Home window replacement is an investment that pays for itself in a serious way: updating your home with the right windows improves curb appeal, ups resale value, and cuts heating and cooling costs. It’s also a great way to make your home lighter, more comfortable, and more reflective of your style — and with a timeless look that can be endlessly customized, few materials do this as well as wood windows. But wood windows aren’t the only window frame choice on the market. Are wood window frames right for you? Looking at the pros and cons of wood windows can help answer that question.
Pros and Cons of Wood Windows
Pro: Energy Efficiency
Keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter is one of your windows’ most important jobs, providing comfort and cutting your energy costs at the same time. This is one area where wood windows shine: wood windows are well known for their powerful insulation capabilities. A well-made and well-installed wood window frame provides significantly more insulating power than some other materials, such as steel and aluminum.
Con: Maintenance
Wood can last a lifetime — as long as it’s properly sealed and maintained. Without proper maintenance, wood can be susceptible to warping, rotting, swelling, cracking, and insect or termite damage.
Maintenance simply means ensuring that your wood windows are painted or sealed and that you re-paint or re-seal them as needed. Proper painting or proper sealing do the same job: they both prevent moisture from getting in, which stops rot before it starts.
Depending on a number of factors, like the weather and moisture conditions where you live, you’ll find that some wood windows may need a touch-up, or a new coat of paint or finish every few years. But in mild conditions, many wood windows can last a decade or more before needing a new coat or finish. Your wood windows will last a long time if you keep them painted or sealed against the elements.
The bottom line? Wooden windows do require maintenance to last, although both the cost and time it takes to maintain them are relatively minor. Still, if you’re someone who wants a window frame with zero maintenance requirements, wood windows might not be the best choice for you.
Pro: Endless Customization
Wood windows are endlessly customizable. Some window frame materials come in just a few white or beige options. Wood windows offer versatility. They can be sealed and stained to preserve their natural color, but they can also easily be painted to go with any decor or style. Even better, the fact that wood is such an easy material to paint and repaint means that as your decor or style changes, your window frames can, too.
And whether or not you paint your wood windows or stay with the natural wood’s finish, wood windows can be built for a virtually limitless variety of sizes, shapes, and rooms.
Con: Initial Cost
Wood windows are not a budget option. The initial cost of wood windows tends to be higher than that of some other materials like vinyl, aluminum, or steel. Depending on the size and number of windows you’ll be installing and the type of wood you select, that means that initial wood window costs can be high.
Pro: Overall Cost
While you’re going to pay more upfront for high-quality wood windows, that initial cost is all but guaranteed to be offset over time. Well-maintained wood windows will last longer than other materials and tend to be much more energy efficient. For many homeowners, the initial higher cost of wood windows is offset by their durability and by the savings in heating and cooling they provide.
_____
Depending on your style, location, and needs, consider the pros and cons of wood windows before making a final decision on the best material for your home. Wood windows are an excellent option, but some people prefer the benefits of other window frame materials, like vinyl or steel, for ease of upkeep and lower up-front costs. There’s no wrong answer: It’s all about what’s right for you and your home. Do some research into the pros and cons of different window frame options like wood, vinyl, aluminum, and steel, and if you have any questions, our experienced sales team is ready to help. Give us a call any time.
Are you in need of high-quality window installation? Check out American Window Company. Since 1999, we have offered an extensive collection of high-quality windows, doors, shutters, blinds, and more. We are a small, family-owned business that is committed to providing excellent workmanship and on-time installation. In addition, we are properly licensed and insured to protect our employees and provide our customers with peace of mind. For a free estimate or more information about our products and services, please contact us today.
