Europe, enjoying a position of near exclusivity in the European window and door market. But even with such a significant level of adoption across the continent, they are still a fairly recent invention.
The first tilt and turn hardware for windows was designed in Germany in the 1950s. Manufacturers gradually moved from using two single-glazed windows, installed one in front of the other and opening separately, to one window with double glazing to keep the cold at bay. With that, the ease and flexibility of opening the single window became more important, making the tilt and turn hardware a life-changing invention.
This trend coincided with the first vinyl window, designed in Germany in 1954 and installed in a home in Hamburg. While initially expensive, the use of vinyl ultimately enabled German manufacturers to produce windows with incredible thermal properties at very low cost. Suddenly, there was a low cost-option to deal with the cold German climate in the winter, while allowing easy ventilation and opening in the mild summer, making climate control obsolete. From then on, thermally efficient tilt and turn windows increased their market share quickly, triggering frequent innovations and making a wide selection of materials available, including vinyl, wood, aluminum and steel. The European window market was never looked back.
Tilt and turn windows work by the simple turning of a single handle. There are three different positions for the handle, each of which allows unique functionality.
When the handle is pointing downward and the window is closed, at least five steel locking pins keep the window securely shut.
When the handle is turned by 90 degrees into the horizontal position, the window functions a lot like a normal door. In this position, the locking pins are unlocked and the window vent turns open, held by hinges on one side of the window. There is one hinge on the upper corner and one on the lower corner, just like you would see it on a regular door.
Only when the handle is turned by another 90 degrees, pointing upwards now, the window starts operating differently than a door. The hinge in the upper corner is disconnected. At the same time, a hinge in the other bottom corner of the vent is connected to the vent. The vent suddenly tilts inwards, held by the hinges the bottom corners. That is possible because of an ingenious design: One of the hinges on the lower corner operates in two directions, supporting both tilt and turn. The other two hinges support only tilt or turn but are only connected to the vent if the window handle is in a certain position.
With that, the whole window can open like a door or just tilt inward by 10 to 15 degrees, moving along the hinges on the bottom of the window and allowing easy ventilation without having to worry about intruders or weather changes.
The unique functionality of tilt and turn windows allows builders and architects to open residential and commercial spaces to the environment in very different ways.
The most common style of window in the US is a double-hung window. A tilt and turn window offers dramatic improvements over a traditional double-hung window, including:
Tilted European window
While the opening of a double hung windows is always less than 50% of its size, tilt and turn windows open all the way, leaving only the frame. With one uninterrupted glazing pane instead of two on a double hung window (fixed element and vent), they provide a completely unobstructed view of the outside, even when closed.
Also, the tilt functionality allows you to include ventilation through windows into your climate control concept without having to face the adverse effects of an open double hung window.
If you’re interested in environmentally conscious building design, tilt and turn windows provide exceptional thermal efficiency and can be customized to meet even the most strenuous passive house or other environmental standards.
Finally, a tilt and turn window is nearly impossible to break into, but we will talk more about that later..
When making use of these new design options, be sure that you consider one more thing that comes along with the tilt and turn design: All tilt and turn windows open inwards.
That has various reasons. Due to mechanical requirements, the handle that operates the window hardware is installed on the window vent, opposite of the hinges. Thus, it tilts and turns with the window. Think of a large, outward turning window on the third floor and you understand quickly why tilt and turn windows are designed to open inwards. Also, with opening inwards, the hinges can be placed on the inside of the window frame, protecting them from weather and potential corrosion. Last but not least, with tilting inwards, wind gusts can’t push the tilted window shut.
Thus, as you’re utilizing the design options provided by tilt and turn windows, plan for sufficient room for the windows to open inwards.
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Susan Ward
