Craftsman Replacement House Windows: Four Ways to Achieve Craftsman Style

There's been a resurgence in appreciation of Craftsman, Mission, Prairie, Bungalow, and other Frank Lloyd Wright inspired residential architectural styles in the last decade. If you prefer these styles for interior decor, why not extend the look to your home's exterior?

Replacement House Windows Update Both Style and Efficiency

Today's replacement house windows add much more than style. If your windows are ten or fifteen years old, compare replacement windows with existing windows in terms of frame material choices, dual or more panes, whether there's air or a more efficient inert gas between the panes, low-emittance coatings, and whether there's an insulating thermal break material between panes and the frame. Each of these factors can affect your monthly utility costs. Then compare replacement windows for that Arts & Crafts look. Choices include:

• Wood windows: Craftsman style screams "wood," but what about weather damage to the frame's exterior? Choose a frame that's all wood but clad with vinyl or aluminum on the outside. Wood insulates very well, and the exterior cladding protects it from leaks, dry rot, pests, and endless repainting. The cladding needs little more than an annual washing. The interior is stained to expose your choice of beautiful wood grains.
• Vinyl and fiberglass windows: These beautiful, trouble-free windows have authentic looking wood grains in colors that permeate the frame material. Insulation is excellent and rivals wood.
• Muntins: Many Craftsman-style homes have windows that are decoratively divided by thin wood or metal strips called muntins. The muntins form geometric patterns to accent clear window panes. In this case you may be able to get muntins in between solid glass panes to facilitate cleaning. If you prefer patterns of colored, textured, or stained glass, then the muntins actually hold the insulated glass. Either look has many options from whcih to choose.
• Stained and textured glass: Frank Lloyd Wright homes often featured intricate stained or textured glass patterns that can be recognized at a glance by aficionados. These can be standard or custom designs, and are often mounted as the third pane in an insulated window. Or hang stained glass panels on the inside of your thermal windows. Why give up comfort for beauty?

Don't forget to include your exterior doors and their sidelight panels when you're adding insulated Craftsman-style windows to your home. Look for the ENERGY STAR label on any window you buy for climate-appropriate choices. Make your purchase by December 31, 2010 to earn up to $1,500 in tax credits. It all adds up to making the change to that Craftsman look you love, sooner rather than later!