Are you in the market for new windows for your home? If so, then you have numerous options open to you. In fact, there are so many options that it might be a bit confusing to choose new windows. Do you want double paned windows? Would it be a good idea to invest in windows with energy saving glazing? Here are the answers to some of your questions.
U-Factor
The U-factor of a window is how much heat it loses from your home. Ratings are given from 1.20 to about .20. The lower the number, the less heat the window will lose, and the better your home will be insulated.
Resistance to Condensation
Condensation resistance is simply a measure of a window’s ability to resist condensation. The scale here runs up to 100, and the higher the number, the greater the window’s resistance will be.
Air Leakage
Obviously, you want to avoid as much air leakage as you can in your windows. This number should be .3 or lower. Higher than .3 means that you will be wasting energy and suffering from a significant amount of air leakage in your room.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
This is a representation of how well your windows will block solar heat. You want a window with the lowest rating possible to enjoy the best resistance to solar heat.
Design Considerations
When choosing the shape and size of your windows, you will need to follow the style of your home, obviously. However, that can be simpler than you might think. You can even choose to install larger window designs if you want, so long as you are able to hire a contractor to help refit the wall for the new, larger windows.
Shape is another big consideration. Obviously, you will not be able to go from a standard rectangular window design to an oval or octagon design without a lot of modifications to the wall, but it is possible. In fact, with the right contractor, you can do almost anything you want here. However, you should make sure that the windows you install have the best visible transmittance rating possible, so that you can enjoy plenty of light through your windows, regardless of the size and shape.
Professional Considerations
Unless you want to do the window installation work yourself, you will need to work with a licensed contractor. Make sure that the contractor you choose is reputable and has a history of getting the right results the first time around.
