The View on Sunroom Windows
Control your environment from the inside
Of all the features that make a sunroom such a special part of a house, it is the windows that really give it its star quality. The whole reason-to-be of a sunroom is that you can sit out there and enjoy the sensation of being outdoors but knowing you are protected from the elements by beautiful panes of glass. Sunroom windows are vital to the creation and maintenance of a comfortable indoor climate. When it's snowing outside, enjoy watching the flakes fall while you sip hot cocoa from your bean bag, looking out. During a downpour of rain, press your nose to the glass and revel in the joy and comfort of being inside, cozy and dry.
You have a number of options for sunroom windows. Of greatest importance is the amount of UV protection they afford you. Obviously you will enjoy the sunshine that pours in through the windows, but without some kind of protection such as glazing or tinting, you could burn to a crisp even though you are inside your own home.
As well, you need to ensure that the style and design of your sunroom windows is compatible with those in the rest of the house, otherwise the sunroom itself won't make a great deal of sense to the overall appearance of the building.
Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is something a lot of people are becoming increasingly concerned about and the glass you choose for your sunroom windows can make a big difference. Triple-paned glazing features three individual panes of glass that form two insulating layers to prevent heat loss. Argon filled windows are another excellent choice for sunrooms. Argon is a gas whose thermal conductivity is about two thirds that of regular air and therefore offers improved insulation. Low emission or low-E glass is a window coated with extremely thin layers of either silver or another reflective metal. Light is able to penetrate the glass but the transfer of heat is prevented meaning that extremes of hot or cold stay outside and on the inside, temperature maintenance is made easier.
Safety glass
Sunroom windows that make up a ceiling are sometimes called skylights. Building codes require that for this purpose, safety glass be used and this is a heat treated glass that, if broken, simply crumbles into blunt pieces and not large, sharp glass shards. Hail, falling debris and the odd ball kicked on to the roof will be far less of a danger.
Materials used
- Wood - Although more expensive than the other types, wood sunroom windows offer excellent energy efficiency. They do need to be touched up every few years and can also be customized according to the customer's needs.
- Aluminum - Not as energy efficient but require little to no maintenance. It's recommended to include a thermal break to minimize the transfer of heat.
- Vinyl - Offering the greatest energy efficiency, vinyl windows are mid range in terms of cost and come in a good array of colors and can even be painted.
- Clad - These offer about the same energy efficiency of wood frames, require very little maintenance and are the most popular option for sunroom windows.
Fixed or opening
You can save money by choosing fixed sunroom windows but when you consider how long you will have to live with those windows, you'll realize that the investment in opening ones may be wiser.
Of course you can have your sunroom windows customized for size, shape, color and design but anything not bought 'off the rack' will have extra costs involved.