The bow window is a close relative of the bay window, and they’re often confused with each other (see image below). The bow window is gently curved rather than angled and is considered a more graceful feature when used in a house’s living area. The bow window receives its name from the arrangement of a series of windows that arc out from the house’s exterior walls.
Typical Bow Window
Because of their curved shape, bow windows are necessarily made up of relatively narrow sashes or of many small fixed panes. When sashes are used, they’re generally the casement and occasionally the double-hung type. Read more...
Like any other feature in a house, windows can also have their drawbacks:
1. Large expanses of glass increase heat loss during periods of cold temperatures and become a source of unwanted, and at times uncontrollable, solar heat gain during warmer months.
2. In the summer, windows not only let the hot sun in to make the inside of a house uncomfortably warm, but they also permit sunlight to fade the color from carpeting, paneling, furniture upholstery, and practically anything else.Read more...
Additional Glass Options Include:
- Low-e glazings are special coatings that reduce heat transfer through windows. The coatings are thin, almost invisible metal oxide or semiconductor films placed directly on one or more surfaces of glass or on plastic films between two or more panes. The coatings prevent heat loss during winter and slow heat from entering the house in the summer.
- Spectrally selective coatings are considered to be the next generation of low-e technologies. These coatings filter out from 40 to 70 percent of the heat normally transmitted through clear glass, while allowing the full amount of light transmission.Read more...
In this day and age, it no longer makes sense to install windows having only a single thickness of glass. Instead, all exterior windows located in living areas or heated areas of a house should be double- or triple-paned. The additional expense is well worth it; you should save enough in fuel and energy costs to more than make up for the initial investment within a few years and have a more comfortable home in the meantime.
More advantages to using double- or triple-pane windows as opposed to a combination of single-pane sashes and storm windows are that the multipanel windows offer a better appearance; are easier to clean; and provide increased soundproofing, a permanent installation, and even a better overall price. In all multipane windows, specify that the thickness of the sash is at least 13?8 inches. Read more...
There are three types of glass panels typically used to construct modern windows: plate glass, tempered glass, and insulating glass panes.
Plate Glass
This is the standard glass normally used in house windows. It can be plain or tinted to reduce glare and can be doubled up to sandwich in a thin airspace for insulating qualities. When struck or put under stress, it shatters into pieces that are usually very sharp. It’s an excellent material for windows, though, because it can be manufactured free of flaws and distortions.Read more...