All About Window Hardware

You can find window hardware constructed from a variety of materials. The choices you make should be based on a number of factors including energy efficiency and home design.

When choosing window hardware materials you should consider such things as the climate where you live, the style of your home, and your own personal preferences.

Types of Window Hardware

Wood
For many years wood has been the window construction material of choice. No matter if you are a seasoned professional or a weekend do-it-yourselfer, wood is definitely the easiest material to work with. This is why it is used so often for custom applications that include delicate and detailed designs. There is great flexibility in both paint and stain color, so it can match just about any design style. Wood also provides good energy efficiency.

The real disadvantage to using wood is the maintenance requirements. It will need to be re painted or stained every few years. When wood is not properly maintained the paint or stain will chip and peel, which looks terrible and leaves the wood vulnerable to rotting. Wood windows will last for a long time if they are properly maintained.

Steel
You will often see steel used for basement windows or in older homes. As it is not very energy efficient it will not often be seen in more modern homes. These windows are known for allowing the heat to escape through the frames. Steel also has the added disadvantage of needing regular maintenance to keep it from rusting. Despite these disadvantages, steel is still used for the construction of storm windows because of its strength.

Aluminum
Like steel, aluminum is very strong. The other thing aluminum has in common with steel is that is allows lots of heat to escape and is therefore not very energy efficient. The advantage of aluminum is that is requires very little maintenance. There are a variety of colors which can be baked on, which means that it will never be necessary to repaint your aluminum.

Vinyl
Some benefits of vinyl are that it is both durable and inexpensive. As an added bonus, it is pretty energy efficient and almost totally maintenance free. Since the color of the vinyl runs through the entire material, they will never need to be painted even if they are chipped, scratched, or peel. You can get vinyl windows in a variety of colors, so you are sure to get one that will match your home.

Fiberglass
A newcomer when it comes to window construction materials is fiberglass. This material is both energy efficient and very durable. In fact, when properly insulated, fiberglass will probably give you the best energy efficiency of any material out there, allowing almost no heat to escape through the window. All this efficiency, however, will come at a price, as fiberglass is the most expensive windows out there.

There are lots of things to consider when you are choosing hardware for your windows. One of the most important things to think about is the climate where you live. Windows with a lower U value are best for warm climates. These help you keep the cool air in and the warm air out.

Of course, you will want to do just the opposite in cold climates, keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Both the frame and the glass used in your windows can help you prevent significant heat loss in cold climates. The key is to choose products that offer good energy efficiency and then to add insulation to them. You can increase the energy efficiency of the window by using insulated glass. These windows are constructed with two layers of glass with an argon gas sandwiched between them.

The design scheme of your home should also be considered when choosing replacement windows. The windows should match and enhance the other architectural elements of your home. They should also reflect the time period during which your home was built. A modern home, for example, would look odd with Victorian style windows.

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