Home windows: 10 tips for choosing

How to choose the most suitable doors and windows for your home?

Deciding which doors and windows in the house to buy and install is truly fundamental for the quality of life of one's family and for the energy saving of the home itself. There are several options on the market, ranging from window material to glazing type. Each of these choices will lead to different results and therefore have a direct impact on the comfort of the building .

Let me introduce myself: I am Elia Caneppele , the founder of Windowo. I grew up in the world of windows and doors since I was 14. In fact, my father ran an old-fashioned specialized hardware store. I have transformed the family business by selling online since 2014.

The vast majority of window buyers I've known over the years have the same concerns. This is why I wrote an article with the aim of helping anyone in choosing the best fixtures .

The following guide was written by me with the aim of answering the question quickly and easily: what are the most important characteristics to pay attention to when choosing home windows? I am sure that at the end of the reading it will be easier for you too to consciously choose the best fixtures for the home .

Are you ready? Here are my useful tips.

The important characteristics of the fixtures

Whether you are a window maker or an end customer, choosing the right window for your home is important. As I said earlier, this choice will affect the internal comfort and energy performance of the building. This is because our decision will result in the performance of brightness, ventilation and insulation (both thermal and acoustic) of the spaces.

How to choose the fixtures? Unfortunately, the choice of the most suitable window frame for the home can be complicated due to the wide range of products, materials and technologies on the market.

Furthermore, it must be borne in mind that the windows of the house should be installed taking into account many variations such as the geographical position of the building and the exposure to sunlight and bad weather. An evaluation of the type of activity for which the environments are intended should not be overlooked.

These are the first considerations to make when evaluating the needs to be satisfied through the fixtures of the house. That's why my 10 tips for choosing the best windows can be useful to you.

What is meant by windows?

I begin by explaining that we can define "windows" as mobile structures that have the purpose of:

• closing the entrance openings in a building;
• allow the passage of air allowing the ventilation of the spaces;
• control the passage of light.

Depending on the rooms for which they are designed, we can distinguish between external doors and windows and internal doors that are defined in jargon as internal doors .

What is the difference between windows and doors?

We use these two terms as synonyms on a daily basis. In reality the frame is the rigid structure anchored to the masonry. Instead the window is defined as the architectural element used to close an opening (in the wall). Therefore the window fixes the frame itself to the masonry, allowing its movement.

What are the main window openings?

The type of opening of the windows is an important variant in the choice, especially if the space is limited and must be used carefully. In fact, in the case of limited spaces, my advice is to choose an opening system that does not occupy the internal space.

Among the different types of window openings we can mention here:

• the frame with fixed door, even if it is not a real opening;
• hinged opening , when the doors that open towards the outside or inside the house;
• the vasistas opening , thanks to the hinges on the lower crosspiece that allow the closure on the upper one;
• the tilt and turn opening , with double movement with one hinged door and bottom hinged door;
• the latch , with the two doors able to slide vertically;
• the folding opening , with the lateral packing of the doors by means of hinges and pins that slide on the rails;
• the sliding opening , ideal in areas facing green areas such as gardens or terraces.

If you are interested in developing this topic, I would like to point out that I have already written a blog article completely dedicated to the types of window openings .

Thermal insulation: the characteristics of a good window

Did you know that windows disperse on average more than 20% of the energy used to heat a home? Maybe you didn't already know the exact figures, however you may already have this doubt when you feel a shiver of cold next to an old-style window.

A good thermal insulation of the windows decreases the heat exchange between inside and outside space. Precisely in this sense it ensures the energy saving of the building.

The value to keep an eye on is the linear thermal transmittance (W / m2K), which allows you to calculate the amount of thermal power exchanged between the frame and the glass. This parameter takes into account the relationship between the elements and materials that build a window. The standards, divided by climatic zone, define the minimum values that must be respected.

The lower the transmittance of the fixtures, the greater the isolation they are able to achieve. Consequently, the expenses for controlling the ideal temperature of our home will be lower.

How to evaluate the acoustic insulation of windows?

A properly made window must be able to guarantee a good level of acoustic insulation . Indeed noise is one of the main causes of stress and decrease the quality of life.

A soundproofing window can avoid creating an entrance for noise. To protect the family from annoying noises, you should opt for windows and glass with a high sound insulation value. This value is expressed in decibels (dB). The higher this value, the higher the sound insulation (and the more peacefully you can sleep).

A man needs 30dB of maximum noise to be able to rest peacefully. For this reason, normal windows have a standard value that is around 32 dB . If you live in a particularly noisy area, you can invest a little more in an advanced window with values up to 48 dB.

Glass is certainly one of the most important variants to be taken into consideration when evaluating the acoustic performance of a window or door. In particular, I point out the number of glasses (double or multiple), the distance between them and their thickness.

Choice of window material: PVC or aluminum?

PVC or aluminum windows? The choice of materials is an issue that is very close to the heart of most buyers.

Actually, before choosing the material, I recommend that you evaluate what performance you want to get from your window. For example, the noise and heat reduction change according to the place where we live and our home is located.

Here's my trick: first choose what you want, and only then decide which material to build with.

By "what do you want" I mean the performance of the window that is the highest priority for you.

Summarizing the main performances are the following:

• Tightness to air, water and wind load;
• Thermal insulation;
• Soundproofing;
• Special functions;
• Degree of security.

How many types of windows are there?

In window manufacturers' showrooms we can usually observe three main types of fixtures :

• PVC windows;
• aluminum windows;
• wooden windows.

Let's see them very briefly below. If you want to deepen the topic you can also watch the video " Fixtures: better in PVC or aluminum? ".

Let's start with thePVC frames which are made of a very famous plastic material in the construction sector. PVC is convenient because it has a very affordable price with the same thermal performance. It is also a material capable of withstanding high temperature changes.

The aluminum frames last a long time, easily resist bad weather and are available in many different types of finishes.

Wooden window frames with the same thermal and acoustic insulation require greater care. This particular need for attention makes them less durable over time (if not subjected to proper maintenance).

I also point out that there are windows made with materials combined together.

What is the best glass for windows?

The glass of the window can change the level of performance considerably. On the market you can find many different types of glazing for frames for sale.

What are the most common window glasses? Here is a small list:

• low-emissivity glass , perfect for places subject to very low temperatures;
• selective and reflective glass , able to adequately reject the sun's rays (ideal for areas with high temperatures);
• photochromic and thermochromic glasses , able to react differently according to solar radiation;
• armored windows , a solution capable of guaranteeing greater anti-burglary security ;
• double glazing , or double glazing, which insulates thermally and acoustically;
• glass with new technologies , such as photovoltaics with films capable of creating energy.

How to choose the best security windows?

Door entrances and windows are the weakest points for building security. It makes no sense to invest in a very expensive home burglar alarm without first securing the doors and windows of the house. In fact, most of the thefts in homes occur due to thieves who enter by forcing the windows. And the numbers of these thefts are increasing every year.

The anti-burglary capacity of windows and doors is classified with a scale of values ranging from RC1 to RC6. Unfortunately, there is no device that can 100% prevent a theft. However, the higher the safety class of a window, the longer it will resist the thief before it can enter (and probably the attacker will be forced to make more noise).

I also point out that the insertion of railings on balconies and windows and the use of anti-lifting shutters are very effective measures. You can find all these solutions for sale online on Windowo.

I also recommend reading the Windowo blog article: " What to do after a home burglary? ".

How to choose the color of the fixtures?

The eye also wants its part. Today the windows are created in different models, colors and variations made to measure according to the specific needs of the buyer. The size, shape, and color can be almost freely chosen by the customers. Thus over time the doors and windows have been transformed from functional mere objects into real furnishing elements capable of expressing the personality of those who live them every day.

In reality, the choice of window colors is not always free. For example, in the case of an apartment in a condominium, the decision on the exterior color is bound to the condominium aesthetics. Even in these situations, you will still have the opportunity to express your aesthetic tastes by influencing the design of the inside of the window.

The prices of doors and windows for the home

Now let's move on to the prices of windows . You may have already wondered how much the fixtures cost.

In summary, the price of a window depends on:

• type of opening;
• more or less particular color;
• accessories and technical features;
• transport and installation;
• costs of disposal of old fixtures;
• guarantees and seriousness of the company.

The following table that I report to you is just an example and does not take into account installation costs and any guarantees.

Type of opening	Material	Prices per m ᒾ
Fixed windows	PVC	120 - 200 Euros
	Wood	200 - 300 Euros
	Aluminum	150 - 300 Euros
Vasistas windows	PVC	180 - 300 Euros
	Wood	300 - 500 Euros
	Aluminum	250 - 400 Euros
Sliding windows	PVC	800 - 1000 Euros
	Wood	1000 - 1300 Euros
	Aluminum	900 - 1200 Euros

At this point I remind you that new windows must be seen as an investment. The energy saving alone allows you to recover the cost of a window over the years thanks to the savings in the bill.

In addition, there are several window bonuses that incentivize the purchase of new windows allowing you to deduct a certain percentage from the cost of the same. In this regard, we have created an entire category of the blog dedicated to these tax breaks on windows.

Installation and maintenance of fixtures

The installation consists of the assembly operations of the windows.

Did you already know that more than half of the performance of a window or door depends on the quality of the installation? The consequence of this is that it makes no sense to buy the best windows, if then whoever installs them does not do it in the right way. Put simply, installing a window correctly means installing a product capable of blocking cold and noise , respecting the performance characteristics for which it was made.

How to evaluate the quality of the installation? If you want to understand it in a very short time I suggest you check:

• First of all, compliance with the obligations regulated by the UNI EN 14351-1 standard (such as the CE marking);
• The certification of the company that takes care of the installation;
• The installer's website in order to evaluate its seriousness (in particular the testimonials section);
• The reviews you find online on social networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn;

I will pause for a moment on the first point. There are various certifications to help the customer in choosing the installation. The latter allow anyone to check whether a company is qualified for a certified installation of the window or door . Among the best known certifications there are the IFT Rosenheim or the CasaClima Agency .

How to find the best windows online and save money?

The Windowo online store is at your service in the search, not only of the individual components, but also of the product ready to be assembled.

Whether you are looking for a window in PVC , aluminum or wood, we can certainly help you find the ideal solution.

To receive a proposal for the purchase of fixtures, just contact us by visiting our contact page .

My conclusions

"As long as there are windows, the humblest human being on earth will have his share of freedom."
Amélie Nothomb

The search for the best home windows is not a simple thing. With this guide I hope I have given you some help in making a more informed choice. I wish you to find exactly the right window for your home.

Do you still have any doubts? Leave a comment below or request a free quote from our support service.