When you select a window for your home, you must understand the difference between the window dimension and the rough opening dimensions. The dimensions of the window refer to the size of the window unit. The rough opening is the dimension of a hole in the wall where you will place the window unit.
You should never cut the hole in the wall to be the same size as the window unit. A rough opening must be larger than the dimensions of the window to allow space to shim the window. This shim allow you to level and square the window to the opening in the wall.
How to Choose the Right Window for Your Home
If you dont create a rough opening to be larger than the window, you will not have the space required to square the window properly. This will lead to a window that stick to the rough opening or allows air to leak through the window. Another feature to consider for the windows that you purchase for your home is the type of window that you use.
For instance, a double-hung window allow both the top and bottom sash of the window to open. When you open the top sash and the bottom sash of the window, a convection current forms that will allow the cooler air in the room to be drawn into the window and the hot air to exit the window. The middle rail of the window allow the two sashes to lock together.
If this does not have a proper seal, the air will escape the window and your heating or cooling system will work more hard to maintain your desired indoor temperature, increasing your energy costs. The size of the window you choose for your home will depend on a few different factors. The purpose of the room is one factor.
You may want to use a large window in a living room to allow the natural light to enter the space. In a bedroom, though, you will want to use the window for egress. Egress is the ability of the occupants of the room to exit that space during an emergency, as well as the ability of the emergency responders to enter that space.
The opening of the bedroom window must meet the codes for egress. Otherwise, the window will fail an inspection of the safety of the bedroom. Another factor that will inform your selection of the material of your window is your budget.
Common window materials include vinyl, wood, and fiberglass. Vinyl windows are common because they is inexpensive and dont need to be painted. The downside of using vinyl, though, is that the vinyl may expand or contract due to extreme temperature in the climate in which you will install the window.
This expansion and contraction may lead to the warping of the vinyl. Wood windows offer good insulation, but they require regular maintenance to prevent the wood from rot. Finally, fiberglass is an expensive material.
However, fiberglass expands at the same rate than glass. Therefore, the seals on a fiberglass window will last the windows lifetime. The climate in which your home is located will inform you of the features of the window that you need.
For instance, if your climate is cold, you want a low U-Factor. The U-Factor is a number that informs you of how well a window prevent heat from leaving the home through that window. A low U-Factor means that the window will help to retain the heat that is inside your home during the winter months.
A solar heat gain is a rating of how much solar heat enter the home. You want to limit the solar heat gain in your windows if you live in a hot climate. By selecting the proper U-Factor and solar heat gain for your windows, you control the amount of energy that goes into and out of your home.
Finally, you must measure the opening in which you will install the window multiple times before you purchase the window. You must measure the rough opening multiple times in case the walls of your home are not straight. If you use inaccurate measurement of the opening, your window will be difficult to install and may not properly fit into the opening.
Furthermore, you must ensure that the rough opening measurements are correct. You must also ensure that the window material matches your budget and needs. Finally, you must ensure that the size of the window is the correct size to meet the safety codes of your home.
