Wood Windows

Home Improvement Guide

Wood Windows: A classic look for a modern home

Windows Types: Wood

Are you looking for new windows, but don't know where to start? Don't worry, you're among friends. With so many different windows styles and materials to choose from, most people have to do a little homework before they take the plunge. For your first lesson, you're going to learn about window materials.

Windows are generally made from wood, vinyl, or fiberglass. Wood window types are the most popular from an aesthetic standpoint, but pure wooden windows are a pain to maintain. They have to be repainted or refinished frequently to avoid water damage, and they eventually will rot. Because wood expands and contracts with changes in temperature, it often warps within a window frame, which can cause drafts and inefficient insulation.

Today, most wood window types are actually only clad in wood, but made from vinyl or aluminum. This means that a small layer of wood is applied to the core composite material to achieve the wood aesthetic. These wood window types enable buyers the best of both worlds. They can have the wooden look and the durability of a composite material. Maintaining a wooden clad window is much easier, because the rot factor has been minimized. Also, by buying a wooden clad window, you won't have to worry as much about insulation problems down the road.

The other window types--vinyl and fiberglass--are much more durable than wood. From an aesthetic standpoint, fiberglass windows can be stained to look a lot more like wood than vinyl. Unfortunately, fiberglass is generally the more expensive of the two composite materials.

Here are a few companies that can give your home a new window on the world: