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Let There Be Light! And Views....And Breezes! Part 1

Why would people spend all that money building houses, only to punch holes in them? For the views, baby! Thoreau was big time into nature, but even he would admit that Marley was right about sometimes needing to come in from the cold. And thus, ergo, windows popped up on the scene.

The earliest instances of glass-making occurred in Mesopotamia around 3,600 BCE, but those cats had no vision. Apparently, they only made beads with it!? Sure, dames like a nice necklace, but if ya really wanna impress a broad, youse gotsta give her a house what she can look outta.

But I digress.

In the Far East, windows were originally paper, then the Romans introduced glass panes around the 1st century. Other materials were still used throughout the millenia — flattened animal horns, greased paper — before glass became more commonplace in 17th century England. Finally, modern production processes led to widespread adoption.

Living in the foothills offers gorgeous views and mountain breezes, so let’s discuss your options of taking advantage of them. We’ll start by discussing what materials are available, then when we get back together, we’ll explore which configurations work best for each room.

Aluminum windows might have had a bum rap originally, because homeowners found them too cold. However, manufacturers began adding thermal breaks within the framing to counteract the metal’s tendency to transfer heat; in some instances, they wrap aluminum around wood, allowing a cladded look inside. Beyond that, the inherent strength of aluminum enables frames to be thinner, leading to larger glass surfaces. Also, aluminum is less impacted by the changes in temperature, so it is low maintenance, dents less, and has thirty-year durability, making it a contender for lowest cost over time.

A strong competitor is fiberglass, which is dimensionally stable, meaning it won’t change shape due to the weather, and it’s the most energy efficient; indeed, fiberglass has 800 times less thermal conductivity than aluminum, which is why new building codes often specify fiberglass for structures over three stories. Fiberglass has 86% of the yield strength of aluminum, but 70% of the weight for the same frame density, making it pound-for-pound stronger than aluminum in the lengthwise direction. It doesn’t rot, split or warp, so it offers great durability. Manufacturers often offer a variety of vibrant colors, but fiberglass doesn’t bend well, so specialty shapes aren’t readily available.

Wood has good thermal performance — 400 times better insulation than steel windows and 1,800 times better than vinyl — but if it is not properly sealed, it is susceptible to the elements. As such, higher end products will have sealants applied at the factory, while the more affordable models usually aren’t sealed, so will require tender love and care in the future. Wood has timeless beauty and wonderful adaptability, allowing it to be cut and produced into endless shapes, and it takes stains or paints well.

Because of wood’s higher maintenance requirements, many homeowners often choose a Goldilocks compromise: wood-clad windows with solid wood interior framing, but exteriors of other materials.

I’ve spoken highly of three framing materials, yet vinyl is easily the most widely used. You probably won’t need twenty questions to guess why. Yup, vinyl costs less. But that’s not all it has going for it. It has good insulating properties — it can be sealed to prevent air and water penetration — and comes in a number of colors that run through the vinyl, so it shouldn’t fade much over time, leading to lower maintenance. However, vinyl is more prone to expand and contract from temperature changes, so it’s probably the least durable. The good news, though, is it’s recyclable.

Composites are made from a mixture of materials, including resin and fiberglass. While newer on the scene, there’s finally enough feedback to suggest their durability will be fine. They are slightly more expensive than vinyl, but the material is stronger, allowing for smaller frames and larger glass sizes. Conversely, they often replicate the look of wood at lower upfront costs, can be similarly stained or painted, and there will be less maintenance overall.

Normally, I’d say something pithy here about dinner being ready, or the paper hounding me to send in my ad, but I have a real reason this time: the game is about to start! So we’ll end for now, then pick up the conversation in two weeks