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10 Tips for Selecting Windows for Your Home

Building a new home can be both rewarding and challenging. There are dozens of people involved in constructing your home, and hundreds of decisions need to be made. If you're renovating a home, you may be going through the same experience. The choices you make are important, and play a role in the final outcome of how your house looks and how it performs energy- and comfort-wise.

For most people, the decision of which windows to use in their home can be daunting. There are considerations of what materials the windows should be made of, the type of glass specified, and what shapes, sizes, styles, and options should be picked. To help navigate the course to decisions, Weather Shield Windows & Doors, one of the nation's leading manufacturers of windows, offers these 10 tips.

1.) Research your options. Do your homework by talking with window dealers, builders, and architects to find out the types of windows they recommend. Review manufacturers' catalogs and Web sites. Learn as much as you can about the options available in your price category.

2.) Select windows that complement your home's style. All the pieces of your home should come together for a unified look. Work with your architect and builder to select the size, style, and shape of windows that complement your home.

3.) Determine the level of maintenance you prefer. For the ease of low maintenance, you can't beat all-vinyl windows. Or, you may wish to have low maintenance vinyl on the exterior and warm woods on the interior. Aluminum-clad wood, all-aluminum, and all-wood windows are also available. Consider your climate and long-term maintenance goals when selecting the window material for your home.

4.) Think big. Light plays a major role in the home, and big windows-or combinations of windows-can have a positive impact on your home. One of today's most popular trends, walls of windows, can be achieved by mixing an array of operable windows and fixed glass. These impressive focal points for the home can reach the ceiling or encompass an entire wall.

5.) Decide if you want custom-made windows, with lots of options, or more standardized windows. A simple home design can often use standard size windows. However, the options you gain from custom-made windows can really set your home apart. True divided lites, interior woods, and grilles are just some up-grade options that custom window manufacturers can offer you.

6.) Beware of "bargain" windows. There are many no-name companies producing poor quality windows that are inexpensive. Some of these companies are only in business a short time and are not available years down the road when maintenance problems may occur. Always research companies you are thinking of buying from-their reputation, and the exact details of warranty information.

7.) Make window interiors work for you. Select windows with wood interiors that complement your cabinetry, flooring, and accessories. Many different woods-including maple, mahogany, oak, cherry, American fir, and knotty and traditional pine-are available for the interior of windows.

8.) Plan for your future needs by incorporating universal housing design elements into your windows. People of all ages benefit from making their homes more accessible and easier to maintain. Consider easy-to-turn hand cranks at the bottom of casement windows and low-placed latches to make your windows easier to operate.

9.) Make energy efficiency a priority. By researching and understanding glazing options, you can make smart decisions on the glass in your windows. Consider windows with low-E (emissivity) glass. This type of glass can help save in heating and cooling bills by keeping your house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Glazing options are available with single, double, and triple panes of glass and with low-E coated surfaces.

10.) Research warranties. Your long-term comfort level in the windows you select will come from purchasing products from a reputable company with strong product warranties. Carefully review the warranties for replacement stipulations, ownership transfer details, and guarantees against failure of the glass, frame, and sash of the window.

There's a lot to consider when selecting windows for your home. Investing time in researching the windows, warranties, and manufacturers' reputations up front can save endless headaches down the road.

Source: The Consumer Guide to Windows, Glass Magazine, December 2000.