Since I began building houses more than three decades ago, one item has remained at the top of my list of things to get right: windows. No other component has more to do with the way we experience our surroundings, or protect our homes and families. Here’s what I’ve learned.
Wood rules, but it’s OK to enhance its advantages. For flexibility, appearance, and ease of installation, nothing beats wood. But when exposed to harsh coastal weather, wood requires frequent sanding and repainting. That’s why I’ve strayed from the purists’ camp and accepted well-made wood windows with aluminum- or vinyl-clad exteriors. Contemporary factory techniques have overcome old problems of unsightliness and poor bonding with wood surfaces. Why not let more-resistant surfaces take the brunt of bad weather and save the beauty of wood for inside your home?
Go for the good stuff. You can skimp on windows if you’re building in a forgiving climate, but not on the shore. I’ve worked with products from Andersen (andersenwindows.com), Marvin (marvin.com), and Weather Shield (weathershield.com), all of which sell high-quality windows in a range of styles. Other widely distributed quality manufacturers include JELD-WEN (jeldwen.com), Kolbe & Kolbe (kolbe-kolbe.com), and Pella (pella.com). Less well-known brands also offer value. On my house, built more than 25 years ago, I installed Brosco windows (brosco.com). And when I began building a guest cottage this winter, I went back to the same company. One tip: Ask for upgraded hardware if you’re buying windows for coastal use.
Consider energy-saving approaches. Windows with double or triple layers of glass can yield twice the insulating power of those with single panes. Many manufacturers now sell windows with argon or krypton gas in the space between glass layers. (The dense gas cuts down on heat loss.) Be sure to do your financial homework, though: If you live in a climate where you can keep windows open most of the year and mitigate the worst effects of the sun with shades or awnings, you probably don’t need to invest in those extra layers. Consider coating windows with a film to keep heat inside in the winter and filter out harsh sunlight during the summer. Check out vista-films.com.
How to Speak Fluent Contractor
These terms will help you speak with authority about windows. Sashes are the complete window systems, including both the framing and the glass. Jambs frame a house’s window opening, with the sill forming the bottom of the frame, and side jambs and the head jamb completing the enclosure. Both the upper and lower (or exterior and interior) sashes move in a double-hung window. Only the bottom sash moves in the single-hung version. Casement windows open outward from side hinges. Awning windows have hinges at the top. For those types of windows, you’ll need exterior space to accommodate fully opened panes. Lights (or lites) are the panes of glass in a window. A window with the traditional look of true divided lights has separate panes held in place by muntins. For more window terms, see the Window & Door Manufacturers Association glossaries at wdma.com.
