Window replacement is an expensive process, but a necessity for any home. It’s naturally very important to install the right kind of window in this process. There are a few key factors to consider in making that correct decision. The most notable of these are frame, pane amount, and gas fills. When looking at window frames, there are five main options: wood, aluminum, composite, fiberglass, and vinyl. Wood and composite are generally efficient options but can be pricey. Aluminum is cheap but prone to denting and inefficient. Fiberglass is very efficient but is rigid and limited in options. And vinyl finds a nice middle ground by being very efficient, low maintenance, and easy to customize.
Pane amounts are much more linear in how they operate. The more panes the more energy efficient, but the more expensive. Gas fills are much of the same idea. Argon is cheap and does well in lower paned windows while krypton is expensive and extremely efficient. It works much better in triple-pane windows.
These are just a few of the considerations one should make when looking at a window purchase. They’re not terribly complex, but they are endlessly important. One of the first steps in building a model home is having the right windows for the job.
