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Windows TechnologyBy Jim Sulski Summary:Replacing your windows means choosing between countless window options. Here is a helpful guide to picking the best type of window. After the January cold spell, the young couple decided it was time to replace the windows on their 80-year-old home.
A trip to the local home improvement store, however, proved quite dizzying as they faced terms they had never heard of: low-E coatings, argon gas fills, SHGC and VT ratings, and U-Factors. It was evident to the couple that windows have gone high-tech. For those who are considering replacement windows - or new windows in an addition - the good news is that those new technical terms translate not only into better-made windows but energy-saving windows. The most important gains are those that relate to energy efficiency. Inefficient windows can account for as much as one-quarter of a home's heating bills. Despite those gains, the payback on new windows - the amount of time it takes to recoup the initial investment of the windows via monthly energy savings - can still take decades, say energy efficiency experts. So when you think about purchasing new windows, you can't just think in terms of energy efficiency but also in terms of comfort and aesthetics over all those years. Before purchasing new windows, homeowners need to consider not only the different types of windows but also the different types of features for windows. For example, common to many homes are single- and double-hung windows, in which the sashes slide vertically in their frames. On the upside, you can open these windows from a small crack to one-half of its space. On the downside, they tend to leak more than other types of windows. Many of these windows have now been designed so that they tilt in to allow for easy cleaning. A sliding window is similar to a single- and double-hung window in that the sashes slide horizontally versus vertically. A casement window is a window which opens out sideways usually via a cranking mechanism. While they seal better, they need clearance outside to swing out. Similar to a casement window are awning or hopper windows that open up or down. In recent years, the mechanics of the above types of windows have all been improved, increasing their reliability and making them maintenance-free for years. In addition, window manufacturers have been offering the above types of windows in a wide range of different sizes and styles to make their aesthetically more attractive. Even bigger gains have been made in the insulation values of windows. For example, in the past, typically windows were one sheet of glass, requiring an unsightly and cumbersome storm window to be placed outside of the window to reduce drafts and cold air infiltration. Popular now is what's known as dual pane windows, in which a second layer of glass is added into the window frame, alleviating the need for a storm window. By adding that second layer of glass and the air space in between the two sheets of glass, heat loss is reduced by more than half. A third sheet of glass - yet another recent window innovation - adds even more insulation value to the window. Most people have single pane windows with storm windows, which are only effective when they're used and most people don't go through hassle of putting them up. Having a double-pane window that is good for both winter and summer performance is not only more convenient but has significant effects on the amount of money you pay out as far as utility bills. That air gap in between the two sheets of gas can be also filled with a dense argon or krypton gas, adding more insulation value to the overall window.
© by Jim Sulski. All rights reserved. August 1, 2005. NOTE: This column is distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate, PO Box 366, Glencoe, Illinois, 60022. This column may not be resold, reprinted, resyndicated or redistributed without written permission from the publisher. © 2005 by Ilyce R. Glink. Distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate. |
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