When it comes time to purchase new windows, there are several things to consider. How much money have you budgeted for the new windows? What thickness of glass do you want? What material do you want around the glass? And so on. These are all important questions that need answering before deciding what windows you’d like, and especially before actually purchasing those windows. So, take a look at some of the following important factors before beginning your project!

What’s your budget?

Probably the most important question to answer before even looking at windows or window sliding is how much you’re willing to spend. Windows can be really expensive, especially if you have a tight budget. So, it’s better to find out what things cost and then decide whether or not your budget will allow for those specific windows.

If you need to scale down the amount it would cost, no worries. Just look into cheaper materials. You can also always ask the installer if there are any discounts for materials or manpower happening at the moment.

How energy efficient would you like the glass to be?

Windows come with different levels of energy efficiency. This is especially important if you live in an extreme climate, as you’ll want the windows to either keep the heat inside (for a cold climate) or keep the heat outside (for a hot climate) of your home.

What affects the efficiency of the windows is the thickness of the glass. The three main types of glass are single pane, double pane, and triple pane. Single-pane glass doesn’t insulate the house well, and it breaks very easily (single-pane glass isn’t used very much anymore). However, double- and triple-pane windows insulate the house much better, and they are much more durable. They’re also better at blocking out the noise (which may be especially nice if you live in a busy, loud area). So, both double- and triple-pane windows are a good option, but triple-pane windows do tend to be significantly more expensive than double-pane.

What framing material would you like?

Other than the glass, there’s also the frame of the window to consider. Different framing materials have different benefits and drawbacks. For example, vinyl is rather affordable energy efficient, but it’s not as aesthetically pleasing as the other options; fiberglass provides great insulation and durability, but tends to be more expensive; aluminum is quite inexpensive and pretty durable, but it’s the worst in terms of efficiency; and finally, wood is both durable and reliable, and quite frankly provides the best efficiency (but it also requires a lot of maintenance).

So, based on your budget and preferences for the framing material around the windows, you can narrow down what kind of frame would be best for your home.

How safe do you want the windows to be?

Windows are also graded on how safe they are. The better the grade, the less likely it is that someone will be able to break in through your window (or, in some cases, even open it). You can find out what safety rating a specific window has by looking at its label or by asking the installer company. Many roofing companies, such as the Mighty Dog roofing company in Southwest Kansas City Metro, also install windows and can walk you through the purchasing process.

Depending on how close the window is to the floor, you’ll also want to know whether or not the glass you’re putting in is tempered. And if it’s on the upper floor (and especially if you have small children), you’ll want to make sure the glass won’t break easily.

Conclusion

These are a few of the things you’ll want to be aware of before purchasing new windows. There are other factors to consider as well (depending on what window design you want, your home’s location, etc.), but answering these four important questions will help you be well on your way to purchasing the windows that will be best for your beautiful home.