Your guide to choosing your home's exterior window

YOUR GUIDE TO CHOOSING YOUR HOME’S EXTERIOR WINDOW

PART 1Your Options
Choosing the right exterior window is a
difficult prospect, not because your choices
are limited, but because, to the contrary,
there are a dizzying number of options to
be found on the market today. Let’s start by
going through the styles you can pick from.

PART ONE: YOUR OPTIONS
PICTURE.
Also known as a fixed
window, a picture window
only admits light. It cannot be
opened to let air in or out of
a room.
HUNG.
Hung windows are available
as single-hung or double-
hung. Single-hung windows
have one sash that slides
vertically up and down;
double-windows have two.
SLIDING.
Sliding windows open
horizontally, along a window
track.
BOW AND BAY.
These combination windows
project outward from the
home, creating interesting
lines that are ideal for a lot of
architectural styles.
CASEMENT.
Hinged at the top or the
bottom, casement windows
are great at admitting passive
ventilation and daylighting
into any living space.

You can choose from various options in terms of
glazing and framing, including the following:
GLAZING
■■ Low-e. Low-emissivity glass features special
coatings, either tin or silver, that admit visible light
but block infrared light.
■■ Insulated. Separated by a spacer, this kind of
glass is commonly seen in built-up units.Common
examples include double-glazed or triple-glazed
units.
FRAMING
■■ Composites. Vinyl, fiberglass, and other
composites are engineered to reduce unwanted
energy transfer, as well as preserve structural
integrity for a long time. Some composites,
however, are susceptible to physical damage.
■■ Wood. Wood continues to be one of the most loved
framing materials for windows. Its classic beauty
and appeal, after all, is hard to mimic. Wood is
also the most recommended material for use in
refurbishing historical homes. Wood, however, is
not as energy efficient as composites. It is also
more at risk of rotting, warping, and showing other
signs of aging and damage.

■■ Metal. Aluminum and stainless steel are two
common metal framing materials you can
choose for your windows.If you do go for these
materials, however, make sure to choose
metal frames that have thermal breakers.
Regular models easily allow heat loss or gain,
and can be susceptible to changes in weather
conditions and temperature.
Knowing what your options are is definitely a
start, but knowing what to do with those options
to ensure they work well for you is a different
matter altogether. In part 2 of this e-book, we
discuss how you can choose products according
to your goals.

PART 2Your Goals
We talked about the different options for
window styles, frames, and glazing in part 1.
Let’s now delve deeper into which of those
options are best suited for specific purposes.

PART TWO: YOUR GOALS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY STAR labels energy efficient window
products, and the National Fenestration Rating
Council certifies the products according to these
parameters:
■■ U-factor. The amount of heat lost through the
window. Lower ratings mean more resistance
against heat transfer.
■■ Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). The amount
of solar radiation admitted through the window.
Expressed in values between 0 and 1, Lower
SHGC values mean less solar heat admitted
through the unit.
■■ Air leakage. The amount of air that passes through
the window. AL rating must be 0.30 or less.
■■ Visible transmittance. The amount of visible light
admitted through the window. Higher VT values
mean more daylight is transmitted by the window.
■■ Condensation resistance. The rate by which the
window resists the formation of condensation. An
optional rating on the NFRC label, CR is expressed
as a number between 1 and 100; higher ratings
mean higher condensation resistance.
Remember, though, that picking out windows
with the right energy performance numbers is
only one small part of choosing energy efficient
windows. Your windows must suit your home’s
orientation, especially with regard to the sun, as
well as your climatic conditions (among other
factors).

PART TWO: YOUR GOALS
SUSTAINABILITY
For the eco-conscious homeowner, window frames
made from composites are a great choice. These
products are largely manufactured from recyclable
materials – and they can be recycled back into
production themselves, when they have reached the
end of their life cycle.
Woodwindowsalsoscorehighonsustainability,since
they are made from naturally-occurring products.
They have to be maintained properly, however, if you
wish to avoid having to replace them frequently.
AESTHETICS
Your exterior windows play a direct role in
your home’s curb appeal. To make the right
choice, always take into account your home’s
architectural style. Fixed windows with multiple
mullions, for instance, look great on Continental
homes – while casement windows can spruce
up a Victorian home really well. Other styles fit
modern architectural styles, while bow and bay
windows can create dramatic lines and unique
silhouettes.
So you’ve now gained at least an inkling of which
products to choose and what to use them for.
Who do you hire to install them? We will discuss
that in the closing segment of our e-book.

PART 3Your Contractor
Part one of the e-book covered the various
window options you can find today, while
part two examined which options are
best for energy efficiency, sustainability,
and aesthetics. Today, let’s find out who
should get to install your windows for you.

PART THREE: YOUR CONTRACTOR
Who you commission to install your exterior
windows is important to making the most
out of those windows – in terms of energy
efficiency, functionality, warranty, and aesthetics.
When selecting your contractor, mind these
considerations.
BUILDING CODES
Windows and doors have to follow the conditions
set forth in the 2012 International Residential
Code, the International Building Code, and the
International Energy Conservation Code. Plus,
states and localities may enforce separate
provisions.
LICENSE OR PERMITS
Some states require home improvement
contractors to be licensed, while others are okay
with them just being certified. It is necessary
that you know what your state’s stand on
professional regulation is, so you can choose the
right professional. In addition, you may need to
secure a permit before you can start your window
installation or replacement project.

PART THREE: YOUR CONTRACTOR
EXPERIENCE
Lastly, your contractor must be experienced.
Experience comes with a lot of perks, some of
the most rewarding of which include:
■■ Proper installation techniques. Installation must
be successful for the product to work properly.
In the case of energy efficient windows, this is
even more important. Buying a product that has
a high air leakage rating, for instance, will not
end up being a good investment if the installation
is sloppy, leading to numerous gaps and leaks
around the frames.In addition, if you live in an area
that frequently experiences inclement weather,
your window’s role in protecting your home from
the elements makes skilled installation an even
bigger priority.
■■ Customized solutions. A good contractor also
knows that a one-size-fits-all approach to a window
project hardly ever works.Your home has specific
needs that should be accommodated prior to the
installation, and satisfied by the time the project
ends. Your contractor should readily suggest
additional accessories that can help improve your
windows’ performance, like shutters or awnings.
■■ Warranty. Lastly, your contractor should be able to
offer a comprehensive warranty.A good contractor
will be upfront and will provide coverage for the
very issues that are most likely to crop up in the
future.

NEXT DOOR & WINDOW
16W240 83RD St., Burr Ridge, IL 60527
1-877-676-9710
www.NextDoorAndWindow.net

Your guide to choosing your home's exterior window

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Featured

Featured (20)

Your guide to choosing your home's exterior window