Are you mulling over the idea of installing new windows in your home?
Before you do, you should consider the cost. You’re going to have to pay between $300 and $700 per window on average for home replacement windows.
You should also consider which types of home windows you might want. You’ll need to pick out the best home windows for your specific house in the end.
You might be surprised to see how many different kinds of windows there are on the market. It can make it a little overwhelming to shop for windows when you have so many options.
So today, we’re going to discuss some of the various types of home windows and try to help you choose the best window types for your home. Continue reading to learn about the kinds of windows that will be available to you.
Single-Hung and Double-Hung Windows
When you walk into the average home, it’s usually going to be filled with single-hung and double-hung windows. These are the standard windows that are found in almost all homes these days.
You will open and close single-hung and double-hung windows by moving their sashes up and down. The only difference is that single-hung windows have one operable sash while double-hung windows have two.
There is a pretty good chance that you’re going to want to install at least a few single-hung and/or double-hung windows throughout your home. A good replacement window company should be able to walk you through a bunch of great options.
Sliding Windows
Would you like to open and close the windows in your home by sliding them horizontally as opposed to vertically? Then you’re going to like what sliding windows bring to the table.
Sliding windows are often easier to operate than single-hung and double-hung windows because all you have to do to open and close them is slide them back and forth. You should be able to open and close them in most cases with just one or two fingers.
You also won’t have to worry about sliding windows slamming shut and causing injuries. They’re easily some of the safest types of home windows out there today.
Awning Windows
When it starts to rain outside, you’re going to need to close most of the different types of home windows so that moisture isn’t able to make its way into your home. But you won’t have to do this with awning windows.
Unlike most other kinds of windows, awning windows open up from the bottom and push out away from your home through the use of a crank. This allows them to form an “awning” over your window opening, which stops rain from getting inside.
Awning windows have turned into excellent options for those searching for windows for bathrooms and kitchens. Since you’ll want to leave your windows open in these rooms more often than not, you’ll love the fact that you can do it without being concerned about whether or not it’s going to rain on any given day.
Casement Windows
Casement windows are sort of similar to awning windows in that you’re going to have to use a crank to open and close them. But they’re different from awning windows in that they have hinges on one side like a door and swing open away from a home.
With this in mind, you’re not going to be able to leave casement windows open when it rains like awning windows. But there are lots of benefits of casement windows that will make them worth considering.
For example, casement windows are great at catching breezes and bringing them inside your home so that you can improve circulation. They’re also ideal windows for those worried about home security. They lock up tighter than most other windows thanks to their durable design.
And as if all that wasn’t enough, casement windows can also improve the views throughout your home since they don’t have sashes running through the middle of them. For all these reasons, you might want to look into installing some casement windows in your house.
Fixed Windows
Would you like to welcome some natural light into certain areas of your home without putting standard windows that open and close into place?
Maybe you want to stick a window at the top of a set of stairs to light up a dark hallway. Or maybe you want to install a window in a dark corner of a den.
Regardless, your best bet in these kinds of cases might be going with fixed windows. Fixed windows are windows that, as their name would suggest, don’t open and close like other windows.
As a result of this, you won’t have to spend too much time maintaining fixed windows. They don’t have many moving parts, so they’re not going to break down on you.
You also won’t have much trouble cleaning fixed windows since they’re usually made up of one solid piece of glass. It’ll make cleaning them every so often a breeze.
Fixed windows are also one of the most energy-efficient windows available as they are permanently sealed.
You’ll love these aspects of fixed windows almost as much as you love the natural light that they provide. It would be smart to sprinkle a few fixed windows throughout your home to take full advantage of them.
Bay Windows
Casement windows aren’t the only types of home windows that are going to give you better views throughout your home. Bay windows are also up for the challenge!
Bay windows are large windows that jut out from the side of your home. This allows you to enjoy awesome views out of them while also providing you with a small seating area or display shelf.
One thing that’s worth noting with bay windows is that, because of their design, they have the unique ability to make almost any room feel a lot bigger than it actually is. It’s why you might want to kick around the idea of installing a bay window in a room even if it happens to be on the smaller side.
Bow Windows
Bow windows are, as you would probably guess, a lot like bay windows in that they’re on the larger side and enhance the views from inside of a home. But they’re sort of like bay windows taken to the next level in that they’re even bigger than them in most cases.
To create bow windows, a replacement window company will typically have to customize a series of windows and reshape the exterior of your home to make them fit. This can make them costly, but they’ll look gorgeous when they’re finished and add a special touch to your home.
Picture Windows
Do you just want to enjoy the views that your home has to offer without putting complicated bay or bow windows into place? Then a simple picture window might do the trick for you.
Picture windows are big windows that serve one specific purpose: To enhance the appearance of whatever lies just beyond them. They are, quite literally, supposed to make it look like you’ve added a “picture” to your home.
One downside of picture windows is that you can’t open or close them since they just consist of one big piece of glass. But you can pair them up with other types of home windows, like awning windows, to provide your home with the circulation that it needs.
Arched Windows
If you want to make sure that the new windows that you install in your home steal the show, you’re going to like what arched windows have to offer. These windows have fancy rounded tops that are made to add a cool architectural feature to your home.
Similar to picture windows, they aren’t usually operable, which means they aren’t going to help circulate fresh air throughout your home. But you can sometimes install them alongside windows that you can open and close so that circulation doesn’t become an issue for you.
Whatever the case, you’re going to need to hire an experienced replacement window company to assist you if you decide to go in this direction. It can be challenging to install arched windows, so you’ll want to work with someone who definitely knows what they’re doing.
Which Types of Home Windows Do You Like Best?
As you’ve seen here, there are more than a few different types of home windows for homeowners to choose from. The window industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few decades, and it has led to a huge influx in the number of options that people have.
If you’re going to be doing a modern home remodel soon or if you simply want to put new windows into place in your home, you should think long and hard about which types of home windows you want to use. It’ll help you find the ones that are going to produce the best results.
Get more tips on shopping for home windows by reading through the other home improvement articles found on our blog.
