Remember those hot, lazy summers when you were growing up, sipping on a cool lemonade with an oscillating fan cooling you down a few seconds at a time. Remember how much you wanted to open the windows, to feel that fresh outside air. The only problem was the window was swollen shut. The effort to open it wasn’t worth it, so you sat there waiting for the sweet relief of the fan.
That’s the way wooden windows used to be; they were built solid, they were heavy, they had a weight and pulley system that once broken, weren’t easy to fix. They also bled air, both in and out. They were drafty in the winter and couldn’t open in the summer.
Today wooden windows are still built solidly, they’re still heavy, they’re also still the gold standard when it comes to windows. New wood windows glide open and shut, maintenance is minimal at most. They’re energy efficient, ecologically friendly and the most customizable material available. Read below to find out if wood windows are a viable solution for you when you decide to replace your windows.
Pros
Custom
Wood windows can be milled to fit in any space and crafted to give your house the character it deserves. Wood windows can be painted, stained and eventually repainted if you want to change the look of your home. While vinyl and fiberglass can be customized, no material as customizable as wood.
Insulation
Despite the fact that wood will contract and expand a little more than vinyl, well-crafted modern wood windows are a great way to save money on insulation. One of the biggest benefits to replacement windows in the long run is the money that can be saved by simply keeping the climatized air in your home and the unclimatized air outside of your home.
Eco-Friendly
Much like the trees that you look at outside your window, a wood window is natural and eco-friendly. If you’re looking to “go green” wood windows are a fantastic option. Not only are you saving precious energy but also using natural materials.
Cons
Moisture
While modern wood windows are great insulators, they do still have to stand up to the elements. While wood stands up to temperature changes, it is susceptible to too much moisture. Painting or staining wood windows is vital to keeping them from eventually rotting out.
Maintenance
Due to the inherent flaw of wood, which is that it was at one time a living, breathing organism, it needs to be maintained to keep from decomposing. Regularly painting and staining wood windows will allow them an extremely long lifespan though.
Clad-Wood
We would be remiss not to mention a great product, that while maybe not for purists, is a bit of a combination of wood and another material, such as vinyl, fiberglass or aluminum; clad-wood. Clad-wood windows are actually made of wood but they have a layer of aluminum, vinyl or fiberglass on the outside, which does not need to be painted. But, the inside is wood, which can be painted or stained to customize your home. Due to the layer of aluminum, vinyl or fiberglass, clad-wood is more durable than all wood and also can be more cost effective.
One last thing to think about when choosing your wood windows or clad-wood windows is what kind of wood to choose. Whether you choose oak, pine or an exotic species all woods are not for every house and definitely something you should discuss with your window replacement expert.
Imagine your grandkids someday visiting you, sipping ice cold lemonade on a hot summer day, just like you used to. Except they have the comfort of air conditioning, of course. They also have beautiful old, but still perfect wood windows to look at, which remind them that they’re at their grandparents old house. They’ll eventually have wonderful memories of visits to their grandparents, and will never forget the wooden windows that you’re considering now.
North Georgia Replacement Windows replaces windows for life. We sell the best product available for the price point that you feel comfortable with. Whether you’re replacing your windows for aesthetics, energy efficiency or your current windows just aren’t functional anymore, NG Windows has your solution. Visit us at our showroom to start getting a feel for what is right for you.
