How to Choose the Perfect Windows for Your Home
Discover how different windows can completely change both the appearance and comfort of a home
Windows are one of the very few elements of a building that radically affect both the interior and exterior. With so many choices of proportion, material, opening, security and cost, the options can seem bewildering, so here are my pointers for making the best choice for you and your home.
Consider frames within frames
Even if changing the overall opening size of a window is impractical, changing the arrangement of window frames within the opening can give a very different personality to the exterior.
Many post-war houses have wide, ‘landscape-format’ window openings, which can be inelegant. Replacing a single, wide-format, rectangular window with three or four portrait-format frames within the same opening, as seen here, can completely change the visual effect.
Even if changing the overall opening size of a window is impractical, changing the arrangement of window frames within the opening can give a very different personality to the exterior.
Many post-war houses have wide, ‘landscape-format’ window openings, which can be inelegant. Replacing a single, wide-format, rectangular window with three or four portrait-format frames within the same opening, as seen here, can completely change the visual effect.
Balance beauty with efficiency
These beautiful, traditional box-sash windows are both generously large and elegantly proportioned. Part of what makes those proportions work so well is the arrangement and fine dimensions of the glazing bars.
Many modern versions of such windows fail to achieve the same visual quality, because the desire to incorporate more thermally efficient double or triple glazing (which is thicker and heavier) will often require thicker sections for the glazing bars.
This balance of elegantly fine framing against the importance of thermal efficiency is one of the key considerations to get right. Work with an architect who understands the necessary proportions and get them to design and draw the window in detail. Then get a professional joinery company to manufacture the window to suit the architect’s drawing and spec.
These beautiful, traditional box-sash windows are both generously large and elegantly proportioned. Part of what makes those proportions work so well is the arrangement and fine dimensions of the glazing bars.
Many modern versions of such windows fail to achieve the same visual quality, because the desire to incorporate more thermally efficient double or triple glazing (which is thicker and heavier) will often require thicker sections for the glazing bars.
This balance of elegantly fine framing against the importance of thermal efficiency is one of the key considerations to get right. Work with an architect who understands the necessary proportions and get them to design and draw the window in detail. Then get a professional joinery company to manufacture the window to suit the architect’s drawing and spec.
Steel yourself
Popular in the 1920s and 1930s, steel-framed windows are making a tremendous comeback. Compared to timber, aluminium or plastic, steel is by far the strongest framing material and thus can do its job with much finer sections.
Unlike their predecessors, steel windows are now available double-glazed and, although far from the best for insulation, are much better thermally than they ever used to be. Factory-applied finishes mean rust isn’t the problem it once was, but be aware that steel windows are often a very expensive option.
See how to use Crittall windows in your home
Popular in the 1920s and 1930s, steel-framed windows are making a tremendous comeback. Compared to timber, aluminium or plastic, steel is by far the strongest framing material and thus can do its job with much finer sections.
Unlike their predecessors, steel windows are now available double-glazed and, although far from the best for insulation, are much better thermally than they ever used to be. Factory-applied finishes mean rust isn’t the problem it once was, but be aware that steel windows are often a very expensive option.
See how to use Crittall windows in your home
High-five some hi-tech aluminium
While aluminium is not as strong as steel, and therefore needs thicker framing sections, aluminium windows offer many benefits.
There are sliding systems, top-, side- and bottom-hinged windows, and bifolding options to choose from, so they can be very versatile.
Many of the more high-tech aluminium options available combine great thermal qualities, low maintenance and a very smart appearance, as well as being generally much cheaper than steel systems.
While aluminium is not as strong as steel, and therefore needs thicker framing sections, aluminium windows offer many benefits.
There are sliding systems, top-, side- and bottom-hinged windows, and bifolding options to choose from, so they can be very versatile.
Many of the more high-tech aluminium options available combine great thermal qualities, low maintenance and a very smart appearance, as well as being generally much cheaper than steel systems.
Choose composite frames for combined benefits
A choice that’s become increasingly popular in recent years is ‘composite’ windows, which combine aluminium on the outside with timber on the inside.
The use of timber can give a slightly warmer and more ‘domestic’ effect for the interior, while the exterior benefits from the low-maintenance requirements of aluminium.
Again, these can offer great thermal qualities and tend to be a similar or very slightly higher cost to aluminium, but they don’t have quite such slender frames as steel.
Discover ways to add privacy-enhancing window treatments
A choice that’s become increasingly popular in recent years is ‘composite’ windows, which combine aluminium on the outside with timber on the inside.
The use of timber can give a slightly warmer and more ‘domestic’ effect for the interior, while the exterior benefits from the low-maintenance requirements of aluminium.
Again, these can offer great thermal qualities and tend to be a similar or very slightly higher cost to aluminium, but they don’t have quite such slender frames as steel.
Discover ways to add privacy-enhancing window treatments
Go traditional with wood
Timber is a wonderful and versatile material for making window frames, but many people worry about maintenance and longevity.
It’s certainly true that cheaply made softwood windows can carry these problems, but technology has come to the rescue with some great new innovations.
Glue laminating techniques are often very successfully used and with good factory finishes can last for years. I know of at least one company now offering 25-year guarantees on their painted timber frames.
The other wonderful new development is ‘modified’ timber (such as Accoya), which becomes incredibly stable and resistant to the moisture and movement that usually cause maintenance problems.
Check out photos of more traditional exteriors
Timber is a wonderful and versatile material for making window frames, but many people worry about maintenance and longevity.
It’s certainly true that cheaply made softwood windows can carry these problems, but technology has come to the rescue with some great new innovations.
Glue laminating techniques are often very successfully used and with good factory finishes can last for years. I know of at least one company now offering 25-year guarantees on their painted timber frames.
The other wonderful new development is ‘modified’ timber (such as Accoya), which becomes incredibly stable and resistant to the moisture and movement that usually cause maintenance problems.
Check out photos of more traditional exteriors
Be adventurous with timber designs
As well as there being some great advances in timber technology, wood is naturally warm and, as such, does not conduct the cold (unlike metal frames, which need thermal ‘breaks’).
The other wonderful thing about timber is that it’s truly feasible and practical to make one-off frames for specific situations, odd shapes and/or decorative effects, such as this interestingly arched window design.
As well as there being some great advances in timber technology, wood is naturally warm and, as such, does not conduct the cold (unlike metal frames, which need thermal ‘breaks’).
The other wonderful thing about timber is that it’s truly feasible and practical to make one-off frames for specific situations, odd shapes and/or decorative effects, such as this interestingly arched window design.
Make your windows do more
As well as defining the personality of a facade, and bringing daylight into and allowing views out of an interior, imaginative use of windows can also enable many other possibilities.
Here, a kitchen window, which sits right down at the surface of the worktop, has been designed so it can open like a canopy to facilitate an outside servery/bar.
As well as defining the personality of a facade, and bringing daylight into and allowing views out of an interior, imaginative use of windows can also enable many other possibilities.
Here, a kitchen window, which sits right down at the surface of the worktop, has been designed so it can open like a canopy to facilitate an outside servery/bar.
Work your windows into the composition of your facade
Simply replacing windows can hugely enhance or absolutely ruin the appearance of a building.
There are so many examples of inelegant plastic replacement windows with chunky frames that have ruined previously well-proportioned old buildings, but, at the same time, there are plenty of houses where horrid original windows have been replaced sensitively and transformed the kerb-appeal of a property.
The key is not to see the windows in isolation, but to consider the whole facade and the importance the choice of windows plays in the overall composition.
TELL US…
Have you changed or added windows in your home? Share your tips in the Comments below.
Simply replacing windows can hugely enhance or absolutely ruin the appearance of a building.
There are so many examples of inelegant plastic replacement windows with chunky frames that have ruined previously well-proportioned old buildings, but, at the same time, there are plenty of houses where horrid original windows have been replaced sensitively and transformed the kerb-appeal of a property.
The key is not to see the windows in isolation, but to consider the whole facade and the importance the choice of windows plays in the overall composition.
TELL US…
Have you changed or added windows in your home? Share your tips in the Comments below.
Our choice of windows and the proportions of the openings can radically affect the personality of a home’s exterior, as well as the way daylight comes in.
In this narrow terraced house, the cutting of a very tall, single window opening in the front elevation completely changed the personality on the outside, while enabling much greater daylight penetration to enhance the inside.