When you go looking for windows, whether you have to replace one that got broken or you are just feeling that your house is in need of a window upgrade, it may be tempting to buy some off the shelf of your local home improvement store, checking only to see that they fit the space left by the old window. There are two advantages to spending a little more time on finding the perfect window.
Saves Energy By Fitting The Climate
Every location has its own climate. Some places are cool most of the year and some places are warm. This is why it is a good idea to have your glass windows tailored to the weather conditions that your home will face.For instance, if you live in a cooler climate, you will want windows that are well insulated. In science-sounding terms, it should have a high R-Value or thermal resistance, a number that expresses how much a material slows down the transfer of heat to cold spots. The US Department of Energy has a map detailing which R-values are best for your home based on what zone of the US you live in. The right amount of insulation in a cold place will reduce the amount of energy that you spend on heating any given room.
On the other hand, you may live in a hot place. In that situation, all the solar radiation getting through the windows is the problem. This is expressed as the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. This is an official rating recognized by the National Fenestration Rating Council where they assign a number between 0 and 1. Finding a window with a low SHGC is a boon to homeowners in sunny climates. A home-owner in warm places expends a lot of energy on keeping a room cool, and a low SHGC keeps energy spent cooling the room from going out the window (no pun intended.)
Perfects A Room's Look
Windows provide the backdrop to the interior of your house. You put a lot of work into making your home beautiful and inviting, and putting the right window in the wall behind your furnishings highlight everything that makes the place your home. And then there are the window treatments that complete a room- the best window treatments need stellar windows to build on. Customized glazes, sashes and casements peaking out behind lacy curtains or shining through Venetian blinds can be the touch that makes a room everyone's favorite.
If you are interested in what quality replacement windows can do for your home, check out the designs on Facebook at @Sunroom, on Pinterest at @FourSeasonsHP or on Instagram @SunroomWindows.