Wood Windows

Not so many years ago, nearly all residential windows were made from wood. In fact, in years past, many wood windows were custom made to fit each window in a home. Wood windows provide a beautiful traditional look for your home, particularly if you have, or want to have, double hung windows.

Today, most people favor vinyl windows over wooden windows. This is primarily for two reasons: vinyl windows are typically less expensive and vinyl windows require virtually no maintenance. Wood windows require painting, and eventually wood window casings rot from weather exposure. Vinyl windows, however, never need painting; in fact they can’t be painted. In addition, vinyl windows never expand or contract due to weather, and they never rot.

However, many people also choose vinyl windows because they believe that wood windows aren’t as energy efficient. And, it’s true that old wooden windows are not particularly energy efficient. They typically have a single pane of glass, and over the years, the wood may have warped or changed shape and altered the tightness of the window in the casing.

However, today’s wood replacement windows are extremely energy efficient. They are typically double paned, with an argon gas chamber between the panes, just like vinyl replacement windows. The glass panes are made from much thicker glass than wooden windows from the past, too.

So, while most people believe that they must replace their old windows with vinyl ones, the fact is that you can achieve a significant improvement in your energy efficiency by replacing your old wooden windows with new, energy efficient windows. In fact, you’ll find many wood replacement windows with the same Energy Star efficiency rating as comparable vinyl windows.

Today, replacement wood windows come readily available in most standard sizes. However, if you have odd sized windows, you may need to have custom wood windows made for your home. However, this is not as daunting a task as it might seem. There are many replacement window companies who are accustomed to making all of their customers’ wood replacement windows for a custom fit.

So, when you’re considering replacing those old wood windows in your home, don’t overlook the possibility of replacing them with new, energy efficient, wood windows. Not only will they improve the energy efficiency and the beauty of your home, but they’ll maintain your home’s original character, too.