Basic types of windows for your home

Depending on the style of your home and your reasons for replacing windows, you'll have several basic types of windows to choose from. While you want to find windows that help enhance the look of your home, you also need to ensure that they're sturdy enough to handle shifts in weather and to last for years to come.

Vinyl windows are the most popular replacement windows and are available in various styles, prices, and energy efficiency ratings. Made of rigid, impact-resistant PVC, these windows contain heat well and prevent harmful condensation from forming. You can also spend a bit more on extra-thin frames, which provide more visibility and allow more natural light to shine through.

Vinyl windows, however, can distort under extreme temperatures, causing air leakage. You'll also need to be satisfied with the limited color selection available, because they can't be painted.

Fiberglass windows are a considerable upgrade from vinyl. They're more durable and energy-efficient as well as maintenance-free. They're also more expensive - about 25% more than the cost of vinyl. Still, people who plan to stay in their homes for 10 years or more may invest in fiberglass since they'll make up the added cost with energy savings.

The most common windows in older construction are wood frame windows. While wood is an excellent insulator, wood frame windows are subject to shrinkage, swelling, and eventually rot, if exposed to harsh weather conditions. New wood frame windows are also considerably more expensive than vinyl.

Wood frames are typically sold unfinished, but you can find them pre-painted or primed, or you can pay extra to have them customized. Whichever type of window you choose, the exterior surfaces need to be repainted every few years for protection against weather damage.

A subset of wood frame windows, clad wood windows feature a wooden interior and a tough but attractive exterior made of aluminum or vinyl. The exterior covers the sash and frame to help resist rot and rust and to minimize maintenance. With vinyl, the color saturates the material, helping to hide imperfections like scratches. Aluminum is a more durable material that's easier to paint, but is a poor insulator.

Aluminum frame windows are more durable and thinner than bare wood windows. These frames are a favorite of architects for their versatility, style, and low cost. While well insulated to reduce condensation and heat loss, they're not very energy efficient. Aluminum frames are not a good fit in particularly damp areas such as beachfront property, where the atmosphere could corrode the material over time.

Steel frame windows are the most resistant to atmospheric changes but also the most expensive. They are typically used more in business environments than they are in homes because they're stronger and can accommodate extremely large panes of glass.

If outside noise is a big concern, soundproof windows can significantly reduce noise levels. These windows are available in assorted colors, feature spring-loaded seals to keep in sound and block out noise, and offer improved insulation. Unlike the window types described above, soundproof windows are also available as add-ons that can be quickly and cleanly installed behind your existing windows. Consider soundproof windows if you want a quiet living environment, or if your office overlooks busy city streets or highways.