How-To : Home Improvement

Windows are the eyes of a home. From inside, you see the outside world through them. It has been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. For a home, you can gain a sense of its character by examining its windows.

Windows are the primary source of natural light for a room, but they are so much more. They give a home beauty and personality. The decision to replace them is an important one. Replacements can affect the feel of the home for inhabitants and provide the opportunity for significant energy savings. They can dramatically change the value of the property when it comes time to sell the home.

Types of replacement windows

There are many types of replacement windows to fit the varied styles of home architecture. Some of the more popular styles include the following.

Casements have one or two panes. They are hinged on one side and open by rotating a crank. Casement windows generally open only 15 – 30 degrees, enough to let in light, but little else.

Sliders are generally two offset sashes, one which will slide behind the other, much like a sliding glass door.

Double hung have two sashes which move vertically, allowing ventilation through a space at the top and/or at the bottom.

Bay windows are three-sided arrangements that project from the exterior wall of the house, usually in living rooms or formal sitting rooms. They give the room a larger feel while offering additional space for a seat or arrangements of potted plants.

Bow windows are set in a series with each sash set at an angle. Bows are similar to bays in that they protrude from the exterior face of the house. They are different in that each sash or in the series is set at a slight angle so that the entire series forms a graceful curve or bow, rather than the sharp three-sided appearance of bay windows. There can be any number of sashes in the bow window series.

Garden windows are frequently installed in kitchens, often replacing the sash behind the kitchen sink. These also extend beyond the exterior wall of the house. They are much smaller than bay or bow styles and are often used for holding potted plants, creating an interior garden, while giving an improved view of the outside lawn or garden.

Skylights are installed into the roof of the house to provide direct lighting. These are generally not designed to be opened in order to provide the best weather seal.

Robert Carlton contributes many articles to http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com. Within his publication he is working on topics such as hurricane windows and protection.

[tags]windows,replacement windows,bay windows,hurricane protection,storm window,[/tags]

Many homeowners are hesitant to go with double glazed windows as they are unsure what the benefits are and why they should pay extra for them. However, doubled glazed windows have a number of advantages over single paned windows, and are amongst the more popular “home makeovers” available to a property owner.

First and foremost is their money-saving ability. Double glazed windows are composed of two panes glass with an area of “dead air” in between them (normally filled with a harmless, inert gas like argon or krypton, which have better insulation properties than normal air) that helps increase insulation and keep more warm air inside your home when closed. Due to this, they are one of the most energy-efficient windows available today, and according to many experts and government agencies in Canada, the United States, Australia and Great Britain you can save an average of 25-50% on your annual heating and cooling costs by switching from single pane windows to double glazed windows.

Secondly, as double glazed windows have two layers of glass, they are more secure. Burglars often gain entry via windows due to the inherent security weaknesses in them. However, it is harder for an intruder to enter your home through double glazed windows due to the thicker panes, and it also decreases the chance of shattering if a hard object comes into contact with them, the increased density being able to absorb greater impacts. To make sure double glazed windows are very secure, many companies are installing them with strong frames and added security measures by default, such as hard-lipped security beads and friction hinges. These features alone could save you hundreds of pounds in expenses and insurance.

Naturally, a lot of people are concerned about the expense of installing double glazed windows, however the long term savings and peace of mind they can bring more than makes up for any initial costs involved.

In our past articles I talked about all the steps required to properly replace your old wood sash windows with energy efficient vinyl windows. I told you how to measure for the new windows. Then we discussed the removal of the wood sashes and parting bead. Finally, I told you how to install, seal, and trim the vinyl replacement windows. But, what if those old windows in your home are made of aluminum instead of wood? Is the process the same? No, it’s not the same at all. So, the next few articles are going to explain the differences between replacing wood windows versus aluminum windows.

When discussing the proper frame style for replacing the wood sash windows, I explained the difference between new construction frames versus replacement frames. When replacing aluminum windows, there is another option we have to consider regarding frame style. It’s called a “retrofit” frame. Let’s go over each frame type. First, we have the new construction frame with the nailing fin. If you choose to go this route, you have to remove the exterior around each window opening, pull out the nails holding the aluminum window to the studs, nail in the new vinyl window, apply flashing, caulk, and re-install the exterior around each window.(I get tired just talking about it!)In addition to being a whole lot of labor, you can run into major problems trying to install the exterior product around each window opening. If your home has stucco, you have to try and match the rest of the stucco. It can be done, but not by you. Even most professional stucco guys can’t get a perfect match. What if you have wood siding? Well, you can cut away 2″ of the siding around each window to get to the nail fin, then you can apply 1 X 2 or 1 X 3 trim around each window. Certainly not as much work as the stucco home, but probably more work than the average homeowner cares to tackle. What if each window is surrounded by brick? Let’s not even go there! You would have to remove the bricks, then re-install them all when finished.

Trust me, you don’t want to replace your old aluminum windows with new construction vinyl windows. You want to use either the replacement frame like the one used to replace the wood sash windows, or something called a retrofit frame, that is popular in the west where stucco is a common exterior. Since the procedure for measuring is the same regardless of the frame style chosen, this article will discuss the proper measuring procedure, and future articles will explain the difference in the installation process for replacement versus retrofit.

If you look at the portion of the aluminum frame that goes around the window opening into your surrounding walls, you will see three separate “legs” that form two pockets. The outside leg and the center leg form the first pocket. Your screen and stationary panel will be in this pocket. The center leg and inside leg form the second pocket, and your sliding panel is in that pocket. Find the “leg” that is the widest on all four sides. When measuring the width, run your tape measure from the widest leg on the left to the widest leg on the right. This should be the narrowest measurement. Then, subtract 3/8″ from that measurement. This is the width of the replacement window. Measure the height the same way. When measuring the height, measure as close to the center of the window as possible. This is especially important on windows wider than six feet, because the top wood header has a tendency to sag over time, making the center of the opening the narrowest. You don’t need to deduct 3/8″ from the height like you did on the width. 1/4″ is fine. These are the dimensions you use when ordering your vinyl window. If you have any picture windows(windows without a vent panel), there will only be two legs and one pocket. You still measure the same way.

Next week I will discuss whether your home is a candidate for retrofit frames or replacement frames…

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit How To Install Windows