Windows are important in your home. First, it lets natural air and light enter your house and second, windows add beauty to the design of your home. It will give you the chance to have a glimpse of the outside world from inside your home. These small portals to the outside world is also a good way to ventilate your house.

There are so many types of windows that you can choose from. Each of them provides a different vibe to your home. Here are the most common window types you can install in your home according to the aesthetic that you want.

Double-Hung Windows

A double-hung consists of two glass panels where you can move up and down. This type of window provides better ventilation knowing that both panels can be opened halfway which opens both the upper and lower part of the window.

The upper opening lets the fresh air in while the lower opening makes the air out. It is also easy to clean the inside and outside part of the double-hung window without you going out of the house or using a ladder just to clean the outside part.

The only downside of this kind of window is that it can develop slipping problems over time. Furthermore, it does not provide a weathertight seal on your home. This is why it is not advisable to use this type of window if your home is located in an area where you constantly experience harsh weather.

Single-Hung Windows

A sing-hung window has the same appearance as a double-hung window. The only difference is that single-hung windows only has one movable panel which typically the bottom half part of the window. The same with the double-hung windows, single-hung windows are also prone to slipping problems especially if it is not maintained properly.

When it comes to cleaning, a single-hung window is also easy to clean from the inside out. This may be the reason why these two types of windows are very popular.

Sliding Windows

Sliding windows is the most common type of window you can find mostly amongst Australian homes. As the name suggests, a sliding window can be open and close by sliding the glass panel from right to left and vice versa. It commonly consists of one or more sliding panels.

If you wanted to have a bigger opening in your house, a sliding window can be a good option for you. Because it is huge, it can light up your home during the day and can as well make it cooler because of proper ventilation.

The sleek and simple design of sliding windows also suits modern and minimalist homes that are popular nowadays. Moreover, this type of window will only need a little effort to operate compared to double or single-hung windows.

Picture Windows

Another best window for modernist and minimalist designs is the picture window. It is a fixed window type that you cannot open nor close. The common use of a picture window is to provide a picture-like view of the outside of your home which is its main objective.

It lets ample sunlight inside your home and makes it warm. Because this type of window is fixed, it is less prone to air leakage which makes it suitable for fully air-conditioned homes. What is also nice about this window type if it is affordable and only needed low maintenance.

Curtains and blinds are optional if you have this kind of window as they can only hinder the view that the window is aiming in the first place. If you have a huge house with a breath-taking view outside like a mountain or the beach, it is recommended to install a picture window on your property.

A picture window is not only a window for most homeowners. For them, it is also a part of their home’s decoration. Instead of installing a painting, why not exhibit the beautiful view of your property.

Awning Windows

This next type of window is best for homes located in areas where heavy rain usually occurs. The feature of this window type where the hinge located at the top of the awning window lets its bottom part swing open outward fully or partially.

If you want to let the cold air in during rainy days but does not want to let the rainwater in, it is best to partially open the bottom part of your awning window and enjoy the natural cool air coming inside your home.

You can install an awning window alongside, at the top or below one another. An awning window is also aesthetically pleasing which can improve the design of your house.

Casement Window

A casement window has similar features as the awning window. But instead of installed horizontally, the casement window is installed vertically. It can be swing inside and outside pivoting from the hinges located at the side of the frame.

This is the best option for limited spaces as it only needs a thin part of the wall. However, it may not be as effective as the awning window in keeping rainwater out. This type of window provides good insulation and excellent ventilation.

Louvre Windows

Started in the middle-ages, the louvre windows are still widely used up to this date especially on locations that experience mild climates all year round. This kind of window has a horizontal slab that can be adjustable or sometimes fixed.

The louvre window or also referred to as jalousie gives you an option to let the air flows through the window while keeping rainwater or direct sunlight from entering the room. You can adjust the blades, or slabs at an angle that you want by using a small lever on the side of the frame.

Bow Windows

A bow window is a group of windows installed in a curved design that creates a semi-circle pattern along the outside of your house. This type of window can be expensive as you will be needing several window panels to create the curved appearance of the bow window.

This is the most elegant of all the window designs. It is the best approach if you want to add space to your home without remodelling the entire section of the house. It is also best if you use this type of window you want to have a panoramic view of the outside world.

Bay Windows

Just like with the bow window, a bay window is a protruding part of your house’s exterior wall. However, unlike with the bow window, a bay window has a more angled frame and uses larger windows.

If the bow window has an arch or semi-circle appearance, the bay window on the other hand has a hexagonal style. This window has a more sleek design compared to the bow window which is the best option for modern homes.

Different Window Frame Materials

With the different types of window comes the different materials of its frames. Aside from facing the difficulty in choosing a window type to install in your home, you will also bump into the problem of picking the right material for your window frames.

Here are the window frame materials you will have to choose from during your window shopping to give you a little bit of a heads up about what will come your way.

Wood Material

For a more natural look, you can opt to use wood for your window frame. This material has been used for windows for many centuries which is why it is the best choice if you want your house to have a traditional vibe.

This is also the best choice to make your home sustainable as wood is a great material provided by nature. Wood are usually strong and becomes even stronger over time. However, no matter how strong it is, this material can still be prone to rotting and insect infestation like termites and other pests and insects.

Even though a wood window frame can add more to your home’s aesthetics, it can be difficult to maintain as it requires more regular maintenance such as painting, staining, and cleaning.

Vinyl Material

A vinyl window frame is made from PVC or polyvinyl chloride that is commonly used in most household items. You can also see a wide usage of this material in construction and even in plumbing. There are two types of vinyl materials available.

One is made with pure virgin vinyl while the other one is made from recycled vinyl. The pure virgin vinyl is stronger and expected to last longer than the recycled vinyl alternative. Because virgin vinyl has the best quality, it can also be more expensive.

The quality of vinyl window frames has evolved. It became more durable and energy-efficient because of its airtight features. You must also choose an energy star rated window to achieve full energy efficiency.

This window frame material also requires little maintenance. It can be easily cleaned which is the only maintenance it needs.

Aluminium Material

An aluminium window frame is the most common of all frame materials. It is what modern homeowners use for their windows as it gives out a sleek design that is suitable for modern homes. it is also lightweight but very strong that it can support large panels of glasses.

This material is the best choice if you want to install large windows in your home as it can perfectly hold it in place without worrying that the entire window will collapse due to the weight of the glass. What makes aluminium window frames undesirable is the fact that is not a good insulator.

It can also let moisture form from the inside of the window. Moreover, this material is not advisable to be used if your home is near beaches or oceans. Its exposure to the salt in the air or from the saltwater itself will cause corrosion on the material.

Fiberglass Material

A fibreglass material will make your window frame looks like it was made out of wood. If you wanted to achieve a more natural look and wood is not something suitable for your home, fibreglass material can be your next option.

It is made from reinforced glass fibres with resin to make it strong and durable. This material will also need a little maintenance. Unlike other materials, fibreglass will not rot, corrode, or mould even if it is exposed to moisture.

The frame will look thinner if you use fibreglass as your material. This is because of the stiffness of the fibre and the resin in the material. Furthermore, a fibreglass frame is not prone to warping, will not expand or contract over time and will surely last long.

Coastwide shade sail can help you in making the best out of your windows with the use of our window blinds and awnings. You can check out our products and feel free to contact us for queries and assistance during your blinds or awnings shopping.

On the Final Note

Choosing a window to install on your home can be a difficult task because of all the different variations available. However, if you stick to your house’s design, you can easily figure out which of the window types is best for your home. Use the information you gathered from this article when deciding which window you will install.