Anatomy of a window

Windows come in all shapes and sizes. They essentially let light in and have glass in them, which allows us to see out, ideally without losing heat. Many of the windows I come across are ruined by settling and/or too many poor paint jobs, you name it. Imagination is the only limiting factor. Prices range from $80 to $2,000, depending upon how specialized they are. Some shops charge for custom sizes, some do not. Like Pizzas, all windows are not alike. In most cases price denotes value. That being said, it is often too hard to tell the difference and some familiar name brands just cost more. Much of the decision is based upon the supplier and the service they provide.

This represents a double hung window and its components. These terms are the common ones used to describe the parts, however, some in the industry have slightly different names for them. Getting clarity before ordering is always a good idea. Interestingly muntins is spelled “Rong” in the diagram. That parting strip is commonly called the parting bead.

For the North End of Boise Idaho that I remodel in, we have the historic review and there are strict guidelines for “contributing homes” A newly approved window is made from fiberglass. Vinyl windows on the front of the home are prohibited. Wood and metal clad wood windows are approved if the muntins are of a historical pattern.

Types of windows

This is a great image in that it illustrates just how many types of windows there are. It is in no way a complete list. Some windows lend themselves to be cleaned from the inside by tilting in, which is a cool feature. There are even retrofit windows called sash packs. They only replace the guts of the old double hung wood window. This upgrades the functionality without disturbing the exterior trim of the home.

Energy: Next to having your attic insulated your windows are the biggest offender of energy loss. There are many inert gasses like Argon and multiple panes of glass then there are multiple films that can be added to improve the ability for solar energy to be reflected.

Installation: Installing windows properly is a must. Without enough insulation during the install you could lose the gain you bought with expensive windows. What constitutes “proper installation” is a big deal. Since we live in a fairly dry climate proper moisture protection is not as big a deal. In other words, someone in a rush might cut corners and not use an upper drip edge or Vicor to properly wrap the window. At Levco we follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for new installations and retrofit installation as if we lived in Portland Oregon. ( Sorry Portlanders, but you rust rather than tan in the summer)

What you see is what you get: My favorite window showroom experience was at Truitt & White Lumber company in Berkeley California. They had an example of each of their windows in a larger window so you could look through and compare exactly what each film and glass treatment does to the view. It is amazing what you can tell when you have them all in a row.

No matter what windows you choose or who you choose to install them do your homework to insure your hard earned money is used wisely.

4' x 4' non operable

During the process of remodeling we often encounter an opportunity to install skylights and solar tubes. The obvious advantage is to allow natural light into the home. A less obvious benefit is energy free interior lighting. In the not so distant past all roof penetrations had a reputation of leaking. The common wisdom was that a dark room is better than a leaky roof. The good news is that technology has progressed with time  so leaks are a thing of the past, In fact one of the products we use boasts about leak proof skylights.

Skylight: A generic term for a window placed in the roof of a structure designed to let natural light in. They have many upgradable options including opening, shades, vents, and remote control motors that close automatically when it senses rain. We also have a good time finding ways to prevent skylights from becoming a light shaft. By this I mean, framing the opening in the interior to allow the light to spread out in the home.

2 10" solar tubes in a hall

Solar Tube: A generic term for a circular light shaft cut into the roof that collects light from outdoors and allows it to pass through a reflective shaft. The Solar Tube intensifies the light, often broadcast through a lens or diffuser. Options include a light in the shaft, different diffusers, dimers and sizes from 10″ – 16″ diameter.

The industry has also kept up with ever increasing consumer demand for insulated units to prevent heat loss. Our most popular solar tube is as energy efficient as a high performance window.

As with anything, proper installation is the key. We do the deconstruction and framing and interior trim. Then each installation is followed up with our roofer to button it up. The only negative feedback we have received consistently with solar tubes has been about being too bright. A client was concerned that a 10″ Tube in a bathroom was going to be too bright for her husband who is prone to headaches… Turns out it is one of his favorite features of the bathroom. There is a period of getting used to the light and within a week most clients are pleased with the results.

Contact Levco in the Boise Idaho area for a free in home consultation on what Skylight or Solar Tube product might be best for your situation.

I am often asked to discuss the possibility of adding Egress windows. Egress Windows are  those that meet or exceed a rigid set of dimensions and details that allow save exit in case of emergency.

The primary issue is safety, secondary benefits include increased property value by adding natural light, and adding another legal bedroom.

Challenges include weatherproofing the concrete below the window, cutting concrete without making a mess, and ensuring proper drainage to name a few. We we have devised an excellent combination of materials and procedures that do the job perfectly.

This post has borrowed content from the good folks at Fine Home Building magazine. Although a bit complicated to understand they were able to illustrate the options well.

We have been averaging 4 Egress Window installations a year over the past several years. Subterranean Egress Windows cost about 3 thousand dollars a piece.  Each egress window we’ve installed has been a little different. We usually are asked to install the casement option, but we have done others.

The opening offered by a double-hung window or a horizontal sliding window would be slightly less than half of the total pane area if the window were fully operable. A casement window offers almost the entire pane area: the most egress for the size of the window. Awning windows are trickier because they often don’t open as wide as casements (if they opened all the way, they’d direct rainwater into the house). Before you buy an awning window for egress purposes, make sure it will satisfy your building inspector.

In addition to the net-clear opening, there are also requirements for sill height, as shown in the drawing. For an egress window in a below-grade basement, a window well with ladders or steps is required. (under certain circumstances)

In our opinion, the cost is a third of the added value to the home and is therefore one of  the most value added remodeling project we can offer. It also is inline with our commitment to suggesting safety oriented features. Egress is not just for subterranean applications either. Building code in Boise Idaho now requires that if you are remodeling and replacing basement windows or any windows for that matter if egress size windows are an option then you must choose to use them. See some of our projects on this site.

Here is the 2009 IRC updates:

EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPENINGS
Both the 2009 IBC and 2009 IRC require emergency escape and rescue openings in sleeping rooms below the fourth floor of a building, and in all basements except those that are used only to house mechanical equipment which are less than 200 square feet in area. The 2009 IBC also contains some exceptions to this for rooms in buildings that are fully equipped with a fire sprinkler system, or for rooms that open directly to a corridor that leads to an exit in two directions.

Typical requirements for sizes, locations, etc., are set forth in Section 1029 of the 2009 IBC and Section R310 of the 2009 IRC. It is important to note that the required opening size of 24 inches high, 20 inches wide and 5.0 or 5.7 square feet in area must be met by “normal” operation of the window. In some cases previous editions of certain ICC legacy codes permitted the removal of a second sash, such as the upper sash in a double hung window, to be counted towards achieving the required opening size. Such an interpretation, however, is no longer applicable under the 2009 IBC and 2009 IRC.

Operable skylights and roof windows are also permitted as emergency escape and rescue openings if they meet the size requirements and the bottom of their opening is within 44 inches of the floor below.

Under the 2009 IRC, the emergency escape and rescue opening must be achieved through normal operation of the window, door or skylight without the use of keys, tools or special knowledge.

Windows in this historic home are very important to the structure from a architectural look and feel as well as from and insulation perspective.

New windows

Although the windows had been replaced within the past 10 years they were white vinyl (not approved for the historic

Inside

district) and they were not installed in a energy efficient manor. For this project we selected Cascade brand high efficiency glass, metal clad wood windows from Viewpoint Windows. Installing these windows was made easier by gutting the inside. Levco always uses manufacturer recommended instillation techniques. In this application we used Vicor, a rubberized adhesive product to seal the windows in and prevent leaks of air and moisture. The

Exterior window detail

exterior and the interior will be using an original detail with a 90 degree rounded detail that comes into the windows. This will tie

the home together and be true to it’s original style.