This is an old saying that "The windows are the eyes of a home." And the adage does ring true. From the inside of your home, you look out upon the world just as your eyes do.
From the outside, windows project a pretty light in the front of the house, just as your eyes do on your face. And if the eyes are the windows of the soul, another old adage, the eyes can work the same way and give the viewer a glimpse of the character of the house.
Windows give natural light to a room, but there is a great deal more that they do as well. They add character and can give a certain measure of beauty, if they are chosen correctly. That is why it is important to pick the right windows if you are replacing them. Replacement windows can update the beauty of your home, but they can also save you money in the long run by saving on energy costs. New windows have been shown to add significantly to the resale value of homes. There are so many types of replacement windows, at least one type to match each kind of home architecture. The following are just a few of them.
Casement windows. These types of windows open from the side by rotating a crank. They can be either one or two-paned. Usually they open just enough to let in a little light and air.
Sliding windows. This is a window where the panels are set into tracks and slide over one another. They are like mini sliding glass doors.
Double hung windows. These are the most traditional types, where two sashes lift over one another. The upper is slid down, leaving the top of the window open, or the lower is slid up, leaving the bottom open.
Bay windows. These are three sided windows that bow out from the front of the house. They are usually in more formal areas such as the living room, and create a small platform area that can be used for seating or to put plants on.
Bow windows. Similar to bay windows, they stick out from the house, but they have a series of sashes set at an angle. The sashes are at an slight angle to give the window a rounded look, in contrast to bay windows that have three sharp turns.
Garden windows. These are very popular for kitchen windows, since a little garden of herbs can be planted in the space which has good sun exposure. They resemble bay or bow windows in that they protrude from the house, but they are much smaller. They give a light of light to a small room such as a kitchen.
Skylights. These are in the roof of a house to provide additional natural lighting. They don't open as a rule, so as to guarantee a better seal. You can change the total look of your home as well as add additional useful features through the use of new windows.
Be careful about door to door salesmen or telemarketers who try to peddle replacement windows. In general, they are selling inferior quality and inferior installation at an inflated price. There is no need to rely on such a source when there are so many reliable sources for replacement windows.
You can take your time to judge all the sources after you have decided on your particular needs in terms or lighting, appearance and ventilation. You may even consider hiring a professional to help you with this decision. This very valuable addition to your home may be well worth it.
Johnathan Bakers works especially for http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com, a web publication covering information on home building, construction and other problems. You can have a look at his abstracts on replacement windows at http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com
Make Your Windows be The Eyes of Your Home
