The windows and doors will
be installed, once the framing of your home is complete, You have a variety of styles of windows and doors
to choose from when it comes to this topic, check it out:
Casement—roll
out from hinges places at one side of the window.
Double-hung—two
sections that slide up and down on separate tracks.
Awning—roll
out from hinges placed on both sides at the top of the window.
Fixed—windows
that don't open at all, which also include:
Transoms
– A window that is fixed atop either a window or door.
Circlehead
– A half-circle fixed atop either a window or door.
Sliding—two
sections that slide left and right on two different tracks.
Bow—constructed
by joining at least three windows side by side at an angle.
Bay—constructed
as a single unit by joining 4 to five windows together to form
a curve.
Greenhouse—used
most often as a kitchen window, this type of window is great if
you grow your own herbs for cooking.
Doors
types come in all sorts of styles and sizes. And most any style
of door can be made to open and shut in any of the following
ways:
Single
Double
(French).
Sliding—Two
doors slide open and closed on two different tracks.
Pocket
Door—When open, the door slides on a track system
into a cleft built into a wall, which allows it to disappear.
Each
of the items listed above can come in a number of different
materials as well as combinations of materials. Some windows and
doors can be made with:
Metal-clad
Over Wood
All
Metal
All
Wood
Vinyl
Products
Fiberglass
If
you have yet to begin your search, it's a good idea to get a
head start—long before you send out your plans for a bid.
There are numerous choices when it comes to windows and doors
and you want to make sure that you know exactly what you are
getting...
...before
you buy.
CLICK
HERE to Check Out Some Beautiful Doors
CLICK
HERE to Check Out Some Beautiful Windows
Window
and doors contribute greatly to heat gain and heat loss. Some
windows and doors have insulating components made for keeping
the cold out in the winter and the sun out in the summer.
I've
heard the sales pitches from several different types of window
and door suppliers and it's amazing how every one of them...
...
say their product is the "Best". Sure, there are some
windows and doors that are clearly better than others.
There
are also windows and doors that come with some very fancy
options, but...
...What
is it that truly makes a windows or door the "BEST"?
Consider
the following quality attributes:
A
sturdy Frame that will hold up without sagging for many years
to come.
Quality
mechanisms that allows for easy opening and closing.
All
components of the window and door seals tight to keep wind and
moisture out.
The
more panes, the better insulation qualities: Double panes are
good, triple panes would even be better.
Ultra-Violet
Ray reduction is a plus for protecting furnishings and
carpet against sun-bleaching.
A
special type of gas, such as argon, is sealed between the glass
panes to give more "R-Value" to a window, plus
protection from the sun's ultra-violet rays.
Notice
that I didn't bring up the built-in blinds and other options
that are available?
To
me, those options are not necessarily items that make a window
or door the "best". Whether you pay for the item to be
put between the panes, or install the blinds outside the panes,
the end result is that you will have blinds if you want them.
I
have had owner's with built-in blinds say, "I wish I didn't
have them put in because I would like to have an unobstructed
view". Where I have had other's say, "They are
great!". It all boils down to...
...how
much your budget will allow, which products you choose, and how
soon you are willing to replace your windows.
Window
replacement can get expensive. Therefore...
...it
is "WISE" to determine if you should put a little more
into your doors and windows now, rather than having to put a
small fortune into replacing them 10, 15, 20 or more years from
now.
The
following link offers a list of window and door manufacturers in
order to view products that are available on the market:
http://www.windowanddoor.net/
If
you'd like to see what the future could bring us in windows take
a look at this website:
http://www.crd.ge.com/esl/cgsp/projects/le/lcd.html
