Choosing A Right Windows For Your Home
It might be difficult to choose the proper window styles for your home. There are so many different window kinds to pick from that it can be difficult to know where to begin.
There’s also the question of price and quality to consider: how do you know you’re not being overcharged and that the windows you choose will last? Windows are unquestionably a significant home investment — and one that may make or break your home’s design, so it pays to get the window type just right.
Our buyer’s guide, https://goglass.co.uk/, to window styles will walk you through the process from cost to materials to inspiration.
Which Window Styles Are the Most Popular?
There are an ever-increasing variety of window styles available, each one suited to a distinct type of property. The most regularly encountered styles are shown here, along with their benefits and drawbacks.
What are Casement Windows and How Do They Work?
Casement windows have side hinges that connect them to their frame.
Because there is no mullion to obstruct the view, side hanging and awning shapes perform well in contemporary house types. The following are the many casement types:
- The most recognizable casement is the side hung. It has a side hinge for simple opening.
- A narrow glazed top-hinged casement is split by a fixed pane.
- Top Hung/Awning: A casement window with a top hinge. It’s ideal for damp locations because it keeps rain out.
- Bottom Hung/Hopper: A casement window with a bottom hinge. The most usual application is in a basement.
- Hinge/Pivot in the Center: A window that hinges in the middle to allow for a larger opening and requires less swinging clearance.
These charming windows, which have Redwood Stone mullions, go nicely with the thatched cottage in which they were installed. (Photo courtesy of Redwood Stone)
The following are some of the benefits and drawbacks of casement windows:
- Large casements are usually the most affordable.
- Because they are built in modular, conventional sizes, the costs are usually lower.
- Excellent for ventilation spaces, however because they can open wide, they may pose a risk to people with small children or animals.
Tilt and Turn Windows are what they sound like.
Tilt and turn windows can be opened to tilt inwards for ventilation (typically from the top down) or to open inwards from side hinges (a bit like a casement in reverse). Modern designs benefit from tilt & turn windows.
Tilt and turn windows have both advantages and disadvantages.
- They’re usually created to order, which raises the price.
- Secure
- Ideal for smaller settings where space is at a premium.
What are Fixed Windows and How Do They Work?
Fixed windows are exactly that: fixed, which means they don’t open or let in any air. They do, however, maximize the amount of natural light that enters a home. Because they don’t have to have an opening mechanism, there are a plethora of designs and styles to choose from, such as picture windows and gable glazing.
- Fills in the gaps in your home with light.
- Can come up with unique designs
- The most affordable window style.
The contrasting contemporary aluminium windows used in the extension, designed by Adam Knibb Architects, make the sash windows on this Victorian mansion look even more stunning.
What are Sash Windows and How Do They Work?
Sash windows have one or two sashes, each of which is divided into a number of panes and slides vertically or horizontally. This window style is still popular in traditional new construction. Sizes are generally non-standard, but windows must be proportional to the home, hence they are frequently customised.
- Sash windows made of wood require regular upkeep.
- Because they usually have vertical tracks, they won’t fill up with leaves and other debris.
Sash windows exist in a variety of styles, so pick one that matches the rest of your house. Wandsworth Sash Windows provided the examples featured here.
Roof Window Styles
Where conventional windows cannot be erected, roof windows can work wonders in bringing in natural light.
Roof lanterns are architectural features built into the roof that allow light to enter the space below. They can be made of aluminum, wood, or PVCu and come in a variety of shapes and configurations.
Rooflights are a type of window that is installed in the roof. They might sit close against the roofline or somewhat above it. They are available in a variety of materials. Some are physically operated, while others are controlled by wall panels or a remote control. Skylights are fixed windows that run parallel to the roofline.
Rooflights are ideal for creating ‘rooms in the roof’ in loft conversions or one-and-a-half-story homes, which are becoming increasingly popular among self-builders with height constraints.
In terraced houses with side return additions, skylights are becoming more common, bringing light further into the floorplan.
Roof lanterns allow for a higher amount of light to be introduced and help to create the sense of more head height in additions with flat roofs.
What are Bay Windows and How Do They Work?
A bay window is a window that projects outward from a building’s façade, creating a recess within a room. A bay window, as seen in many Victorian and Edwardian homes, can extend more than one floor. Window seats and breakfast nooks can be created with bay window concepts in self-build designs.
Bay windows are available in a variety of styles, including:
- The term “canted” refers to a window with a straight front and inclined sides.
- When the window structure is architecturally curved, it is referred to as a bow.
- Oriel: As it jetties out from a building’s main walls, an oriel window is supported by corbels or brackets from above ground level.
High-Level Window Types
These are occasionally utilized to maintain seclusion while allowing more natural light or ventilation into the room. Clerestory windows have been employed in modern energy efficient houses as a solar gain method and have been paired with stone, brick, or concrete. The elevated window position gathers heat during the warmest portions of the day and effectively exploits the structure below as a heat bank.
- Allow more light and ventilation in.
- Ideal for high-ceilinged areas.
High-level glazing, such as clerestory windows, can provide natural light while maintaining seclusion.
Period Window Styles: A Guide
How to Pick the Best Window Styles for Your Construction Design Credentials
Thickness, dimensional stability, design/moulding, and feel/texture are the main criteria for judging a good window.
In the case of renovation projects, your window selection should be based on the style of your home as well as the era.
Our windows expanded in size as glazing became cheaper and easier to work with throughout the decades. As a result, those wishing to reproduce or repair older period homes and cottages should do their study and hire a modern window firm to replicate the original styles whenever possible.
Cottages have small casement windows, but homes erected in the Georgian and early Victorian eras have multi-pane, vertically oriented sliding sash windows.
With the emergence of modernism in the early twentieth century, all of that altered. If your home is from that age, or you want to build in a contemporary style, keep it simple by minimizing not only the number of framing (for example, on casements), but also the frame width. As a result, the larger and cleaner the glazing should be, the more modern the house (or design).
Sash windows, such as these from Wandsworth Sash Windows, were common in Georgian and Victorian architecture.
Placement of Windows
How to Determine Window Position
If the elevation is the house’s face, the windows are its eyes, according to popular belief. So, in addition to all of the functional and performance considerations, the window style you select must also look beautiful. This is due to three major factors:
- the arrangement of windows
- the window’s shape, and finally, the window itself
It’s virtually unimportant how great the actual windows are because so many people get the first two wrong.
This is true whether you’re creating a contemporary or conventional home, and a quick trip around any neighborhood will reveal how many designers get the window style wrong during the design process.
Obviously, the layout of the house will impact the placement of windows on elevations, but how these windows blend in with the elevation itself from the outside is just as significant. The house’s shape will play a significant role in this. A thin horizontal window type may be used to emphasise the length of a long, low, horizontal house. Similarly, little antique cottages with wide glass apertures puncturing the thick walls can appear weird.
The design of windows involves a surprising amount of science. The golden ratio, which was first developed in classical architecture when mathematics was equally as important as aesthetics in design, is still utilized as a shortcut to good proportions today. It specifies a proportional ratio of 1:1.618, implying that an 800mm wide vertical sash window should be 1,300mm tall. This aesthetic criteria is also evaluated using the ogee curve, which is a derivation of the golden ratio.
Costs
What Are the Prices of Different Window Styles?
The cost of windows varies depending on the size of your project and the type of material you select.
PVCu windows and some softwood options are perfect for individuals on a budget, and can cost anywhere from £5,000 to £20,000 depending on the size of the job.
Aluminium or composite windows, on the other hand, cost between £8,000 and £25,000.
It’s also helpful to rank window prices by square metre.
Suppliers despise this because windows aren’t sold by the square metre; they’re sold individually, and the larger the window is, the less it costs per square metre, therefore limiting a window range to a square metre price can never offer a realistic pricing technique.
However, from the standpoint of comparison, it’s a very useful tool.
To calculate the square metre rates, multiply the total cost offered for window supply by the area of the window openings.
Using a variety of window styles to define new and old sections of a house that has been extended can be a smart approach to define new and old sections of a house that has been enlarged
Explanation of Window Materials
Kloeber’s timber FunkyFront door and aluminium windows.
After determining the window’s location, size, and shape, it’s time to choose a provider, which begins with the frame itself. Each supplier has its unique selling strategies, but the material is the most important decision to make early on. Window frames are often made of one of three materials: PVCu (plastic), wood, or metal/alloy (aluminium or steel).
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of PVCu Windows?
For good reason, UPVC dominates the replacement window market: it’s usually the cheapest option, it’s manufactured at scale, it’s dimensionally stable (it won’t shrink or warp), it’s pre-colored (no painting), comes in a variety of finishes (some of which are impressively wood-like), and it requires very little ongoing maintenance. It’s available in a variety of moulded forms (to fit both classic and modern homes) and has come a long way in terms of imitating the look of wood (and aluminum).
The main disadvantages are that the frames are a little chunkier than the alternatives, and not everyone believes it is suitable for historical (or even period-style) homes.
The capacity for the opening casement to close flush with the frame, as well as consistency in terms of the thickness of the sightlines, where the frames in the window all line up with each other, is one of the design elements that very few PVCu window vendors manage to get right. Most homeowners are unconcerned about such matters, but you should be.
Pros:
- Overall, the least expensive, though prices vary depending on quality.
- Molded shapes in a low-maintenance range
Cons:
- It has the potential to appear inexpensive.
- Can depreciate the value of historic homes
- It’s not easy to fix.
- Doors can be flimsy.
- For a one-off dwelling, costs range from £5,000 to £15,000.
PVCu windows, such as REHAU’s, have gone a long way in terms of both aesthetic and performance.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Timber Windows?
The most significant advantage of timber windows for period-style homes is their sense and authenticity. Timber is the best material for recreating a historic design and detailing. Timber’s tactility and texture appeal to a wide range of people, not just traditionalists. Builders of modern homes are increasingly using substantial hefty oak to frame their enormous panels of glass.
Maintenance (on all timbers) and dimensional stability/durability are the most common issues for most people. However, nothing beats the appearance of a wood sash window, and while most timber window providers will pre-treat and paint the windows, they will require maintenance every 5-10 years or so.
Timber is frequently the greatest window material for period homes, and it was unquestionably the best choice for this tastefully refurbished home.
Windows: Hardwood vs. Softwood
If you’re considering timber windows, you might be asking how softwood differs from hardwood. Let us explain.
Softwood windows are worth consideration because they work well in both contemporary and traditional projects and can be installed on a budget. However, because they require more upkeep than other materials, they may not be ideal for everyone.
Pros:
- Nothing compares to the feel and detail of a wood-framed window.
- Softwood is popular among people on a tight budget because it is the most cost-effective option when glazed and decorated on site.
- They can be stained, but they’re more commonly painted.
- It works well in both modern and classic settings.
Cons:
- Double-glazing failure is a risk with on-site glazing (i.e. misted units)
- Although factory glazing reduces danger, it is more expensive.
- Every few years, softwood needs to be repainted.
- Expect to pay between £6,000 and £15,000, with a lower cost if ‘DIYed’ on site.
The best softwoods to use are Douglas fir and European Redwood (also known as Scots Pine). Douglas fir is a very solid and durable softwood, while European Redwood (also known as Scots Pine) is less prone to dimensional shift and movement.
Bereco’s sustainable timber windows, like the ones seen above, have U values as low as 0.8W/m2K and can be customized to fit any design. (Photo courtesy of Bereco)
Hardwood windows are excellent choices for traditional-style homes, but they are more expensive than softwood windows.
Pros:
- They have a more solid and long-lasting grain than softwoods.
- It’s possible to treat it to make it more stable.
- Traditional-style residences are the most popular.
- Staining is common.
Cons:
- It’s pricey, costing up to four times as much as softwood.
- Costs range from £8,000 to £20,000.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Aluminum Windows?
The Origin OW-70 Slimline Window is composed of aluminum and costs £300 depending on the window design, size, and color; the window has a 20-year guarantee.
Aluminium is unquestionably the most popular framing material at the moment. It is extremely robust, allowing for extremely narrow frame widths while still accommodating thick triple glazing. It comes pre-finished in any RAL color (not just anthracite!) and is ideal for today’s trend for tiny frames, few bars, and plenty of glass. It requires almost no maintenance and is perfectly dimensionally stable.
Aluminium windows aren’t just for modern dwellings, either. What has changed in the last year or two is that it is now being mandated on an increasing number of period-style residences. “Aluminum is being used in an increasing number of period homes as consumers realize the possibilities for creating period aesthetics,” says Origin CEO Neil Ginger. “With Georgian bars, midrails on doors, and woodgrain finishes on our aluminum goods, we can satisfy the stylistic criteria of a historic home without the care and maintenance of wood.”
Pros:
- Lasts up to 40 years and is energy efficient
- Only minor upkeep is required.
Cons:
- It might be as much as 20% more expensive than PUVu windows.
- Color may be limited in some circumstances.
- Costs range from £8,000 to £18,000.
What Are Composite Windows and How Do They Work?
Kloeber’s composite doors and windows, for example, are an excellent alternative for modern residences.
If you’re having trouble deciding between materials, there’s a compromise: composite systems, which combine diverse framing materials inside and out.
Pros:
- They combine the best of both worlds by combining wood windows with a weather-proof covering, such as aluminum strips or plastic.
- Can tolerate extreme weather conditions (widely used in such as Canada and Sweden)
- Triple-glazing is a breeze with this product.
- Complement contemporary designs.
- Low upkeep, but still provides the warmth of wood.
Cons:
- Expensive
- If ordered from the Continent, it is unlikely to be built to regular UK sizes. Costs: Expect to pay 25% extra for triple glazing if you spend between £10,000 and £25,000.
Steel Window Styles
Steel windows are quickly becoming a popular choice among those looking for a European-style finish or a modern twist on a vintage refurbishment.
Pros:
- Popular in contemporary homes, but becoming more popular in period ones (particularly for Belgian doors)
- Maintenance-free
- Produce frames with a traditional, beautiful appearance.
Cons:
- Include argon-filled glass units in the cavities to improve the thermal characteristics.
- It may be costly.
- Costs range from £7,000 to £21,000.
Glazing
Window Glazing Types
If you’re building to Passivhaus standards, triple-glazed windows will almost probably be necessary.
Triple glazing is quickly becoming a typical solution for today’s window manufacturers – especially in the aluminum industry – and is definitely worth considering for replacement windows. The improvement in energy efficiency is substantial and well-known. The improvement in acoustic performance is less generally known. Rw32 acoustic performance can be achieved using double-glazed windows. With a thicker space between the panes or some forms of triple glazing, such as Bereco’s Ambient acoustic windows, this can be adjusted into the low 40s, making the difference between a good night’s sleep and a restless one on a busy road.
So, how much would the premium for triple glazing cost? Some European manufacturers, such as Internorm and Velfac, are so busy making triple-glazed windows for their European customers that making double glazing for us Brits is a bit of a bother. As a result, the additional cost of the glass is sometimes estimated in single percentage points, if at all.
Low-emissivity glass, or ‘low-E’ glass as it is more generally called, is a type of glazing designed to keep heat from escaping through windows. Low-E double glazing complies with UK Building Regulations for replacement windows and new windows for additions (such as Part L1B in England).
The following are some of the advantages:
- When compared to single glazing, it can cut heat loss by at least four or five times.
- Solar control glass can be specified to reduce summer solar gain in parts of the house that are prone to overheating.
Sizes of Frameless Glazing
Most window manufacturers are constrained by the weight of the glazing unit rather than its size, with hinge system pressure being the primary concern. For opening units, most vendors struggle to go beyond 2-2.5m2, whereas fixed systems (that don’t open) can be up to 7m2.
Beyond that size, you’re dealing about structural glazing, in which the glass itself serves as a structural and load-bearing component. The glass is thicker and stronger than typical window glass, and it’s held in place using structural grade silicone. The only limitations on glazing sizes using structural glass are access to the site and, of course, cash.
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