Room With A View
By Ed Roskowinski, CR
Windows and glass doors are a vital feature in any home. They create an important connection between the interior and exterior spaces of the home and if we’re lucky, they allow spectacular views of our ever-changing outdoor environment. Windows are also a great way to show your own personal style, since window and door units available today are as unique and interesting as the homeowners who purchase them.
These days Energy Star is holding window manufacturers to a very high standard; I like Marvin Windows and Doors. With not only double glaze (two pieces of glass), but also triple glaze units, windows are no longer the heat and cold mongers they used to be. They’re designed to reflect solar heat and harmful UV light during the summer and hold in a home’s warmth during the winter. Now entire walls can be constructed of glass without worrying about drafts or significant energy loss.
While energy efficiency is a key concern among homeowners, we also want products that are durable and easy to maintain. Exterior finishes on new windows are typically factory finished, durable and never require painting or reglazing. Marvin creates their units with a durable extruded aluminum exterior with a fluoropolymer Kynar finish. The aluminum is much thicker and the finish is more durable than most window units, minimizing damage from hale, rain or the sun. Also, many window units now have a cleaning feature, which allows the window sash to spin so the exterior of the glass can be cleaned from the interior. Now you have more time to just enjoy the view, and no more extension ladders!
Speaking of the view, windows are a significant part of your home’s architecture. The color, style, location and design of a window can dramatically change how a home looks and feels. Higher-end window manufacturers offer an endless array of features and customization so you can make your windows and home fit your unique LIFESTYLE.
Ed Roskowinski is General Manger and VP of Vujovich Design Build, Inc., a 35-year design build firm specializing in building and remodeling unique Twin Cities homes for unique homeowners.
