Window Buying Guide
Buying windows for your home is much more than a simple aesthetic decision. Not only do windows affect what your house looks like, but it also affects the lighting, ventilation and the temperature of your house during the different seasons. A good set of stylish and appropriate windows can make your house a home.
There are a large variety of windows available on the market today. Windows can vary massively in style and material, both of which leads to a unique feel to fit the style and period of your house.
Nearly all windows fitted today are double-glazed. Upgrading your windows to double glazing can help you fight the ever increasing cost of heating your home, especially throughout the autumn and winter months. Well fitted double glazing windows will pay for themselves as the price of energy gets higher and higher.
Window Materials
Windows in your home are most commonly made from aluminium, wood, steel or vinyl. Other materials are available, and you can even use a combination of the above materials if required to suit your style.
Wooden Windows are the most popular windows on the market today. Wood makes for an aesthetically pleasing finish and insulates well against the cold. However, wood is subject to changing shape under severe weather conditions - after time they will shrink and swell due to the weather, which will cause the window to rot or warp unless continuously protected.
Steel Windows are highly resilient to weather and wear. While they are expensive, they will last for long periods of time without requiring much maintenance. Steel windows are often streamlined and attractive whilst providing good insulation against the weather.
Aluminium Windows are more resilient than wood and with various small modifications they provide strong insulation against cold weather. However, aluminium windows are not advisable in areas near the sea as the salty air corrodes the metal over time causing damage to your windows.
Vinyl Windows are made from rigid PVC that makes them inexpensive and lightweight. However, Vinyl windows are prone to extreme weather conditions which can cause them to change shape slightly. This can lead to windows that are hard to open that allow heat out of the house through small gaps between the frame and the window.