Right now you’re probably wondering if we really need instructions on something as basic as opening windows. But, if you’ve been researching new or replacement windows in the Louisville area, you’ve likely learned that there are hundreds of types, styles, and materials on the market. There are even multiple ways to open them. We’re here to help you dig through the all of the information so that you can understand the basic functions of each window type, and which may be best for your home.

Let’s start with 5 of the most popular types of windows, and explore how they open:

Double Hung Windows are one of the most common window types you will find. They feature top and bottom sashes that both open, and allow you to double your ventilation. These classic windows are also available with a half round or an elliptical upper sash.

Click here to see Laurie Scarborough, one of our owners, demonstrate these windows.

Picture Windows are typically fixed windows that do not open. They get their name because they are clear glass that is situated in the home to look out at something you’d like to see, so as to frame your view. Much like a picture. Thus, the name.

You may be surprised to learn that we have a “fake fixed” picture window in our Shelbyville Road showroom. Laurie has more on these tricky windows HERE.

Casement Windows are found in homes of all ages all over Louisville. A casement window is a window with a sash that is hinged. While the most common type is hinged on the side, hinges can also be placed on the top or bottom. Many casement windows have cranks, but in those found in older homes in areas such as the Highlands—you’ll find casement windows that work when pushed out.

A great, but less common, type of casement window is one that is hinged at the top. We most often recommend these for a bathroom space, as the top hinge and obscure glass offer both ventilation and privacy. Let Laurie show you more on opening these windows HERE.

Gliding Windows are windows that function much like a sliding door, sliding or gliding into place on a track. If you live in a Mid-Century Modern home — built in the 1950’s or 1960’s — you may have this type of window. If so, we can help replace your windows while staying true to your home’s architectural integrity.

The gliding window in our showroom is a bi-parting sliding window, that opens in both directions.  Laurie has more on opening gliding windows HERE.

Tilt Turn Windows are one of the more fun and unique window options. These were designed and engineered in Europe…and found all over the continent. Tilt Turn windows work in two ways, the first is much like a door. In fact, in Europe they are often large enough to function as a door as well as a window. The second function works by tilting the window upward and in for ventilation. It looks much like a hopper window, with the hinges at the bottom.

Laurie has more on opening these unique windows HERE.

As you have seen, there are a lot of ways to open your windows! New windows can enhance the beauty of your home, improve its value, as well as help reduce energy costs and maintenance. We hope this information has helped you understand the various functions a bit better. If you’re ready to take the next step in buying new windows for your home, give us a call. We’d love to help.

If you’ve ever shopped for windows, you probably wondered whether you need low-e glass or if it’s just some marketing mumbo-jumbo. “Low-E” refers to low emissivity.

Ok. What does that mean?

Well, emissivity is a measure of how easily a surface transfers radiant thermal energy…the heat absorbed by objects. Low-emissivity means the surface transfers radiant thermal energy at a low level.

Energy-Efficient Benefits of Low-E Glass

We could go into the details of radiant energy and throw around terms like shortwave rays, long-wave rays and thermal radiation, but we want to keep this simple. The simple explanation of the energy-efficient benefits of low-e glass is that it reflects radiant

heat. In the summer, it keeps your home cool by reflecting away the heat radiating from sidewalks, driveways, patios, decks, and other objects that absorb heat. In the winter, it keeps your home warm by reflecting the radiant heat your furnace system worked so hard to create back into the house.

For example, compare low-e glass to aluminum foil. Foil reflects heat back toward the food to keep it warm. If you covered your windows with foil, your room would be cooler in summer and warmer in winter. But the view wouldn’t be so good. Low-e glass to the rescue!

Reduce Fading and Other Damage

Besides keeping your home more comfortable year-round, low-e glass also works to reduce the early fading of your wood floors,

carpeting, drapes and upholstery fabrics caused by ultraviolet (UV) and other damaging rays, by blocking about two-times more UV light than clear, single-pane glass.

Available on doors, too! – Doors can also benefit from low-e glass. We’ve seen examples of indoor rugs that completely faded in front of a full view door and wood floors that faded compared to the same floor underneath an area rug. The more glass on the door, the more important low-e glass becomes.

Our window and door experts can help you determine the right glass to use for your situation. Call us to get started.

Some Summer Energy-Efficiency Tips…

• Check the weatherstrip on your doors and windows. This is typically only considered in the winter to prevent drafts, but an improperly sealed window or door can let summer heat into the home, too.
• Install awnings, overhangs or shades over windows or doors that get extreme sun exposure. A combination of minimizing sunlight and adding low-e glass is the best way to reduce unwanted heat gain.
• Use window, ceiling and whole-house fans to keep your home a little cooler.

Integrity® from Marvin Windows and Doors has once again been named the “Best Quality Fiberglass Window Brand” in the 2015 Brand Use Study conducted by BUILDER Magazine. The company was also honored in 2014.

The study, sponsored by BUILDING Magazine publisher Hanley Wood and conducted by an independent third-party research company, surveyed more than 10,000 builders, developers and general contractors on their awareness and use of various brands in 69 different categories.

“Since adding the Integrity line to our window solutions, we’ve seen first-hand the outstanding performance of Integrity’s Ultrex fiberglass windows and this study confirms that many other professionals feel the same.”

– Ann Gregory, Partner at Door Store and Windows.

Here are some of our recent Louisville area fiberglass window projects using Integrity windows:

With Integrity’s Ultrex fiberglass windows, why settle for vinyl windows?

Integrity’s fiberglass windows are made with Ultrex — a state-of-the-art pultruded fiberglass that is eight times stronger than vinyl, three times stronger than wood/vinyl composites and as strong as steel. Integrity offers an All-Ultrex fiberglass line of products, as well as a Wood-Ultrex line that combines an real wood interior with a virtually indestructible fiberglass exterior. Both lines are available with numerous design and glazing options for both new construction and the remodel and replace market, and are available in six exterior finish colors (including darker colors such as Ebony, which most vinyl manufacturers cannot offer due to durability and fading concerns).

The toughness of Integrity’s Ultrex is legendary, making it quite possibly the perfect building material. It beautifully resists rotting, warping, fading and chipping. Additionally, Integrity’s Ultrex is currently the first and only finish to have achieved 624-10 verification from the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), and to have completed lab requirements for 625-10. These certifications mean that the industry’s best fiberglass finish has undergone rigorous testing and is proven to resist fading, chalking, scratching and cracking to keep your project looking good for years to come.