The chill wind has begun to flow and the temperature has already dropped close to 2°. It means the heavy snowfall is right around the corner. But is your home window ready to deal with the bone-chilling weather?
Whether it’s summer, fall, or winter in Canada, choosing the best window type for your home is crucial. You need to understand some crucial factors before choosing the best window type, such as —
- How the window will look combined with your home architecture
- Is the frame suiting the window style
- What advantages you’ll get through a specific window type
Interested to know more about the window design for your Canadian home? Keep reading!
Best Window Frame Material for Canadian Home
During window frame material selection, it’s essential to consider both the material’s performance and the window design that complements it. Here are some of the best window frame material for your home:
Vinyl Frames
These frames are highly energy-efficient, providing excellent insulation against the cold Canadian winters and hot summers. They are also low maintenance and resistant to moisture and rot.
Vinyl frames work well with various window designs, including casement, sliding, and double-hung windows. Their versatility allows for both traditional and modern aesthetics.
Fiberglass Frames
If you need a window frame that offers strength and durability, fibreglass frames are your one-stop solution! The sturdiness of this material can withstand the extreme weather conditions in Canada.
Additionally, they offer superior insulation and can withstand temperature fluctuations without warping. Fiberglass frames are particularly suited for larger window designs, such as picture windows and expansive sliding doors.
Wood and Vinyl Frames
This material is also known as composite material, which offers the benefits of wood and vinyl. Composite frames also offer adequate insulation and low maintenance convenience.
They’re resistant to moisture and temperature changes, making them suitable for various Canadian climates. Composite frames are ideal for traditional designs, such as double-hung and casement windows with the aesthetic appeal of wood.
Wood Frames
This is one of the common picks for many homeowners looking for vintage and exquisite looks. However, they require regular maintenance to prevent rot and warping, especially in humid or wet seasons in Canada.
If you have traditional windows, such as sash and colonial-style windows, wood frames complement the window and interior design.
Aluminum Frames (with Thermal Breaks)
Aluminum window frames are strong and lightweight, making them suitable for large windows. However, they can conduct heat and cold, so it’s essential to choose options with thermal breaks for better insulation.
Aluminum frames are often used in modern and contemporary designs. You can pick this frame material for large fixed windows and sliding doors.
What to Consider While Choosing the Best Window Type for Your Home
Before you choose the window type for your home, you need to consider some factors to find the best design. Such as:
Climate and Weather Conditions
Whether you choose window materials or design, you must consider your location’s current climate and weather conditions. The window design also needs to be convenient for dealing with extreme weather conditions like heavy wind flow, snowfall, and storms.
Installation Quality
Proper installation is crucial for window performance. If you choose a window design that requires intricate installation, improper installation may occur.
Poorly installed windows can lead to air leaks and moisture problems. To maximize their efficiency and lifespan, ensure your windows are installed by certified professionals, like NUVO.
Ease of Maintenance
Some window designs, such as those with grills, skylights, or bay and bow, are difficult to clean and maintain. If you love clean and polished windows, you’ll simply need to clean them pretty often.
Therefore, you must consider the maintenance factor when picking the best window type for your home.
Aesthetic Appeal
Consider how the window type will look with your home’s design. Choose styles and materials that complement your home’s architecture and enhance its curb appeal. This will automatically increase the home value and take you a step ahead in the market competition.
Your Budget
This is the primary consideration that you must consider first. The installation and cost of the windows differ depending on the design. Hence, set your budget first and look for the best design within that range.
10 Best Window Types for Your Home
Now that you know the best type of materials and what to consider, let’s learn about the best window style for your Canadian home. Here are some examples:
1. Double-Hung Windows
This window style is very popular in most houses in Canada. It has two operating sashes, which move up and down, providing two openings for air to flow through.
This design is most especially suitable for the upper floor as it can also be cleaned from inside the house. Double-hung windows are available in many styles and can also be constructed from various materials to suit any architecture.
2. Casement Windows
These casement windows are hinged on one side and move outward to provide good airflow and unobstructed views. They’re driven by a crank, so they’re easy to open and close..
When you close the window, it creates a tight seal, making it energy efficient, and important for Canadian winters. Casement windows are perfect for hard-to-reach areas and can be run in multiple configurations to suit your home’s layout.
3. Sliding Windows
One of the common window styles is sliding windows, which are made up of two or more sashes sliding side by side. Sliding windows are more convenient for limited vertical space and easy to operate.
This design is commonly found in modern homes and gives you extensive views of the outdoors. Low maintenance obviously also means that thaw windows are practical for busy households.
4. Awning Windows
Like an awning, these windows open outward, hinged at the top. Heavy snowfall is around the corner in Canada, and awning windows are perfect for this climate. But how?
As the window sash hinged on top, you can keep your windows open without letting the snow enter. The same goes for rainy climates!
Usually, this window style is used in basements or kitchens for added ventilation. This design will first enter through the top and exit back off through the top.
Canadian homes will also find awning windows to be excellent options in terms of energy efficiency.
5. Bay Windows
Do you want to increase the square footage of your home? Bay windows stick out from the home, making them quite the focal point. They typically involve a central fixed window coupled with two smaller operable windows.
In this window design, you would have a lot of natural light and can actually create more unique seating space in your home.
Besides increasing your home’s curb appeal, you can effectively increase your home value with this vintage yet innovative style.
6. Bow Windows
Bow windows have many panels and look curvy, much like bay windows. They add a panoramic view to your home and appear to make your room feel larger.
Bow windows are often used in living rooms or dining rooms as a cozy and aesthetic look. If structured correctly, this design offers a fair amount of natural light and can improve the overall ambiance of a space.
7. Picture Windows
The name of this window is quite interesting if you’re hearing it for the first time. Similarly, the purpose of the picture windows is unique and appealing too.
Fixed windows that do not open are called picture windows. They are meant to frame beautiful views of the outdoors and let natural light flow freely into a room.
It’s an excellent idea for any household where air treatment isn’t that necessary, but the light is. Energy-efficient picture windows can add a great appearance to your home.
8. Single-Hung Windows
Single-hung windows have a bottom or lower sash that slides up and down and a fixed upper sash. Double-hung windows are more expensive than double-hung windows but are often used in many home styles.
While this design is simple but functional and perfect for most homeowners, you may use it in any room you like.
9. Skylights
Just like the name implies, you can see the sky directly through this window style. Skylights are installed on the roof and provide natural light to spaces that lack wall windows.
They can be fixed or operable, but a functional one is best for rooms that need ventilation. Skylights are excellent for brightening up dark areas naturally like hallways or bathrooms.
You can also enhance the architectural design of your home by installing this innovative window style.
10. Storm Windows
This one is different compared to the other window styles mentioned above. If you don’t have the budget to replace your existing window style, you can opt for this pocket-friendly solution.
Additional windows placed over real windows are called storm windows and they are used to add extra insulation and to protect from harsh weather. Fixed or removable, they’re a cost-effective way to improve energy efficiency.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the best window type for your home means considering a couple of factors like the climate, budget, window style advantages, and so on.
The installation cost may vary from $300 to $700 (CAD) depending on the window design and your location, except for the storm windows. Storm windows are usually cheap to install, ranging between $80 to $150 (CAD).If you need any professional help, feel free to book a consultancy quote on NUVO and make a schedule.
