What To Consider When Choosing Sliding Windows For Your Home

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How to Choose New Windows

Choosing new windows can take more time than you think. Not only do you have to choose the right type of window frame to suit your home, you also have to put some thought into choosing styles and types of glazing. Once you’ve made your mind up, you also have to find a company that can fit the right kind of windows for you at the best price. The more informed you are about your choices, the easier this process will be. I started this blog to bring together tips, information and advice on buying new windows that will hopefully help you make the right decision quickly and more effectively.

What To Consider When Choosing Sliding Windows For Your Home

25 October 2016
 Categories: , Blog

Sliding windows are a great addition to any home. They offer a more modern function compared to traditional swinging windows. If you are planning to install sliding windows in your home, this article helps you understand the different factors to consider when choosing that perfect fit for your home.

Vertical slides versus horizontal slides

Although most sliding windows have a horizontal displacement (sliding to the side), there are sliding windows that have a vertical displacement as well (sliding up and down). Most households have horizontal sliding windows. However, both designs offer the same functionality and aesthetics so you can choose either depending on your liking and the design of your windows.

Timber, aluminium, steel or plastic

When it comes to materials, sliding windows are manufactured using timber, aluminium, steel and PVC plastic. Each material offers varying levels of durability, aesthetics and maintenance needs. For example, timber offers a classical look but may fade over time due to UV exposure from the sun. On the other hand, PVC offers great durability and is light but is not as strong as aluminium or steel.

Grids or no grids

Your sliding windows can feature a single piece of glazing per panel or can have grids featuring multiple pieces of glazing. The two designs only have two major differences: looks and maintenance. The grid design offers a French look while the non-grid design offers a clear, contemporary window style. When it comes to maintenance, the grid design allows singular grids to be replaced while in the non-grid design the entire panel has to be replaced if damaged.

Panel configuration

Another huge consideration to make is regarding the window configuration. You will need to choose how many panels you want on your sliding windows. You will also need to decide which window panels will be fixed and which will be sliding. For example, you can have a single sliding and a single fixed panel or you can have two sliding panels and one fixed, etc. The options are in plenty. You can also opt to have a picture panel on your sliding window. This can be placed at the top, side or bottom of the window.

Other factors to consider when choosing your sliding windows include glazing (single, double or triple glazing), tint, window film, window frosting, window frame dimensions and window dimensions. Your window manufacturer and/or supplier can help with all the above options or create a custom design just for your house.