New windows certainly dress up the facade of any home, but it’s easy to go overboard with panes, shutters, and decorative accents. The right windows will connect the outdoors with the decorative features inside your home, as well as improve the energy efficiency of your home, and the value of the residence.
Opting for Large, Modern Glass Windows
The classic look of a home in the Hollywood hills that features a whole wall of giant windows that allow the occupants to gaze down into the city is something that homeowners everywhere are starting to duplicate in their homes.
An interesting story from “The Wall Street Journal” suggests that homeowners today “want views from every room,” and new technology in window construction has made it possible to create a home with an open floor plan and entire walls made of nothing but panes of glass.
Homeowners’ desire for more open floor plans with combined kitchen and living-room spaces has paved the way structurally for bigger spreads of glass. A growing appetite for more energy-efficient windows and associated tax incentives and rebates have also supported the trend.
Combining Style with Energy Efficiency
Today’s windows are much more than a portal to the outside world, and some advances have turned long-standing problems into non-issues. For example, some windows come with a titanium dioxide coating that makes it tough for dirt to cling to the window’s surface, as well as reduces the appearance of water spots.
To capitalize on the public’s love of renovation, the United States government has also gotten into the game with rebates and tax incentives connected to the use of energy-efficient windows. In addition to replacing old, drafty windows with new energy-efficient options, the Department of Energy also suggests the following projects for improving efficiency in the home:
- Adding storm windows
- Adding or replacing caulking and weather stripping
- Utilizing window treatments
Each of these projects may reduce the heat lost and gained in certain seasons, as well as the ability of the home to retain a cool interior in the summer and a warm interior in the winter.
Don’t Remove a Home’s Character
Some renovation specialists and home experts insist that the historic charm of some houses are best served by replacing the glass inside old windows rather than replacing them outright. An article from HGTV quotes renovation consultant Bruce Irving as suggesting:
…original windows are an integral part of a house’s character, and homeowners who believe they need to upgrade these windows’ energy efficiency should first try to add rather than subtract. With a good storm window over it, original wood windows can equal the energy performance of a modern window.
If you’re living in a home that could end up on the official list of historical places, you might want to consider the pros and cons of complete replacement or whether your old windows are suitable for renovation.
Let Us Help You Choose Your New Windows
Looking to replace or refurbish your old windows? Do you want your home to be the envy of everyone on your block? Contact us today for a consultation on your new windows.