The true value of windows
When installing windows, most homeowners think that’s it for the life of the tenancy but that’s not always the case… Windows very often need to be changed for a variety of reasons. And the choice available is endless and sometimes overpowering to the point that an expert opinion is required to confirm a homeowners’ selection as being both practical and feasible.
External window frames are mostly made of corrosion-resistant aluminium in modern houses because it’s a material that is strong, long lasting and far more cost effective than wood and more environmentally friendly in that no trees need to be chopped down to accommodate the householder’s desire for beautiful wooden frames.
And, even if wood does end up being the definitive choice for your window frames, there’s still a number of decisions be made there as well. For one, there’s the type of wood to be used. Pine is popular, and so is mahogany (which is quite expensive), then there’s fir, alder, and even grand old oak. Different woods have very different characteristics that include natural colour, grain and even sap content, which all add to the overall finish and the additional choice of whether to varnish, natural stain or paint for end effect.
Other window-frame choices include vinyl, which is strong and durable but not overly exciting, and wood-cladding also known as clad-wood, which is a clever combination of wood and metal, which is maintenance friendly and does not necessitate outside painting. This is also a very popular choice in Australia. Budget restrictions certainly lessen the field of choice and many people on low to medium incomes use this as a rule of thumb and only select from materials that come in under budget.
Window shapes are also endless and include tilt and turn, bay, casement, garden, double-hung and sliding styles to mention just a few. Energy efficiency is very important and, I believe, worth starting with in the consideration stakes. Also the style of glass; dual panes offer much better insulation than single panes and comes in many qualities and with glass as with most everything else… You get what you pay for!
