Did you know that the residential market for windows and doors was valued at over $150 billion in 2020?
Market experts only expect this number to grow over the next few years.
Homeowners know that the value of their home also depends in part on the number and style of the windows on their property.
Some people don’t give their house windows a second thought. However, there are a variety of surprising statistics and facts about home windows that can help you as a homeowner.
In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about house windows, window styles, and window installations.
Surprising Facts and Statistics about House Windows
Every window has its own story to tell. Depending on your style of window, you could benefit from significant cost savings. Here are some interesting facts about home windows that you may not have known before.
1) Window Is a Norse Word
The English word for “window” actually comes from a much older Norse word that means wind and eye. The Norse word is called vindauga, and originally referred to a hole in the roof. The first use of this word was all the way back in the thirteenth century.
When it was adapted into English, the word window literally meant eye-door or eye-hole.
2) There Used To Be a Tax on Windows
In English society all the way up until the mid-1800s, there was a tax on windows. Homes that had fewer than 10 windows did not need to pay the tax.
Many people started to board up their windows so that they could avoid paying the tax. Eventually, the tax was repealed.
A similar situation played out in Amsterdam around the same time. Homeowners in this society had to pay taxes based on the size and quantity of the windows on the front side of their homes.
3) Wall Space
Windows actually make up a significant portion of every home’s wall space. For some homes, this can be all the way up to 15% of the total surface area.
The reason that this matters is that the higher this number is, the more light can enter your home, but also the more energy you lose when you have poorly insulated windows.
4) Window Longevity
Most windows will last for a very long time, up to decades. However, window experts and home designers suggest that you replace windows every twenty years. The reason is that windows may eventually begin to fail and allow in wind or indoor condensation.
5) Breakage Speed
When a window breaks, the cracks move across the surface of the window at approximately 3000 mph.
This is a stunning speed. It is approximately five times faster than the average aircraft in the stratosphere above you.
You can minimize this threat by purchasing shatterproof glass on your window that helps to give it improves security when an object strikes.
This can be extremely helpful if you have young sports players in your backyard.
6) Windows in High Places
The White House includes nearly 150 windows over 132 rooms. Buckingham Palace, the residence of the English government and royalty, has over 750 windows in over 700 rooms.
The tallest building in the world in Dubai has over 30,000 windows!
7) Stained Glass Windows Color
Stained-glass windows are unique in that they add in metallic salts. These salts are built into the glass and can alter the light to provide a special array of colors.
8) Glass Is Highly Sustainable
The great thing about choosing glass windows in your home is that glass is highly sustainable and can be recycled over and again. It will remain the same without losing any purity over time.
9) Understanding the R-Value
The window R-value helps to describe its resistance to the flow of heat. The greater the R-value is, the more efficient the window is at preventing the transfer of heat across itself.
10) Greased Paper Windows
Back in the earliest cultures in Asia, greased paper windows were extremely common. These were paper windows with grease placed into the gaps in the paper fibers. This helped provide a diffused light source that spread out through the room.
Many American pioneers borrowed this technology in the windows that they used during the 1800s. Purchasing a traditional glass window was expensive during this period, so the greased paper was a more economical decision.
What Do I Do If My Window Breaks?
There are many ways to repair a broken window. You can find out how here at Window Medics.
It is possible to fix your windows without asking for professional help. There are several do-it-yourself options for common problems that you might try.
However, if you are looking for total restoration of your windows, it’s best to seek the help of a professional.
This also goes for homeowners who have non-wood windows. When you try to make modifications to these windowpanes, you can permanently damage the structure and risk the need for replacement.
Choosing a qualified restoration specialist will ensure that you are able to fix and improve the longevity of the windows around your home.
Building Cozy Homes with Modern Window Styles
At the end of the day, your house windows may be more important to your home and its efficiency than you think. Human cultures have a long-standing history of using Windows as a way to bridge the indoor and outdoor environments. When executed well, windows can provide you the safety and comfort of shelter with the mystique and majesty of the outside world.
We hope you enjoyed reading these interesting facts about the history of windows. If you enjoyed this article, please check out our other articles on interior and exterior home design on findingfarina.com!
