How to choose windows for your home? What to look for when choosing windows for your single-family home
When building a house, we often pay little attention to the choice of windows and doors. This is usually due to little knowledge of window joinery. Not everyone knows that investing in good windows, patio doors, doors and sliding systems saves us a lot of money over the years of use.
PVC windows?
Wooden windows?
Aluminium windows?
Read the text below to find out which windows to choose for your home.
What is behind the trends in joinery?
Nowadays, products in window and door showrooms are completely different to what they were a dozen years ago. Why the products available on the market have changed? What shapes the window joinery?
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Architectural trends- large glazing and thin, almost invisible window frames are currently in fashion. Non-opening (fixed) windows are also often used. Virtually every single-family house has at least one sliding structure (HS) that serves as a link between the interior of the house and the terrace or garden. Currently, the most popular colour is anthracite grey and it is becoming increasingly rare to see the brown spray-painted uPVC windows that were popular not so long ago.
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Update of legislation – new regulations that modify the requirements for window parameters, such as the heat transfer coefficient, are regularly published. Currently, the heat transfer coefficient should not be higher than 0.9 W/(m2K).
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Technological advances – joinery technology develops over time, which translates into more advanced systems. The smart home trend has resulted in a growth in the range of opening and closing automation, access systems, sensors and weather automation.
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The environmental awareness of users combined with the need to save money has resulted in a fashion for so-called passive houses, which has led to the production of advanced energy-efficient window systems. Energy-efficient windows are windows that guarantee good thermal insulation by minimising energy losses and reducing heating costs.
Why is the choice of windows so important?
The windows and doors you choose are intended to serve you for years. Research shows that people replace window joinery on average every few decades! In practice, this means that you will use your windows and doors until they are damaged. With well-chosen products, you can prevent most problems.
An investment in good-quality joinery and proper installation of windows and doors will pay you back over all the years of use: no need for servicing, savings in heating costs, and no need for repair or additional adjustment. At the design and construction stage for your house, it is not worth saving money. We advise choosing windows from a good manufacturer and finding a professional installation team. Not everyone can spend hundreds of thousands of euros on windows, but there is a very wide range of solutions on the market so that everyone is able to choose the optimum solution combining good parameters and a reasonable price.
What does the price of windows depend on?
Windows for a single-family house cost a dozen to several hundred thousand euros or even more. The price depends on many factors, which is why good windows are always priced individually for a specific project and the investor’s requirements. It is not possible to give a simple answer to the question as to how much windows cost.
What are the factors that influence the price then?
Material
In the past, windows were mainly made of wood; then, they were being massively replaced with ordinary white plastic windows. However, informed consumers know that there are a number of joinery materials on the market, each with indisputable advantages.
PVC windows – popular plastic windows
PVC is invariably the most popular material for windows. White plastic windows, encountered in blocks of flats, for example, are the most common windows because of the lowest price. PVC systems are currently very advanced, allowing great thermal insulation and considerable dimensions thanks to steel reinforcements. Performance can be further improved by using aluminium covers on the outside.
Aluminium windows – modern solutions and properties
Aluminium windows, perhaps more familiar from the public building industry, are becoming increasingly popular in residential construction. They have very good mechanical properties and allow large construction dimensions, thus increasing the glazing area. Powder-coat painting allows for achieving various color effects.
Wooden windows – style and elegance
Not so long ago we were all replacing old wooden windows with plastic ones. Nowadays, thanks to the development of the wooden joinery market, we have modern solutions that are even comparable to energy-efficient PVC windows. Beautiful, classic wooden windows have become synonymous with prestige. Wooden joinery is used in the design of luxury residences and in the restoration of historic buildings.
As with uPVC windows, wooden windows can be fitted with an aluminium cladding to guarantee excellent window performance parameters from the outside and a beautiful, classic or modern, look from the inside.
Steel windows – durability and a unique look
True connoisseurs are also interested in steel windows and doors. These are less popular products on the market and few manufacturers have them in their range. However, the interest in them is very legitimate. Thanks to the excellent properties of steel (stiffness, mechanical resistance), it is possible to make very thin loft-style structures.
Steel interior walls as well as windows and doors have long been loved by architects who appreciate window design. The narrower the profiles, the more exposed the glass – such as stained glass – can be, and the more daylight they let in.
Size
The dimensions of windows affect their price, both directly (larger window means more material) and indirectly. For larger structures, reinforcements, more robust fittings, and more durable glazing are required.
It sometimes happens that designed structures prove impossible to implement due to size limitations for specific systems. If this is the case, you should not try to persuade the manufacturer to bend the rules and make the window a few centimetres larger by way of exception. Specifications are designed to ensure the safety of the user, and structures that are too large may deform over time or require additional adjustment.
A good advisor in such a situation will propose an alternative solution - in the case of windows, for example, by dividing the window pane with a transom providing rigidity to the construction, and for doors, by applying additional sidelights. A bad advisor can be recognized by a short and categorical "it's impossible".
Opening method
The fittings, also affecting the final price of the windows and doors, depend on how the window is opened. How to choose windows that meet your expectations and not entail additional costs?
Fixed (non-opening) windows are an excellent (and economical) solution in situations where we have several window sections next to each other, some of which open or tilt, or in rooms with additional mechanical ventilation, where windows won't be used for airing the rooms
Fixed glazing is made without the use of a window sash, so you have a larger glazing area with the same external window dimension.
Sliding systems are perfect in situations where you have little or no space in the interior; window sashes that slide in one plane do not take up any space in the house even when they are open.
Tilt-and-turn windows are the most popular opening option: the tilt allows the room to be ventilated without the risk of your child or pet falling through the window. The ordinary opening method is needed when you want to clean the windows. In a children’s room, you can use the tilt option or ensure the handle is positioned in a way that it is out of the reach of your child.
Other types of opening (pivot windows, awning windows and folidng designs) are less popular.
Colour
The colour and the type of finish of window profiles are factors that affect not only the price of the windows but also execution time. Most manufacturers have a palette of standard colours and non-standard options at extra charge and with extended delivery times.
It is advisable to choose a window manufacturer that has its own paint shop. This has a positive effect on the price as there are no intermediaries and no costs of transport to the place of painting and the time for the service is more favourable.
You can not only paint the windows in all RAL colours but also use metallic finishes and woodgrain laminates. A very popular and budget-friendly solution is plastic windows in woodgrain veneer, which suits many interiors.
Number of chambers and thermal insulation
Glazing type
The larger the window, the smaller the proportion of its surface area represented by the profile itself. If large glazing is used, glass has a key impact on the heat transfer coefficient.
Until recently, double glazing (double-glazing sealed unit) was used as standard in windows; however, in the era of energy-saving oriented single-family housing, triple-glazed windows have become the norm. Therefore, when buying windows, you should definitely choose triple glazing.
When choosing windows, bear in mind the existence of safety glass: toughened glass, which minimises injury in the event of breakage, and laminated glass, with layers bonded together by film, which are more difficult to break and remain in one piece when damaged.
There are also a variety of options for functional glazing: sun protection panels, multicoloured panes, milk glass, ornamental units, and panels with one-way mirror effect.
Units with more advanced technologies, such as glass that heats like a radiator, glass that changes transparency at the push of a button, and quantum glass that produces energy are the most expensive.
Additions and accessories
The choice of window system and glazing can be the final stage of the window joinery configuration and at the same time the beginning of the adventure. When choosing windows, you can add a wide range of extra products and accessories that affect the properties, ease of use, and the price.
Sun protection systems
Sun protection systems, such as shutters, roller blinds and refleksol systems, are increasingly supplementing or completely replacing curtains and drapes. They allow you to create a cosy interior, shield yourself from the gaze of your neighbours and from the direct effects of the sun, and manage heat energy responsibly. Shading systems are available in different variants and in a full range of colours and degrees of translucency. You can automate the system, e.g., by setting fixed times for raising and lowering the shutters or programming them in conjunction with weather sensors to react to sun, rain, or wind.
Mosquito nets – it is pleasant to sleep with the window open or to air out the kitchen after intensive cooking. However, nobody likes flies and mosquitoes in the house. Therefore, it is worthwhile to use mosquito nets, at least in the most frequently opened windows.
Ventilators – ventilators provide a controlled flow of air into your home and ensure air circulation without intensive ventilation, especially during the heating season. Insufficient air exchange (also due to the tightness of modern windows) can lead to the appearance of fungus or mould.
Access systems – doors opened with an app? Or perhaps a fingerprint There are a lot of types of building access automation on the market and any modern joinery manufacturer should have a full selection of these in their product range. Due to the need for power, it is best if the installation of access systems is considered at the design stage.
Mullions – mullions are vertical and horizontal crossbars that divide the surface of the window area into smaller sections but have no structural significance. This decorative element can be applied to the glass or used inside the glazing sealed unit, making it easy to clean the window. The colour of the mullions can be matched to the colour of the window profile or contrast it – for example, gold mullions in woodgrain laminate windows are a fairly popular addition.
Door handles, pull-handles – window systems usually have the shape and colour of the handle that is included in the set, however there is nothing stopping you from experimenting with this element as well.
Good consultant
How to know that you are being well looked after when talking to a technical and commercial consultant?
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They have technical knowledge and are familiar with the products they sell
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They easily advise on which windows to choose but do not impose their opinion
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They can clearly determine whether a solution is feasible and safe
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They inform the customer that the performance parameters of the windows depend on many factors, and values quoted by most manufacturers extend beyond the limit
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They give the customer their full attention and do not offer the simplest solutions to make a quick sale They propose standard solutions if the customer does not want anything else
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They are reachable – they pick up the phone, answer e-mails promptly, and you can meet them in person
If you have doubts, do not be afraid to ask questions. He/she is there to dispel doubts and provide advice and experience. You do not have to be an expert in the industry to make a successful purchase and enjoy it for decades to come.
Installation – what to look for
Even the best and most expensive windows will serve no purpose if their installation is carried out incorrectly or carelessly. You should definitely not compromise and seek to save money in this area or, worse still, install windows on your own.
A good installation team will pay attention to everything that matters most: the preparation of the window openings, the correct placement of the window, and the selection of the installation method.
Warm installation of windows
So-called warm installation is becoming increasingly popular as it ensures that windows and patio doors are extremely airtight and heat loss is minimised.
Standard window installation is based on the use of insulating foam. Warm installation involves insulating with three separate layers. The inner layer (the so-called vapour barrier layer) prevents any moisture found inside the room from penetrating into the foam. On the outside, a vapour permeable layer is used; it draws moisture away from the inside of the insulation but blocks it from reaching the opposite side.
Benefits of investing in warm installation:
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heat energy savings and lower heating costs
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increased window tightness and elimination of draughts
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protection against fungus and mould caused by moisture
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positive impact on the environment