Pick and Choose Based on Your Budget
There are so many options when it comes to window selection, it can get a little overwhelming. We’ve put together a breakdown of the most common window options from framing, like wood, vinyl, and aluminum, to types of panes, like single, double, or triple. All styles of windows offer their own unique qualities, but ultimately it’s your choice at the end of the day! Want to match older windows in your early 1900’s home? Wood, single-paned may be your best option. Thinking you want to cut your air conditioning usage during the hot Philadelphia summers? Aluminum double or triple-pane windows may be just what you’re looking for!
Skylights Offer a Greater Amount of Light
Skylights, like regular windows, need to be replaced and sealed every so often to help maintain temperatures in your home. Compared to typical wall windows, skylights can offer up to 25% more light in your home. If you’re looking for a lighter, more airy feel to a space in your home, but lack a wall for more windows, a skylight could be your best option!
Better Windows Can Reduce Your Energy Consumption
If you have an older home, or it’s been a while since you’ve had your windows checked, you could learn that your window efficiency may be affecting your energy bill up to 25%. With high or low temperatures, older windows may begin to lose tightness in the seal that holds the window to the wall, or even between the panes. While many like to match their older home with single-paned windows, these are the least efficient when it comes to conserving energy. With only one pane of glass and typically a wood frame, there is not much insulation between indoor temperatures and outdoor temperatures. By switching to a single or double-paned window option and updating the frames, the U.S. Department of Energy states that new windows could reduce the amount of energy used to heat and cool your home by 15%.
Windows Can Help Drown the Sound of Noisy Neighbors or a Busy Street
One commonly overlooked advantage to installing new windows is the amount of noise reduction they offer. Your home walls most likely do a decent job of creating a sound barrier between you and thee outside world, but one highly effective way to create even more indoor peace is to install double-paned windows. Double-paned windows have air (or argon) trapped between the two panes which act as an extra insulator and noise barrier. Especially great for those living in a bustling city like Philadelphia, you could gain a higher level of solitude by replacing older windows with thicker, insulated windows.
Window Treatments Can Increase Privacy
Aside from the noise reduction quality of double-paned windows, there are a few other options for treating your windows. Commonly seen in first floor bathrooms, frosting windows can add a new layer of privacy without blocking the light from entering the room. Some windows can be replaced with bubble glass, which looks much like treated, frosted windows, or even glass blocks.
Placement in Small or Hard-to-Reach Spaces
The traditional window is single hung, meaning two windows sit vertically on top of one another, the top is fixed while the bottom moves with a lock in the middle of the two to keep them closed. You can also choose double-hung, where both panes move, allowing you to only lower the top part, if you choose. Sliding windows are great options around outdoor spaces like a porch or patio. Casement, or crank windows, are usually seen in the kitchen over the sink or in higher levels of older homes. These are typically in places that are harder to reach or, for safety reasons, should not open all the way, like on the second and third floors of your home.
Window Accessories Add Greater Protection
Installations of awnings, blinds, and shades can add an aesthetically pleasing look to your home while also decreasing your energy consumption. One report by Home Energy Magazine states that awnings may be able to reduce heat entering the house by up to 77%. Light colored shades, blinds, and curtains can also reflect the light back out of the house and trap temperatures close to the window, preventing heat from moving further inside.
Bright Star Handyman Service would be happy to connect with you about your options when it comes to window replacement in Philadelphia!