Windows are an important part of your home’s aesthetics and one of the first things that people see from the exterior of the home.  Older windows simply are not as energy efficient as new windows today simply because technology has changed.  Windows can account for up to 25 percent of total house heat loss.  Replacing old windows in your home is a good way to decrease heat loss, reduce noise, and to improve the overall appearance of your home. Nearly 70 percent of replacement windows installed use either an aluminum frame or a vinyl frame.  Although the most important design feature of modern windows is multiple pane glass filled with gas (Low E), deciding on the type of frame is important to the success of your home remodeling project.

If you’re looking at adding new windows to your home, you may want to stop for a moment to consider whether they’re necessary at all.  Choosing and installing new windows can be an expensive project depending on the style and size you choose.  If you keep the same size that you had before, then you won’t incur the cost of having to hire a carpenter to re-frame around the windows to accommodate the new window size.  This can get expensive very quickly because now you are dealing with framing,  structure, drywall and the exterior of your home.  The most affordable types of windows are Aluminum and Vinyl windows.  They come in a variety of sizes and colors.  Wood windows can be a very expensive product, but they look awesome.  Most of my clients in San Antonio choose aluminum or vinyl windows because of the cost.  Not to mention that the sun gets pretty hot down here and most of my clients plan on using some sort of mini-blind or curtain to keep the sun out.   Unless you are using your windows as a focal point of a room, most people won’t even be able to tell an expensive wood window from an aluminum window.  Most times windows are only seen from the exterior of the home because from the inside, the window has some sort of window treatment.”  Danny Garcia, owner of Rhino Design Build, LLC in San Antonio, Texas.

Window Diagram

Sash – The framework holding the glass in the window.
Jambs – Refers to side jambs and the head jamb. Side jambs are the vertical members of a window frame and the head jamb is the horizontal member across the top.
Sill – The horizontal bottom of the window frame that is sloped away from the interior.
Pane – Also known as glazing, this is the glass portion of the window. It can also be made out of other transparent materials
Frame – Parts of a window that are assembled together to enclose the sash. These parts are then placed into and attached to the rough opening.
Mullion – The vertical or horizontal member separating windows in a series. It is the typical way multiple windows are joined together within one opening.
Stool – The projecting shelf-like piece at the bottom of a window which rests on the apron.
Stop – Trim that prevents an operable window sash from moving laterally or vertically.