Selecting the best type of window for your home

Choosing new windows - where do you start?

Often the need to renew your windows isn’t always by choice. Wear and tear, or damage can force your hand - leading you to make hasty decisions and poor choices. Even if things are less urgent and you are simply on a home improvement mission, there is a lot to consider.  

A good place to start is identifying the important functions your new windows need to deliver.  Ask yourself a few questions, for example:

• Are you seeking improved energy-efficiency to reduce household bills?
• Do you need to enhance security throughout your home?
• Is easy cleaning in difficult locations important?
• Are you looking to introduce more natural light?
• Do you want to improve access, for example, to replace a garden window with a patio door?

Then there are the aesthetic needs:

• What types of windows will best suit the style of your home? Is it modern, established, period or country style?
• Is your home made of brick, stone, wood, do you have cladding, rendering or painted exterior finishes?
• What style of windows do you already have? Are you looking for a completely new look, or simply wish to upgrade to modern materials and technologies?
• Are you planning a new build? Your architect may already have thought a lot of this out already, but the final choice is yours of course.

The main options you have are:

uPVC - One of the most popular materials for building windows, and an “all-rounder” solution delivering style, versatility and durability and energy-efficiency. PVC-U is not susceptible to rot, decay or warping, so there will be minimal maintenance during its life as well as being very easy to look after. With a potential lifespan of 30-40 years this could be a once in a lifetime solution for the long-term homeowner. And don’t for one moment think that you can only get PVC-U windows in white. You’ll find an impressive range of colours and finishes available including woodgrains – an ideal way to replicate the look and feel of timber windows.

Aluminium - For some homes the super sleek, slimline design of aluminium windows is a big attraction. While at first glance it may seem more suited to ultra-modern, commercial or industrial buildings but aluminium suits a lot of period properties too, especially some 20th century buildings that may have been fitted with steel windows originally. While grey colours predominate, aluminium frames can also be specified with customised paint options. Teamed up with entrance doors or sliding/bi-folding patio systems, aluminium is an ultra-modern, stylish and brilliantly functional option.

Don't forget the glass!

Whatever frame material or style that you opt for, don’t forget the important bit in the middle…. the glass. A few decades ago, double glazing was seen as a luxury. Nowadays it is a pretty common feature in many buildings. Triple glazing isn’t a simple case of one-upmanship, but a sure-fire way to further reduce heat loss, especially in an exposed or north-facing window.

Glass technology has moved on too, with options to enhance insulation, reflect sunshine and protect from UV rays, and even enhanced soundproofing.

Our advice above all else is to carefully plan your project, take your time now, consider your options carefully - and you’ll have no regrets later on.