Homeowners

All About Windows For Homeowners

Windows can make the difference between a home that is average and one that is spectacular! But choosing the right windows and incorporating them into your construction project are more complicated than you’d probably expect. There are infinite design possibilities that must work in conjunction with your house's entire design. Not to mention the fact that the windows need to be built right and to arrive on time. This section of our website outlines the major challenges in selecting your windows, and how your windows will affect the rest of your project.

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Windows are one of the first finished products on a job. In new construction, they are incorporated into your home once the structure is framed and has a roof. Windows are outsourced; once you place your order you can no longer change your mind without adding difficultly, expense and the potential for delays. Even without late stage changes to your order, windows will usually be among the top five most expensive invoices you’ll receive during the construction of your home.

Your new windows have to hold up to the rigors of construction and still look new when you turn the key for the first time. Because windows are a finished product, they affect decisions that you thought you wouldn’t have to make for another month. For instance while the foundation guys are digging trenches and setting up steel rebar, we’re already asking you what color handles you want on your windows to match the trim. Which leads to the question of whether you are going to stain or paint your windows? And then what color are you going to paint your walls and trim? So while you’re standing in a muddy lot watching guys mucking about, you have this window guy asking you things like colors and feel and do you want the handles on your doors to match your refrigerator or faucet? At Glass Concepts we understand these issues and we do our best to guide you through these planning situations.

To help you with this process, we’ve made a checklist so you can more efficiently see what decisions need to be made and how to make more informed decisions. Essentially, we’ll try to make the process of selecting and ordering your windows as simple as possible. The checklist is a starting point, a basic sheet to give you a visual representation of what is required to order windows. We have also put together a simple glossary on this site to help you understand specific features and fenestration terminology.

Our next chapter, Window Decisions and Scheduling, will help you see why decision-making is fundamental to the building process.