NEW CONSTRUCTION WINDOWS

Are you in the process of selecting windows for your new home? At LR Glass & Window, we offer an extensive range of styles and features to fulfill your requirements for both residential and commercial new construction projects. Our experts will guide you through the various types, styles, and specifications to consider when choosing windows for your new building.

Single Hung Windows and Double Hung Windows

Most new-construction projects use single hung windows or double hung windows. Both are energy efficient allowing your house to stay warm during the winter and cool during the summer. These two types of windows look mostly identical from a distance, but they are operational different. Single hung windows have a stationary upper sash with the lower sash opening to let fresh air in. Both top and bottom sashes on double hung windows can be opened giving you better air movement and they tilt allowing for easier cleaning of the glass.

Sliding Windows

Side sliding windows are a good alternative to single or double hung window type. They make opening the window a lot easier, the view is better, and are easier to clean. The down side is that they don't look as classic from the outside and it gives you less inside wall space for pictures and paintings or shelves. Sliding windows come in all shapes and sizes to meet your needs. They can provide more light into a room than single hung without getting the sun directly coming in because sliding windows are usually not as tall.

Awning Windows

For small rooms, awning windows provide several nice features like an an unobstructed view. Awning windows swing out to let in fresh air for ventilation rather than having two framed sashes. This allows for only one framed window sash so the view is the same as a casement window but with the ability to open it. This type of window is lower cost than vertical or horizontal sliding windows and they offer a more energy efficient design as there is less junctions between sashes for heat to get in or out. Awning windows are hinged at the top and usually operated with a crank handle on the bottom of the window frame.

Bay Windows

To add interest to your house from both inside and out, look into building in a bay window in your new house construction. Bay windows consists of three windows that stick out at an angle from the wall. This adds space to your room, provides a better view, and more light than other window types. Bay windows usually need to be planned when you are drawing up the plans for your new home. They work well in living rooms, family rooms, dining rooms, or breakfast nooks. They are usually only three windows but can have four or five windows in them as well. You will want to consider if you want all casement windows or a center casement window and single hung side windows. Or you may want all single hung windows. Awning windows would also be a good choice here. There are lots of options with bay windows so be sure to look at lots of photos to help you decide. Another name for bay windows is oriel window which is a projecting bay window corbeled or cantilevered out from a wall which is usually on the second or third floor. A bow window combines four or more casement windows joined together to form a rounded arch rather than a box shape. If you are looking for bay windows for sale, LR is here to help you.

Casement Windows or Crank Windows

Picture windows are the same as what we call casement windows which is a more modern term for them. They are rectangular, non-opening windows. They are great for letting in lots of light, and much lower cost than opening windows and the view is really great. Casement windows can add a modern appearance to your house similar to office buildings or commercial buildings where they are most common. They are the most emergency efficient both from a manufacturing and heat loss perspective. It is best to place them in your house where you have the best view of the outdoors. Living rooms are great choices. You can have several in a row or one or two larger ones. There are some types of casement windows now that open to the side similar to an awning window with a crank. This is a good way to cool your house down in the evening during the heat of the summer.

Window Grids or Window Muntins

They come with plain glass or grids that are flat or sculptured. The grids are make of aluminum and are usually white in color but can match the color of the window frame. The grids add a classic look to your house and give it more curb appeal. It does interfere with with your view of the outside but is not that much of a sacrifice compared to the benefit of the upscale style. A modified type of grids is what is called Prairie style grids. This is where there are only three or four aluminum grid pieces that are in about 4 inches from the frame of the window and cross at the corners. Other styles of grids are Colonial, England, Elegant, Heritage, Diamond, Classic, Cathedral, Traditional, Perimeter, Double Perimeter,Double Prairie, Mission, Arts and Crafts, Craftsman, and Victorian.

Skylights for New Construction

Skylights can add light and connection to the outdoors in both small closed off areas like bathrooms and closets but also in larger living areas where it brings the beauty of the sky right into your living space. Skylights are available as fixed, tubular, or vented models. You can think of them as a low-cost investment to lower your power bill for the life of the house. The quality of the light is also like nothing else. Sunlight makes everything that it lights look beautiful.

Storm Windows

Storm windows are a low-cost way to increase the efficiency your new construction windows. Storm windows have an extra pane of glass that is placed over the current window which helps to keep your home warmer in the winter time and cooler in the summer time. They also protect from wind and outside noise. We have stormtightwindows available. If you live in a part of the United States that has hurricanes, then you might be looking for hurricane windows to protect your windows from hurricane winds and debris which are also called hurricane impact windows.

Energy Efficient Windows

LR Glass & Window offers reliable and energy-efficient windows from the best companies, including Milgard, Prime, Pella, and Cascade windows. Not sure what the best style and brand of windows are for you? Call us or visit our showroom and we will give you recommendations. Style and type of windows should be an integral part of the design stage of you building project. Talk with your architect and with us several times and take time to consider your living style and what is important to you. How you will use your home and what part of the home it is will determine the type of windows you want and where to put them. Consider your home at different parts of the day and where the sun will be so you can maximize the light available to you while protecting your home from summer heat. Window frames are offered in aluminum, fiberglass, or vinyl.

Milgard Fiberglass Windows

Fiberglass window frames are made of glass fibers mixed with resin. The benefits is that the frame expands and contracts very little with the temperature. It can look more like wood for beauty but is also strong and has lasting durability. The frames and be painted to match the house color.

High Quality Vinyl Windows

Vinyl windows frames are strong, durable, and look nice for many years without paint. They can be easily cleaned to maintain a new appearance. Vinyl frames do not require staining or painting like aluminum frames. Recent advances in vinyl frame helps reduce cracking, warping, and color fading. They are very energy efficient because vinyl does not transmit heat very well compared with aluminum frames. They are low cost to produce making them economical. Another benefit is that they are also recyclable which makes them environmentally friendly. The disadvantage is the flexibility of the material restricts the size and weight of the glass they frame. Vinyl window frames can soften, bow, twist, and warp if they get too hot. The color can fade with many years of being exposed to the sun.

High Quality Aluminium Windows

Aluminum framed windows can last more than 30+ years. They can last so long because aluminum is very resistant to heat, wind, and water compared to other vinyl and fiberglass frame material. It does not warp compared to other types. Aluminum is also quite light and strong which means it is hard to damage. The disadvantage is aluminum is a poor insulator of heat. Because it is metal, it pulls heat from inside or out and transfers it through the material. Another issue is that condensation or even frost can develop inside aluminum framed windows more easily, which can cause issues.

High Quality UPVC Windows

Not all windows are created with the same quality. There are many manufacturers that offer low cost windows but they cut a lot of corners in material and workmanship to keep the price low. The framing material can crack or break, the sealing can of the panes from moisture can fail, and the hardware can fail preventing the window from opening correctly. LR Glass & Window only partners with companies that manufacturer high quality products so you can be sure that your windows for your newly constructed home will work and last for many years to come. Good companies are Milgard, Prime, Pella, and Cascade windows.

Energy Efficient Windows

New construction windows are used when a home is first constructed or an addition with windows is added to your existing home. Usually the windows are install prier to the installation of the siding so the siding can be placed over the window frame flanges that are used to nail to the house studs. The area between the siding and the window frame is then caulked to weather seal the connection between the window frame and wall of your house. They makes your home very energy efficient by preventing air leakage when the windows are closed. It is hard to replace the window frame later so buying high quality windows that will last the life of the home is important. The glass panes can be replaced later without too much trouble if they should ever get broken but you should try to keep the same frames if at all possible. The most energy efficient windows or the best energy efficient windows have a high R value, a low U factor, triple pane glass, low-e coatings, and foam in the frame. High efficiency windows allow you to have money on heating and cooling your home. The most energy efficient windows 2022 are windows from Milgard that have state of the art EdgeGardMAX window pane spacers, argon gas filled, 4th surface, and triple glaze. The have a U-Factor of 0.20 and SHGC of 0.25 which ENERGY STAR v6 Northern certification or R5.

What is the R Value of a Window

Another aspect of new construction windows is the insolation value of them. We talk about the R value in your walls, but there is also an R-value for windows as well. R value is the resistance to thermal energy being transmitted through the material. It is calculated based on several measurements, the area of the window, door, or wall, the temperature difference between outdoors and indoors, and lastly the time the heat is allowed to move. We calculate the R-value with this formula. R-value = ft2 × °F × h / BTU. For example, R-1 is equal to 1 square foot times 1 degree Fahrenheit difference times 1 hour divided by BTU (British Thermal Units).

Single-pane 1/4 in. thick windows with no glazing have an R-value of around 0.90. A double-paned window would have an R-value of 1.7.

What is U Factor

The U-value is a rating of the thermal resistance of the whole window unit, thus the U is for unit. This is a more useful rating of a window as it lets you know how the window will perform in installed in your new construction. The U-factor will vary not only based on the glass but also the frame material and the gasket quality in the window. The lower the U-factor value, the higher the insulating performance of a window element. U-factor on windows generally range from 0.25 to 1.25. It is calculated with the formula BTU / h (hours) / ft2 - °F.

Difference Between Double and Triple Pane Windows

For an example of a casement window, the typical R-value for double-pane windows is R3.8. The U-factor would be about 0.26. For a triple-paned window the R-value would be R5 and the U-value would be about 0.20; This is with argon gas between the panes. This would also be for ENERGY STAR rated windows that have a Low-E coating and foam in the interior window frame. On average triple-pane windows cost 10-15% more than double-pane units. Opting for triple-pane windows can save an additional 2-3% on your energy bill annually. Your climate should be the determining factor as to whether triple-paned windows will make economic sense for your house. If your window temperatures don't generally go below 15° F, then you will probably not save money on heating by opting for triple-pane windows. If you live farther north where the lows can be -20° F, than opting for triple-pane windows might save you money if the rest of the house is well insulated.

What is Low E Glass

Low-E means low emissivity and describes window glass that has a solar control coating to improve thermal performance. Glass coating technology makes windows more energy efficient.

The implementation of low-E (low-emissivity) coatings on glass is a revolutionary approach to energy efficiency and protection for homes. By applying a thin coating on one side of the window glass, low-E windows reflect heat outward during the summer to prevent excessive warming and retain heat within the building in the winter to maintain warmth. This dual action not only ensures more consistent temperatures throughout the year, enhancing comfort within the home, but it also leads to significant energy savings by reducing the need to excessively cool or heat the space.

Moreover, the low-E coatings play a crucial role in protecting interior furnishings from the damaging effects of UV rays, which can cause carpets, furniture, and other materials to fade over time. This is particularly advantageous for preserving the quality and color of your interior decor without having to resort to heavy draperies or constantly closed blinds.

Milgard's SunCoat and SunCoatMAX are advanced versions of this technology, offering Low-E2 and Low-E3 coatings, respectively. These options provide even greater UV protection, with SunCoatMAX being the more superior of the two in terms of reducing UV penetration. This ensures that homes not only benefit from improved thermal efficiency but also from enhanced protection against the sun's damaging effects, making these low-E coated windows an excellent investment for homeowners looking to improve their home's comfort, energy efficiency, and interior preservation.

What is Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)

What is SHGC for windows? SHGC measures the amount of solar radiation that can transmit through a window. It is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat the window transmits. what is a good solar heat gain coefficient for windows? You will see a SHGC of 0.25 on the low end which is very good. What does solar heat gain coefficient mean? It means that solar radiation is penetrating through the glass in your windows and we want to measure that to know how efficient your windows will be. Windows with low solar heat gain coefficient allows your home to stay cooler during the summer.

What is Shading Coefficient (SC)

Shading coefficient (SC) is a measure of thermal performance of a glass window in a home. It is the ratio of solar gain passing through a glass window to the solar energy which passes through 3 mm clear glass. It is an indicator of how well the glass is thermally insulating or shading the inside when there is direct sunlight on the house window. The industry previously used the shading coefficient (SC) as a measure but has since changed to Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). They are a similar concept but different. The main difference is that shading coefficient only measures the glass where as the solar heat gain coefficient also includes the frame of the window.

What is 4th Surface

A 4th Surface on a window allows double-pane windows to perform like triple-pane. It is a Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) durable coating that increases the U-factor of the window. It does this by reflecting heat back into the home. 4th Surface supplies energy performance with a double pane window that was only available with a triple-pane option. It allows more light transmittance and less reflectance than triple glazing which gives it an advantage over triple pane windows.

Energy Performance Ratings

National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is a United States 501(c)3 non-profit organization who administers an independent rating and labeling system for the energy performance of windows, doors, and skylights. NFRC provide performance ratings based on U-value, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, Visible Transmittance, Air Leakage, and Condensation Resistance. Purchasing windows is a significant investment in research and money. Everyone wants efficient windows but with all the ratings, it is hard to know what will be useful for you situation. The NFRC is here to help you sort it all out.

If you would like to replace the windows you already have in a house or business, we also offer home window replacement services.