5 Useful Tips for Choosing the Right Exterior Window Style
Your windows are one of the best ways to bring the outdoors in from the comfort of your living room. In addition, your windows also help you connect with your exterior home for safety and security.
Choosing the right exterior window style to compliment your personal style, home’s architecture, and environmental needs can be difficult. We offer a variety of replacement windows here at PM Windows, so you’ll have exactly what you need when you’re renovating.
Here are 5 useful tips for choosing the right exterior window style:
1. Know the Purpose of Your Windows
The basic function of windows is to let in light, but they also function as doorways too. For example, a sliding glass window door as an entrance to a porch. Decide what purpose your windows will serve. Is view is essential? Or is light into a dark space more essential? Know the purpose of your windows before you install them.
2. Choose the Right Accent Colours for Frames
Can’t decide what exterior palette to choose? You can look to neighbouring homes for inspiration. You should match your trim colour to your window frame or select a field colour for the home with two accent colours for frames and doors.
3. Choose Windows that Appeal to Interior Style
Although the exterior aesthetic of your windows is important, consider how the window functions and appeals to your interior style. For example, let light into bathroom windows, but don’t provide direct viewing angles from outside. In more public areas, decide if you want a large picture window that lets it maximum light or if the function of the room warrants different sized and shaped windows for interest and more privacy.
4. Match Window to Required Ventilation
Windows allow for ventilation and movement of fresh air in and out of every room. Knowing which type of window suits your needs will help you determine the right type of window. Keep in mind that operable windows, which means they can be opened or closed as needed, also matter for safety in case of fire and other hazards.
5. Use Windows as Focal Point of Your Interior
If you’re looking to take advantage of picturesque views from your property, you should consider the use of various window styles, shapes, and colours to play up your interior and exterior view. For example, bay windows are ideal in kitchens, bathrooms, sitting nook, or dining area in a sunroom.
How Do You Know If Your Windows Are Bad?
Your windows won’t last forever, even if you have the best quality. Windows typically last approximately 15 to 20 years. However, this is dependent on many factors such as how well they are maintained and the type of frame material you choose. If your windows are old, damaged, and deteriorating, the security and overall comfort of your home becomes a problem.
When was the last time you checked the conditions of your windows? You can tell if your windows are bad by making a few observations and doing some tests. When your windows are bad, they won’t perform as they once did, so it’s time for replacement windows. Here are 5 signs that indicate it is time to change your windows:
1. Draft
Do you feel a draft in your home even when your windows are closed? A drafty window can change the overall temperature in your home causing your HVAC system to work twice as hard to keep up with the fluctuating temperature. Drafts often occur when the window doesn’t shut properly. You can check to determine whether your windows are allowing air into the house by holding a candle or lighter around the edges of your window. If the flame wavers, then your window isn’t doing the job it should.
2. Condensation
Do you notice that your windows are frosting between the layers of glass? You should check which kind of condensation you’re dealing with. Condensation may not be a cause for concern depending on where it’s appearing on the window. However, if you regularly see condensation building up on your windows in between the two panes of glass, then it means that your seals have failed.
3. High Energy Bills
Bad and inefficient windows can have a significant impact on your home’s insulation. If there’s more heat that is able to escape your home, the more your HVAC system will have to work to keep up with the fluctuating temperature. You can check this by standing next to your window to see if it feels coolers than the rest of your room.
4. Functionality
Do you have difficulty in opening, closing, and locking your windows? Old, damaged, and deteriorating windows can be challenging to open and close. You should replace your windows because it can impact the safety of your home and be a vital escape route in the event of an emergency.
5. Outside Noise
Do you hear a lot of outside noise? If so, your windows are providing little protection from outside noise. This is an indicator that your windows are old, were probably sealed incorrectly, or were made poorly, to begin with. If you live in a busy street and want to enjoy some peace and quiet, you should invest in double-pane or triple-pane windows for noise reduction.