Choose a Window to Match Your Home’s Style

Replacing outdated windows is an excellent way to improve your home’s energy efficiency and appearance. Choosing the most appropriate window style is an important first step in the window replacement process. If you’re ready to replace your existing windows or are designing a new home, keep these useful tips in mind when making your choices.

Functional Considerations When Choosing Window Styles

Different windows provide different benefits. As you choose your new replacement windows, think about each one you’re replacing and what purpose the new one will serve, even if it’s just from an aesthetic point of view. For instance, slider windows beautifully complement ranch-style homes but look out of place on the front of a Victorian. If you live in a rainy area, hopper windows are probably not a good idea. Start by asking yourself these five questions:

1. Which direction does my home face?
2. Do I want to replace the existing windows with new ones that are the same size?
3. Will I be adding more windows than I currently have?
4. Do I want any custom-sized windows?
5. Do I need all the new windows to provide ventilation, or will there also be some fixed models like picture and bow windows?

Keep in mind that aesthetically, windows make both an exterior and interior impact.

• While you have a lot more creative freedom with rear-facing windows, those on the front of your house should improve its curb appeal and make the house look welcoming.
• Interior-wise, think about what you wish each window to do. People often want plenty of natural light and airflow in the kitchen. However, in family rooms and dens with big-screen monitors, you might want to consider how much glare there will be.

Lastly, to ensure you get maximum energy efficiency from your new windows, keep your home’s orientation to the sun and wind in mind. For example, placing ventilating or operable windows in areas where the wind blows most can help keep your home cooler and save you on air-conditioning costs. In rooms that get a lot of sun, low-E windows block up to 75% of UV rays, protecting furniture, carpets, and artwork from fading. Low-Es can also reduce energy loss by 30% to 50%.

Choosing Replacement Windows That Complement Your Home’s Architecture

While there are no hard and fast rules about which windows go best with different architectural styles, there’s no denying some look better than others. The choice is always yours!

Here’s a brief guide to choosing windows for common home architectural styles.

• With their steep roofs and side gables, Cape Cod homes traditionally sport multi-pane, double-hung windows with shutters. Casement windows are another great choice. Accent windows might include sidelights and transoms.
• Craftsman bungalows feature deep porches, mixed material facades, and shallow-pitched roofs. Vertically proportioned double-hung and casement windows, typically placed on either side of a fireplace, are popular choices for bungalows. Picture, dormer, and transom windows are appealing accent window styles.
• Two-story homes such as Georgian Federals generally have two or more chimneys, medium pitched roofs, and multi-panel front doors. Upper-floor windows in these homes tend to be shorter and narrower than those on the ground level. Double-hung windows with Colonial grids are the window of choice, with half-circle transoms, oval windows, and quarter-circle windows on either side of the chimney commonly seen.
• Industrial modern houses have simple asymmetrical forms, flat roofs, and varied-material facades. Casement and picture windows tend to emphasize the glass over sashes and grids. And while accent windows aren’t generally used with this architectural style, custom shapes often are.
• Arched entries, asymmetrical window compositions, and steeply pitched roofs define Tudor homes. Diamond and Colonial pattern grids are used with casement, bay, and double-hung windows. Transom and smaller casement windows are attractive accent window styles.

Zen Windows: Always the Right Choice

With three product lines to choose from and various options and features available, Zen Windows’ precision-built, energy-efficient, and affordable replacement windows offer versatility, durability, and reliability few other windows can match. You’re sure to find one or more versions that match your home’s architecture and your personal style.

Find your nearest location and start a conversation with our team today!

The Latest Patio Door Trends

Sliding glass patio doors are a home staple throughout the country. They’re not only a great use of space; they also offer attractive views to the outdoors and look good on homes of all sizes. If there’s a downside, it’s that the basic version most people have in their homes can be a little, shall we say, boring.

If you’re in the market for new or replacement patio doors, you have more options available than you might imagine. You have a seemingly endless variety of patio door options and configurations to choose from, including multi-panel versions, French-style, and updated sliding models with improved energy efficiency.

Here’s a look at some of today’s most popular patio doors, one or more of which is sure to highlight your home’s architectural style.

French-Style Patio Doors

Stylish and functional, French doors are second only to sliding glass doors for people installing new patio doors. Though they’re often seen used in traditional-style homes, they can enhance any home’s architecture. They don’t take up much more space than standard sliding doors and usually make for a less extensive patio door replacement project.

Double-hinged French doors also give you more leeway when it comes to configuring your new patio doors. You can choose models that:

• Swing in to preserve deck or patio space
• Swing out to save interior space
• Have narrower doors, a great option for tighter spaces

You also have different functionality options. For instance, you can choose to have both doors open or, like traditional sliding glass doors, have one panel fixed and the other operable.

Three-Panel and Four-Panel Sliding Glass Doors

You might be surprised at the difference an extra glass panel or two can make to your patio door. Two-panel sliding glass doors have long been the standard, as they take up the least amount of space. But upgrading to a three- or four-panel sliding glass door comes with its own advantages.

• Adding just one panel increases the natural light that flows into the room by 50%. Like two-panel doors, a three-panel sliding patio door has one panel that slides open and closed, while the other two remain fixed.
• Four-panel sliding glass doors create an even wide opening, with the two middle panels operable and the two outer panels fixed. Four-panel doors are a great choice for families who love to entertain in the backyard.

Express Your Unique Patio Door Style

If you’re planning to install new patio doors or replace existing ones, your choices are limited only by your imagination! Which style patio door is “right” for your home is entirely up to your unique style sense and what works best with your home’s design and layout.

Zen Windows offers a beautiful range of replacement patio doors designed to enhance your home’s appearance, safety, and security. To learn more or get a quick online quote, contact us today.