Why wood windows? Part 1

June 18th, 2007

Why would you choose wood-framed windows?After all, they need a paint job every couple of years, they get stuck in the tracks, they’re hard to clean and harder to repair or reglaze, they’re expensive–in general, they’re a pain, right?

Not any more. Thanks to a host of productinnovations, today’s wood windows are more reliable, durable, and versatile than you might expect. Streamlined hardware, smooth-working rigid plastic tracks, snap-out muntins, low-maintenance cladding, and a new generation of glazings are among recent improvements.

Besides natural warmth and beauty andgood thermal properties, a wood-framed window can lend a distinctive style to a house fa*eade and interior. Major manufacturers build windows in a wide range of standard sizes and shapes, including squares, octagons, trapezoids, bull’s-eyes, semicircles, and more. If you have an odd-size opening or a special shape in mind, you can custom-order from a major firm or from a small specialty shop (for leads, look in the yellow pages under Windows –Wood).

As you might guess, wood windows aren’tcheap; a double-glazed 4- by 6-footer with fixed center pane and two openable casements, like the one being installed at top, can cost up to $600. But if you plan to build or remodel, they’re worth a look.

Pros and cons of wood and cladding: tradeoffs in styling and maintenance

Most wood windows are made of ponderosapine (“western pine’ in some brochures) or Douglas fir. To extend the wood’s life, it is factory treated with a water repellent preservative before assembly. Depending on your order, the exposed wood may be bare or primed; you do the final staining or painting.

Wood is a far better insulator than vinylor aluminum. But it is sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature, swelling as it absorbs moisture, contracting as it dries out. This ebb and flow occurs constantly, causing paint, putty, and other surface treatments to deteriorate. Left unprotected, wood will gradually check and rot.

To make a wood window last, you need torestain or repaint every few years–a neck-straining job if you have windows with muntins. Over time, accumulated paint on sash channels or sills can make windows harder to open and close, and may lead to air infiltration.

As an alternative, manufacturers developedclad models to keep the elements at bay: all exterior wood is sheathed by a thin coating of vinyl or aluminum, impervious to ultraviolet light. This allows you to skip painting and still enjoy the wood’s qualities indoors.

But cladding has its drawbacks. For starters,it increases your cost. Color choice is limited–typically white and a few shades of brown and gray. If those colors don’t suit you, buy a brand with a baked enamel cladding that can accept paint.

When shopping, ask about the makeup ofthe cladding. For greater strength and durability, buy a heavy-gauge extruded– rather than rolled–material. In extremely cold conditions, avoid vinyl cladding: it can turn brittle and crack.

Though many of the larger window companiesare based outside the West, they market extensively through home centers, building supply yards, or name-brand dealer networks–there’s no shortage of choice. Often the window you order is built at the plant, then shipped to the dealer, where it’s readied for installation before it’s delivered to you. If you don’t like that idea, you can find companies that manufacture closer to home; there’s less risk of damage to the product in transit, and you may find a dealer who’s more responsive if problems arise later.

There’s one important hitch: all manufacturersdo not make windows in identical sizes. Say you have a 4- by 5-foot opening; you may find only one window company sells that size as “standard.’ If you can live with that brand and style, fine. But if you prefer a different brand, you’ll likely have to alter the rough opening or custom-order.

Standards and options: what to look for in glazing, working design, grilles

In most styles, you can choose betweensingle, double, and triple glazing. Double- and triple-glazed windows have a sealed airspace between panes; the air acts as an insulator and minimizes condensation.

(Triple glazing is seldom cost efficient,except in coldest climates. Instead, consider double-glazed windows with interchangeable storm windows and screens.)

Also available is a system with one fixedand one removable pane; the second pane fits into the frame with quick-release finger locks. The removable pane can be clear, tinted, or low-emissivity glass. Advantages? It’s easier to replace single glazing than double if the window gets broken. You can also fit miniblinds between the panes if light and privacy are both important, as in a bathroom. Disadvantages? Some homeowners we interviewed complained of condensation between the panes. You have four sides of glass to clean (the panels are not airtight). And this system is relatively expensive.

You can also choose regular glass or lowemissivityglass; see the box on page 72. Construction is important. Each pane should be fully sealed in the sash, with thermal breaks–additional enclosed airspaces–built into the frame. Weatherstripping should provide an uninterrupted seal around the window when it’s closed. Also consider functional design. For example, newer casement windows have sliding pivot arms so they can open 4 or more inches in from the corner, for easier cleaning of the outer pane.

COPYRIGHT 1987 Sunset Publishing Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

Entry Filed under: Wood Windows