An In-depth Window Buying Guide — DCarson Construction

Window Types and Window Technologies Broken Down

Shopping for windows comes with a lot of decisions and can be overwhelming. Many technologies will affect the functionality, style, and energy efficiency of your home. To help with all the decision making we have pulled together the options to help you pick what is best for your home.

Frames

Choosing the right frame will have an overall effect on the insulation and heat efficiency of your home. There are different advantages to each type of frame, but wood, vinyl, and fiberglass are the most popular.

Metal and Aluminum Frames

If you are looking for something that is great for insulation, metal and aluminum might not be your first choice in frames. Although they are low maintenance, they conduct heat very rapidly, because of this they are not our first choice for insulation-conscious homes. To combat the heat these frames produce, a plastic strip can be placed between the window pane and outside sash, helping to decrease the amount of heat created.

Composite Frames

Composite frames are a great option because they have more structure and stability than wood, and are also resistant to decay and moisture. These frames are made up of composite wood pieces, laminated wood, or polymer plastics. Since they are made out of an array of materials, there are options that are very aesthetically pleasing and match with a variety of home design styles. These are a great option for homes near the ocean or in moist areas to allow for longevity in your window frames.

Fiberglass Frames

Fiberglass windows are great for both stability and insulation. These frames have air cavities that can be filled with insulation making them the most insulated, especially compared to vinyl and wood frames. These are especially great for homes in either very cold or very hot climates.

Vinyl Frames

Vinyl frames are made of PVC and ultraviolet stabilizers to keep sunlight from breaking through. They are low maintenance as they don’t need to be painted and are moisture resistant. Some vinyl frames can be filled with insulation, like the fiberglass frames, which will also improve their insulation as a whole.

Wood Frames

Solid wood frames do require the most maintenance, as they need to be painted regularly, but they do offer a lot of style options and are great for insulation. To help protect the outside of the window frame, cladding can be added. One thing to keep in mind when choosing cladding is that metal cladding will be similar to the metal frames and reduce the efficiency of insulation.

Operating Types

Choosing how the window operates will affect the air leakage and overall air efficiency of the home.

Awning- These hinge at the top and open outward. The sash closes and is air-tight against the frame, which reduces the amount of air leakage significantly.

Hopper- Hopper windows hinge at the bottom and open inward. They are similar to awning in the way they seal, which means this is a great option to reduce air leakage.

Casement- Casement is similar to awning and hopper windows, they are just hinged at the sides. These are great for air leakage as well, since the sash closes by pressing directly against the frame.

Single and Double Hung Windows- For both types of windows, they slide vertically open. For the single hung, only the bottom sash slides up. For the double hung, the bottom sash can slide up while the top sash slides down. Although these are great for ventilation, they do tend to have more air leakage.

Single and Double Sliding Windows- Similar to the hung windows, sliding windows open horizontally. Single sliding windows will only have one sash that slides open, while double windows will have both sashes that slide open.

Fixed- Fixed panes do not open at all. If they are installed properly, they can be pretty airtight. These are best used in spaces that don’t require any ventilation since there is no option to have the windows open for airflow.

Glazing and Glass Options

Choosing the glazing and glass type will have an effect on the energy efficiency of your home. Some factors go into this decision-making process such as the climate of where you live, the amount of sunlight a certain area of your home gets, and even the overall design of your home. The great thing about all the glazing and glass options is that different types can be used throughout your home in order to make your spaces the most efficient and fit all your needs.

Insulation

Insulation refers to the number of window panes that are stacked in order to help with insulation and noise control. The science this is having the panes spaced apart leaving an insulated air space. Two popular options are double-paned, which has two panes, and are a great improve the insulation. The other popular option is triple-paned, which adds another windowpane. The third window pane reduces the outside noise significantly.

Low-Emissivity Coatings

Low-e coatings are very thin layers of metal or metallic oxide that can be placed on the surface of window panes. No matter the level of low-e coating this can have a slight change to the view, even though it is virtually see-through. These are used to reflect the heat off of the window in order to either keep heat out or to keep the heat in. In warm climates, the coating is placed on the outside to reflect the heat out of the house, while colder climates will have the coatings inside in order to keep the heat inside the home.

Windows that are manufactured with low-e coatings tend to cost a little more and can increase the overall price by about 10% to 15%, but will also reduce energy loss by up to 50%. You can also choose to add the coating later, and it can be done as a do it yourself project. This is still fairly effective and if done properly can last 10 to 15 years without peeling,

Spectrally Selective Coatings

Gas Fills and Spacers

Gas fills between each layer can help minimize the heat transfer into the home. The gas is usually argon or krypton, which are both non-toxic, clear, and odorless. Krypton tends to be more expensive, and is used between smaller spaces, but is great for thermal performance. Argon is used in larger spaces and sometimes mixed with Krypton to increase the thermal resistance, while still keeping the price a little lower.

Spacers are used to keep the window panes a specific space apart, which will make sure there’s enough space for the thermal expansion and the amount of air pressure.

Storm Windows

Storm windows are a great alternative to replacing single-pane windows with double-pane windows. A storm window is an exterior window added to your current window that reduces air movement in and out of the house and can also save money on energy bills. This is also a cheaper option than replacing all the windows, and will only cost a fraction of the price.

Adding a low-e coating to the storm window can also help with energy reduction as it will reflect heat back into the home in the winter and out of the home during the summer.

Storm windows can be installed on the exterior or interior of most windows and still be aesthetically pleasing. Interior windows are typically easier to install and maintain, as they are not exposed to the elements. They are also better at controlling airflow since they seal directly to the window.

Energy Performance Ratings

When shopping for windows, you can use the energy performance ratings to see their potential for losing or gaining heat, and how sunlight will be transmitted into your home. Windows can gain and lose heat through direct conduction, radiation from the outside (the sun), or radiation from the inside (body temperature, room temperature, and walls), and air leakage from the windows themselves.

Energy performance can be measured through a couple of factors including U-Factor, solar heat gain coefficient, and air leakage. U-Factor is the rate at which a window conducts non-solar heat. Solar heat gain coefficient is the fraction of solar radiation admitted through a window- whether it is direct or absorbed. And the air leakage is measured by the rate that air leaks around the window.

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) tests and labels windows based on their energy performance ratings. These ratings and labels can be found on the Energy Star labels on windows when you are shopping.

Although there are lots of decisions to be made when choosing windows, doing your research before is a great first step to know what is best for you and your home. We are always here to help you make the best decision and lead you through the buying and construction process.