Window replacement is one of those home improvement projects that require both creativity and experience, qualities which sadly only a handful of homeowners possess. You can be all creative and choose the most eccentric window type and style you can find. But if you find a window made of poor-quality material or is unsuitable for the climate in your area, you’ll end up replacing it sooner than expected.
Your best option is to hire one of the trusted window replacement contractors in Chicago. You can ask them to do an ocular inspection of your house and recommend the ideal replacement window type. Window installation experts, such as Muller Exteriors, will most likely require more information than what they will discover during the inspection to come up with the best recommendations. That’s because apart from frame style and dimension, there are other factors to consider.
- Mechanism
- How do you like to open or close your windows? Is there a structure near your exterior wall that blocks your window when you operate it? In that case, avoid a casement window and instead go for a sliding one. You can, of course, install more than one type of window but be careful not to have so many varieties as it might ruin your home’s aesthetics.
- Glass Choice
- Would you like your windowpanes to be transparent or tinted? This is Illinois, so winters here can be unforgivingly cold. You might want to choose a window with double or triple glazing to improve your home’s insulation. The thicker the glass structure, the lower its emissivity, which means it reflects more heat to the atmosphere.
- Color
- Depending on the material of your chosen window frame, you can pick just about any color you like. In case you can’t find the exact color you want, consider choosing a window frame material that is easy to paint. However, make sure that the paint color you will choose for your windows matches the color of your exterior wall.
- Frame Material
- How long your windows will last mostly depends on the frame material. However, durability sometimes comes at the expense of beauty and cost. Durable materials often cost more. You can always go for less expensive choices, such as wood and vinyl. If you’re worried that they might not last very long, don’t be. They are more durable than they look, and they look great, too.
Vinyl vs Wood Windows
Both vinyl and wood are excellent picks when it comes to window frames, so it’s normal to feel ambivalent about your choice. The best way to find out which between vinyl and wood window matches your preference is to compare them. Find out the difference between wood and vinyl windows, and then you’ll know which one will give you the best value for your money.
Vinyl Windows
Vinyl windows are a popular option since its introduction in the 1970s, thanks to its great features. Vinyl window frames usually have an extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) base. Modern vinyl windows have a metal reinforcement to stiffen up their framework further.
- Pros
- Perhaps the most recognizable good quality of a vinyl window is its weather resistance. Made of plastic, which takes hundreds if not thousands of years to decompose, expect this window type to withstand the elements. For the same reason, a vinyl window is available in an array of color choices. Unlike metal, it’s not a very good conductor, so heat or cold air will have a hard time penetrating it. When it comes to cost, vinyl is considerably cheap, despite its many good qualities, and that’s because it’s more abundant than other materials.
- Cons
- Vinyl windows have their fair share of disadvantages. For one, the very quality that makes it durable comes at a price. Because it’s plastic, we can all agree that a vinyl window’s carbon footprint is much higher than other types of windows. Vinyl windows have maintained its status as the most in-demand window type since its introduction, and that has spawned variations in quality. If you’re not vigilant enough, you can go home with a poor-quality vinyl window that can only serve you for not more than ten years.
Wood Windows
Window manufacturers use a wide variety of wood, including Cedar, Oak, and Alder, but Pine and Douglas Fir are the most popular. Then again, if you want something of better quality, consider Mahogany.
- Pros
- No other materials can match a wood window’s pleasing appearance. Its natural color and patters can give any residential or commercial building a rustic and timeless appeal. While it is possible to design and manufacture vinyl to have the same visual qualities as wood, it can never totally mimic wood’s natural elegance. Wood windows also provide excellent insulation, about 400 times more effective than metal windows, so they are perfect for the Chicago climate.
- Cons
- Wood windows are organic, so expect that they deteriorate faster than the inorganic window types. Proper varnishing and sealing can help prolong the life of wood windows. Another downside to wood windows is their price. They are more expensive than most other types of windows, and that’s because they are less abundant and require special carpentry skills to manufacture.
As previously mentioned, it would be best to consult with an expert if you can’t decide which between a vinyl window and a wood window is better for your home. A professional home remodeler can give you more information and advice than you can hope to find through research. And you know you can trust them because they are speaking from experience.
