Just look at any nice home in America and you will see the same thing; they all have a lot of windows. There are few things that give a room a warmer, safer connection with nature than a well designed and installed picture window. In this awkward economy a picture window not only adds aesthetic value to a room but it also adds monetary value to your home and, after all, even if equity isn’t what it used to be, any increase is still a good thing.
Choosing the Right Picture Window
Many people envision the single pane, plate glass window when they think about picture windows. Although a large plate glass window is functional and could be considered when replacing windows, they are losing favor. These windows are fragile and much more expensive due to their large size and terrible insulating properties.
The classic sectional window with the added benefit of the modern multi-pane reinforced design is making a comeback as more home owners embrace the classic styles. Not only is the design more appealing than a large bland plate glass window, it is also sturdier and economically superior in terms of energy savings as well as maintenance and replacement due to the usual types of damage or wear.
With window manufacturers now offering the grid design sectional windows have taken an even larger leap ahead. The new grid design uses individually insulated window cells assembled into a larger window. This provides much better insulation and added resilience. That means a longer lasting window with a lower energy bill for the homeowner.
Picture Window Replacement
If you have older picture windows or single pane sectional windows, it would be best to replace them with newer energy efficient windows. The newer windows with smaller glass segments will save more than their own cost over the years as well as looking nice.
Getting Creative with Picture Window Design
Don’t just base your purchase of a new picture window on price alone. Shooting for low-budget models to save money can often be a false economy. There’s a lot of creative play when it comes to enhancing your windows. If it’s in your budget, consider having custom windows designed to better match the architecture of your home. Likewise you can splurge a little and have the windows built out to create a bay window. While not technically a picture window the bay window can add some functional space to your home while improving the view outside the home.
Replacing windows is a common DIY task for many homeowners but taking on picture windows on your own isn’t really recommended. The main issue is often in the size of the windows themselves. It takes a crew of professional contractors and specialized window installers to handle those windows. Consider carefully the benefits of working with a professional window installer.
